Campbell left out of Zimbabwe World Cup squad

There were no real surprises in Zimbabwe's World Cup team announced this morning, although the not unexpected dropping of the long-serving Alistair Campbell was naturally a newsworthy item.

The 15 names are as follows:

*Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Douglas Hondo, Doug Marillier, Brian Murphy, Henry Olonga, +Tatenda Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart.

Campbell, although captaining the side in the absence of Streak through injury, has not scored well in the ten one-day internationals Zimbabwe has played this season, reaching double figures only twice. However, considering the pressure the players will face during the World Cup, there was a strong case for including him in the 15 in view of his experience, with a warning that he must produce the goods or find himself on the sidelines.

Convener of selectors Ali Shah said they did appreciate Campbell's experience, but that he didn't merit a place on current form and that younger players had performed better. He added that they would certainly consider Campbell for the tour of England beginning next May, but that he must prove his form first.

Perhaps fortunate to gain a place instead of Campbell was Dion Ebrahim, who in 36 one-day internationals has yet to score a fifty against any team apart from Bangladesh. Craig Evans, a potential match-winner, was omitted, having followed a fighting innings of 68 against Pakistan with three failures. The selectors did include Guy Whittall, though, preferring him to Campbell in view of his nippy medium-pace bowling - as long as his legs hold.

Ebrahim and Mark Vermeulen then look likely to open the batting for Zimbabwe, while the middle-order places should go to Andy and Grant Flower, Craig Wishart and Whittall. In my original 15, I suggested Evans in place of leg-spinner Brian Murphy, in view of the usual ineffectiveness of spin bowlers, except for the very best, in South Africa, when Zimbabwe would already expect to have Grant Flower and Doug Marillier available to bowl spin. There are really only six batsmen in the squad whom one would expect to bat in the first six, and loss of form or injury could cause selection problems, as there is no reserve.

The team is rich in all-rounders, with Grant Flower, Marillier, Streak, Whittall, Blignaut and Ervine all likely to be used in that category. Gary Brent was another I had recommended in my 15, but the selectors opted for Ervine, who is a better batsman but not so good or accurate a bowler. We have therefore a shortage of bowlers able to apply the brake when opposing batsmen cut loose, with perhaps only Whittall, if fit, of the seamers able to perform that role. Again we will have to rely on Grant Flower to perform that role.

There is a reasonable but not outstanding array of seamers, all of whom can be somewhat erratic, which gives cause for worry. The authorities are certain Streak will be fit to play, but he has not been the bowler the opposition fear for quite a while now. Hondo, Blignaut, Friend and Olonga will back him up, although not all can play at once. The cynic would say that doesn't matter, as at least one is likely to be injured at any given time!

No vice-captain has been named: Mr Shah said that should the need arise, the decision of who should take over would be left to the captain and coach.

What are Zimbabwe's chances in the World Cup? Realistically I would say we are unlikely to reach the Super Six, even though we are playing at home. It would be an appalling upset if we were to lose to Namibia or Holland, but in the normal course of events we would need to win at least two matches out of those against England, Australia, India and Pakistan to reach the Super Six. During the past three years, all have toured Zimbabwe, and in one-day internationals England have beaten us eight times, Australia three times, India twice and Pakistan five times. How many times have we won against them at home in that period? None.

So we must face hard facts, but that does not mean we cannot overturn them. But we will have to play out of our skins to do it. We look to the chosen 15 to do just that.