The Zimbabwe national cricket squad technical team is sweating on some players that have been hit by a flu bug ahead of the second Test against New Zealand that starts on Saturday at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
By Kevin Mapasure
About seven players have been affected and while some have exhibited signs that they will be fully recovered by Saturday, others will be given until tomorrow.
New Zealand players have also been hit, but not to the scale of the Zimbabwean camp.
Some of the Zimbabwe players, particularly wicketkeeper/batsman Regis Chakabva, have made good progress in recovery and are expected to be fit for the match.
Chakabva and Sean Williams failed to field during New Zealand’s first innings of the first Test owing to illness.
They, however, managed to bat in Zimbabwe’s second innings with Williams going on to crack a century, while Chakabva struggled.
Brian Chari deputised with the gloves where he did well.
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Zimbabwe are expected to make some changes to the team ahead of the final Test, but they will only wait to see from the squad they have who will be fit enough.
Opening batsman Chamu Chibhabha and Prince Masvaure are both struggling with illness and so is middle order batter Craig Ervine, who scored a half century in the second innings of the first Test where Zimbabwe lost by an innings and 117 runs.
New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult said sickness had disrupted some of the team’s preparations.
“[There’s] a bit of flu running through the camp and not just our players, but a few of the Zimbabweans as well have been affected by it,” he told New Zealand media.
“It’s just one of those things I think. Touring different parts of the world people pick up different things, but we’ll get on with it.”
Boult said some of the players had even lost their voices, but the side seemed to be past the worst of it.
Zimbabwe opening batsman Tino Mawoyo, who was kept out of the first Test due to a finger injury, is set to be recalled.
Zimbabwe’s top order struggled in both innings and the technical team will be looking to strengthen that area.
After the first Test, skipper Graeme Cremer bemoaned a soft upfront batting performance and he will demand an improvement.
In the first innings, Zimbabwe lost their first eight wickets for just 72 runs before Masvaure and Donald Tiripano collaborated for a mini recovery to take the hosts to 164 all out.
In the second innings, Chibhabha, Hamilton Masakadza and Brian Chari at number one, two and three were dismissed for seven, four and five respectively, while Masvaure at number five was out without scoring.
The first five wickets tumbled for just 86 runs.
Seamer Chris Mpofu has been called into camp and could be another change for the second Test spinner, while John Nyumbu is also pushing for a place in the team.
