Injury-hit Zimbabwe start as underdogs

Once again Zimbabwe go into a Test match as the underdogs when they play West Indies in the first Test at Harare tomorrow. Injuries to key players, in addition to all their the defections of the last few years, have again blighted their preparations and given West Indies the advantage.

Grant Flower, Sean Ervine and Douglas Hondo are all missing, and are doubts for the one-day series. Their absences undoubtedly weaken both the batting and bowling, but the rest of the squad insist that they are in good spirits after some encouraging performances in Australia.

Stuart Matsikenyeri, who has played nine one-day internationals, and Vusi Sibanda, who toured England earlier this year, are set to make their debuts. Both are from the Harare township of Highfield and are richly talented, but neither has yet scored a first-class century. Matsikenyeri might have done had he got more support in the recent warm-up match between Zimbabwe A against West Indies, when he was left stranded on 84 not out.

Sibanda's major weakness is his inability to build an innings. In his first 21 first-class knocks before the start of the season he scored only one half-century, at an average of 19, although he did make 51 for Zimbabwe A. He has been scoring heavily in club cricket, but it is a big step up to international level, however talented you are.

Zimbabwe's bowling attack, if it can be called that, includes Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut and Blessing Mahwire, backed up by the left-arm spin of Raymond Price and offspinner Trevor Gripper. Zimbabwe at least have a stronger tail than West Indies, with batting down to No. 10.

West Indies, meanwhile, will announce their team later today (November 3). They will be encouraged by the form of most of their players against Zimbabwe A, but Wavell Hinds missed out and is likely to be the one who has to make way for Brian Lara, who was rested from that game.

Vasbert Drakes and Jerome Taylor had an impressive warm-up, using reverse swing superbly to destroy the Zimbabwe A middle order, and they will be joined by Mervyn Dillon and probably Corey Collymore. West Indies will probably play four seamers and leave the spin to Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels. In both departments they have an undoubted edge.

Gus Logie, the West Indies coach, says all his players were fit and eager to take up the challenge: "They are looking forward to establishing themselves as individuals and to do themselves and the West Indies cricket team proud."

Rain is always possible at Harare in November, but at present there is a hot dry spell. Robin Brown, the former Zimbabwe batsman and who is know the groundsman at Harare Sports Club, will be eager to prepare a true pitch for his first match in the job. But Zimbabwe's batting is weak - and the West Indian bowlers know too much about reverse swing for the comfort of inexperienced batsmen. If Zimbabwe can prevent a West Indies victory in under four days, then they will be satisfied.

Zimbabwe 1 Trevor Gripper, 2 Vusi Sibanda, 3 Mark Vermeulen, 4 Stuart Carlisle, 5 Craig Wishart, 6 Stuart Matsikenyeri, 7 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 8 Heath Streak (capt), 9 Andy Blignaut, 10 Raymond Price, 11 Blessing Mahwire.

West Indies (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 Daren Ganga, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Brian Lara (capt), 5 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 6 Marlon Samuels, 7 Ridley Jacobs (wk), 8 Vasbert Drakes, 9 Mervyn Dillon, 10 Corey Collymore, 11 Jerome Taylor.