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World cup 2007: Review of Cricket Teams - Zimbabwe

Introduction

Having won just 8 out of their last 30 ODIs, the Zimbabwe are not expected to move even one step above the group stages of the World CUp. With the likes of the Flower/Rennie/Strang brothers, Whittall cousins, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Neil Johnson, Heath Streak, Eddo Brandes in their side, even though they were not world beaters, the Zimbabwe were lot more competitive side than today. Thanks to the Operation Murambatsvina, Zimbabwe lost almost all of their better players. And with Peter Chingoka on the board, the racial politics reached its peak last year when he suspended Tatenda Taibu, who later resigned his position form the team.

Current Form

As of Jan '07, Zimbabwe have lost their 12 consecutive ODIs. They have not won even a single ODI against non-minnow nation last year. Their wins last year have been against the likes of Bangladesh, Kenya, Bermuda and Canada . In their recent 5-match ODI series versus Bangladesh, the Zimbabwe were white-washed 5-0. They exited the Champions Trophy point-less. With a run like this, don't even expect the Zimbabwe to reach the second stage of the competition, unlike the last edition.

30 member squad for the World Cup

Prosper Utseya
Gary Brent
Chamunorwa Chibhabha
Elton Chigumbura
Tendai Chisoro
Charles Coventry
Graeme Cremer
Keith Dabengwa
Terrence Duffin
Trevor Garwe
Ryan Higgins
Tinashe Hove
Anthony Ireland
Tafadzwa Kamungozi
Friday Kasteni
Blessing Mahwire
Timycen Maruma
Hamilton Masakadza
Stuart Matsikenyeri
Tinotenda Mawoyo
Christopher Mpofu
Tafadzwa Mufambisi
Tawanda Mupariwa
Mluleki Nkala
Edward Rainsford
Piet Rinke
Vusumuzi Sibanda
Gregory Strydom
Brendan Taylor
Sean Williams

Most recent ODI squad

Prosper Utseya (C)
Brendan Taylor (wk)
Chamu Chibhabha
Elton Chigumbura
Anthony Ireland
Keith Dabengwa
Stuart Matsikenyeri
Ryan Higgins
Christopher Mpofu
Mluleki Nkala
Gary Brent
Tinotenda Mawoyo
Blessing Mahwire
Hamilton Masakadza
Sean Williams
Ed Rainsford
Tawanda Mupariwa
Terry Duffin
Tafadzwa Mufambisi

World Cup History

In their first 4 World Cups, they were eliminated in the first round itself. In the '99 World Cup, they surprised many by making it to round-2 (Super Sixes) carrying the maximum points from the group stage. In '03 World Cup, their venture into the 2nd round (Super Sixes) was possible only as the English side refused to play their match in Bulawayo owing to security reasons.

Build-Up to the World Cup

The Zimbabwe have a solitary limited overs series with the touring Proteas-A team later this month. This will be their only tournament before the WC, which is not at all a good news. Off-spinner, Prosper Utseya is pitted to don the helm for the World Cup, but you may never know the Chingoka led ZCU.

Batting

This is the weakest Zimbabwean side when compared to the last 4 World Cups. Their batting strength, if you can call it that way, has no juice in it. This showed in the last year's ICC Champions Trophy where they were bowled out under 150 on all the 3 matches. Even though they were placed above Bangladesh in the ICC ODI table before the Champions Trophy, they were miserably beaten by the Bangladeshi side in their last series. Instead of searching for a single star, Zimbabwe has to depend in their entire team to stand up and bat out the 50 overs.

Bowling

With an off-spinner leading the side, I'd say their bowling is far better than thei batting. People like Nkala, Utseya and Brent should use their international experience to give their best in the World Cup. All these said, still it'll be a Himalayan task for the Zimbabwean bowlers to bowl out even the Irish team in this World Cup 2007.

Prediction

Zimbabwe is placed in Group-D with the hosts West Indies, Pakistan and the qualifiers Ireland. Even though Zimbabwe are more experienced than the Irish side, strong prediction is that the Irish team might emerge as the winner in the clash between the two. Zimbabwe is not expected to beat the hosts or the Pakistanis either. So, the prediction will be a point-less World Cup for the Zimbabwe.

Other teams
Test playing Nations : India | Pakistan | West Indies | Sri Lanka | New Zealand | South Africa | England | Australia
Non test playing Nations : Canada | Bermuda | Scotland | Zimbabwe | Kenya | The Netherlands | Ireland | Bangladesh
Who will win Cricket world cup 2007?

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