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When discussing the history between New Zealand and Zimbabwe, it normally relates to parliamentary sanctions and the refusal to back the Mugabe regime. Combine this with the ultra rapid decline in Zimbabwe cricket, and we can see why that this is the first time since the 2000/2001 summer that the men from Africa have taken a trip across the ditch. We all know that last time these sides met in Zimbabwe, the MIB (Men In Black -> what I call New Zealand teams) narrowly escaped with a 34 run win in the one off test match despite a bold effort from Brendan Taylor, and took a 2-1 series win in the 50 over matches.
SERIES SCHEDULE
ONE OFF TEST: McLean Park, Napier, 26-30 Jan
1st ODI: University Oval, Dunedin, 3 Feb
2nd ODI: Cobham Oval, Whangarei, 6 Feb
3rd ODI: McLean Park, Napier, 9 Feb D/N
1st T20: Eden Park, Auckland, 11 Feb
2nd T20: Seddon Park, Hamilton, 14 Feb
The tourists have completed a glorified net practice (13 a side) against a NZ XIII in Gisborne, which served a purpose for a few NZ players given they've only had their 20 over comp since their Hobart heroics. A few NZ players that are in the mix for a game in any of the matches on the tour such as Ross Taylor, Dan Vettori and Chris Martin made an appearance.
The NZ squad for the test match is a squad of 13. The young wicketkeeper Reece Young, best remembered for copping one in the gob in Brisbane, has been dropped and Jesse Ryder has torn a calf and neither have been considered. The keeper spot appears to be between BJ Watling and Kruger Van Wyk, although if the tour game is to be considered Watling took the gloves. Both contributed in different innings with the bat so a decision may be made shortly. Vettori is back after a back injury, so he's expected to come straight into the XI with one of the quicks expected to make way. In the wake of the match in Gisborne, Otago all-rounder Sam Wells has been added to the squad to make it 13. His inclusion according to coach John Wright gives a little more balance, but whether he makes the final XI remains to be seen.
Zimbabwe have brought over 16 players for the tour. The most obvious change from their last meeting is that Vusi Sibanda has taken up a club contract in Australia and thus was ruled ineligible for selection. In his place comes the 'experienced' Stuart Matsikenyeri, who much like a number of players in Zimbabwe hasn't appeared since 2005 in the whites and not at all in the national setup since 2010. For what it's worth given he didn't appear in the warm up game he won't be playing, with captain Taylor (who's a certainty) and Prosper Utseya (unlikely to play with 2 other spinners in the squad) the others in the party left out.
Pitch in Napier is expected to be a greentop, so pace heavy attacks may be the order of the day. Rain is expected to ruin Day 2, which is on Friday, otherwise fine conditions are forecast. Temperatures comfortable in the mid 20's. They were toying with the idea of a Day/Night test match for a while, but those plans quietly went away and it's a conventional daytime test match.
Umpires for the test match are Rodney Tucker and Enamul Haque Moni, who becomes the first Bangladesh umpire to control a Test Match outside his home country. Nigel Llong is up in the booth, I believe DRS is in operation for this match but don't quote me on it in case it isn't. TV Coverage on FOX 3 from 8AM on Australia Day, and radiosport.co.nz has radio coverage.
TEST MATCH SQUADS
NEW ZEALAND: Ross TAYLOR (C), Trent BOULT, Doug BRACEWELL, Dean BROWNLIE, Martin GUPTILL, Brendon McCULLUM, Chris MARTIN, Tim SOUTHEE, Kruger VAN WYK, Daniel VETTORI, BJ WATLING, Sam WELLS, Kane WILLIAMSON
ZIMBABWE: Brendan TAYLOR (C), Regis CHAKABVA, Elton CHIGUMBURA, Graeme CREMER, Kyle JARVIS, Hamilton MASAKADZA, Shingi MASAKADZA, Stuart MATSIKENYERI, Tino MAWOYO, Keegan METH, Forster MUTIZWA, Ray PRICE, Tatenda TAIBU, Prosper UTSEYA, Brian VITORI, Malcolm WALLER
