After a break of just over a month, New Zealand are back. They will return in a new-look avatar, in two ways. On Sunday, in the first ODI against Zimbabwe, the word Aotearoa – the Maori word for New Zealand – will be emblazoned on their jerseys. They will be without a number of familiar faces, as Brendon McCullum and Tim Southee have been rested, and Trent Boult and Corey Anderson are nursing injuries.
Their absences will offer chances for some well-known, but not entirely established names – such as James Neesham and Adam Milne – and some newer faces – such as Ben Wheeler and George Worker – to try and earn longer-term places in the side. They can expect to be tested by a sluggish Harare surface and a Zimbabwe side that has looked impressive in recent months without having the results to show for it.
Last year, Zimbabwe were at a serious low following a winless tour of Bangladesh. This year, despite looking an entirely transformed side at various points, they have won only one of 11 ODIs. They have found themselves in promising situations against quality opposition – from South Africa at the World Cup to India during the recent ODI series at home – only to let them slip away time and again.
Of all the factors that have contributed to this phenomenon, their death bowling has their biggest headache. In their last three ODIs, they bowled first each time and restricted India to scoring less than five runs an over in the first 40 overs. In the last 10 overs, they conceded 90, 77 and 106. Zimbabwe will have to show real, measurable improvement in this aspect of their game if they are to come away with any wins from this series.
Form guide
Zimbabwe: LLLLL
New Zealand: LLWWL
Players to watch
Chamu Chibhabha has been in superlative form of late, having scored 295 runs in his last five ODIs – against Pakistan and India – at an average of 73.75. He has provided Zimbabwe stability at the top of the order, and they will hope he continues giving them that against a New Zealand attack high on pace.
Having sat out the World Cup and an enthralling ODI series against England, James Neesham is back in the New Zealand squad, and he will want to impose his all-round skills on Zimbabwe and make it hard for the selectors to leave him out even when all the senior players return. He has form going into this match, having struck a 29-ball 54 against North West in a warm-up T20 match in Pretoria.
Team news
A string of impressive domestic performances have earned the offspinner John Nyumbu a recall, and he could be vying with Prosper Utseya for a place in the Zimbabwe attack.
Zimbabwe (probable): 1 Chamu Chibhabha, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Sean Williams, 4 Elton Chigumbura (capt), 5 Sikandar Raza, 6 Craig Ervine, 7 Regis Chakabva, 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Prosper Utseya/John Nyumbu, 10 Tinashe Panyangara, 11 Neville Madziva
The composition of New Zealand’s bowling attack could depend on conditions at the Harare Sports Club. They have two possible ways of including a second spinner in their side – either pick the batting allrounder George Worker, who bowls left-arm spin, or the legspinner Ish Sodhi. Neither has made his ODI debut yet.
New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Ross Taylor, 5 Grant Elliott, 6 James Neesham/George Worker, 7 Luke Ronchi, 8 Nathan McCullum, 9 Mitchell McClenaghan, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Adam Milne/Ish Sodhi
Stats and trivia
In 2015, New Zealand have a 16-6 win-loss record in ODIs, which is better than all teams except Australia (11-1). Zimbabwe have a 1-10 record, which is the worst among all teams which have played at least ten matches this year.
New Zealand’s run-rate in the last 10 overs in ODIs in 2015 is 9.40, next only to South Africa (11.57) and West Indies (10.01). Zimbabwe’s economy rate in the last 10 in 2015 is 10.18, which is worse than all teams except UAE (10.28).
Quotes
“Most of [our recent] games, we’ve been pretty competitive without having those last few ounces of effort to cross the line. That’s been good to a point, but we have to find a way to translate a few more of those efforts into victories.”
Zimbabwe coach Dav Whatmore
“To take on India the way [Zimbabwe] did was an extremely good effort, in conditions that India are probably quite suited to. We’re certainly expecting a tough challenge.”
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson on his expectations from the series
