ZIMBABWE national cricket team coach Dav Whatmore is looking forward to his first home series when his charges take on an under-strength India side in two T20 Internationals and three one-day internationals (ODI) starting on Friday.
BY DANIEL NHAKANISO
After leading the national side at the World Cup in Australasia and the recent away tour to Pakistan, the series against India will be Whatmore’s first home assignment since agreeing a four-year contract with Zimbabwe Cricket.
The veteran Australian coach expressed his excitement ahead of the series in an interview with NewsDay Sport after yesterday’s practice session saying the upcoming matches presented his charges with the best opportunity to show the progress they have made since the World Cup.
“I’m really looking forward to my first home match. I just tweeted it this morning,” Whatmore said in reference to his tweet in which he said he was “eagerly awaiting my first home series of matches” on Friday.
Whatmore said although India were still a formidable side despite the absence of several regular players, familiar home conditions gave Zimbabwe a very good advantage of winning the series.
“Personally, I’m very comfortable come Friday,” he said.
“There’s nothing better than playing at home in our conditions. We are still aware that the opposition maybe under-strength, but they’re still a good side. I believe we are in with a strong chance.
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He added: “We have come close to playing as best as we believe we can play and if we do that in this upcoming series we will win our fair share.
“We’ve had some practice matches where we have been trying to replicate exactly how we want to play against India and it’s been good.”
Whatmore immediately left for a selection meeting together with national team assistant and bowling coach Douglas Hondo and skipper Elton Chigumbura after yesterday’s practice session.
Other members of the selection panel, Givemore Makoni, who is the convener and selector, Babu Meman, also watched part of the training session before heading for the selection meeting.
The national team continued with their preparations at the match venue, with the players taking part in a fielding session before turning their attention to a net session.
Vusi Sibanda, who has been a major doubt for the upcoming series after suffering an injury to his right ankle during a warm-up session, also batted during the net-session.
The experienced top order batsman later said he was now “80 percent” from fully recovering and should be back to full fitness ahead of the opening ODI against India.
Middle-order batsman Craig Ervine, however, did not take part in both the fielding and net sessions as he continued his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury with team’s fitness coach Sean Bell.
The Indian team arrived in the country last night and is expected to address their first Press conference today ahead of the start of the limited-overs series opener.
The two teams play each other in the first ODI at Harare Sports Club on Friday before the other two ODIs at the same venue on July 12 and 14.
The tour concludes with two T20 International matches on July 17 and 19.
India squad: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Stuart Binny, Kedar Jadhav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Manish Pandey, Axar Patel, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Manoj Tiwary, Robin Uthappa, Murali Vijay
Zimbabwe training squad: Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis Chakabva, Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura (captain), Graeme Cremer, Craig Ervine, Luke Jongwe, Roy Kaia, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza, Christopher Mpofu, Richmond Mutumbami, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Donald Tiripano, Prosper Utseya, Brian Vitori, Malcolm Waller and Sean Williams
