Zimbabwe eye a place in top six

But what would have been a wild dream only a couple years ago looks possible for them this time.

In their previous 25 World Cup matches spread over four tournaments they have won just three games, against England, Australia and Kenya.

But recently, Zimbabwe have lifted their game. After a lone Test success against Pakistan in 1995, they registered two wins last year, at home against India, and then comfortably beat Pakistan by seven wickets for their first Test win abroad, a victory sufficient to register their first series win with the following two Tests both being hit by bad weather.

In March, Zimbabwe dominated a triangular One-day tournament in Bangladesh which also involved Kenya, winning all their matches and crushing Kenya in the final by 202 runs. Coach Dave Houghton, the country’s former captain and their highest aggregate run scorer in World Cup matches with 567, belives his team can now compete against the best.

“I do not think we can still be considered as just making up the numbers at the World Cup because we are now more experienced,” he said.

“In our first two World Cups (in 1983 and 1987), we were not even a Test side but we have had a lot of experience since then.”

“We have won about 60 per cent of our One-day matches in the last 12 months and our players have matured a lot. I expect the team to do well.”

Zimbabwe will be looking to the experience of their batsmen, brothers Andrew and Grant Flower, captain Alistair Campbell and Neil Johnson.

On the bowling front, their pace attack is spearheaded by Heath Streak and the promising Mpumelelo Mbangwa while Paul Strang is among the top leg-break bowlers in the world.

In the last World Cup three years ago, Zimbabwe won against Kenya in the qualifying round but were comfortably beaten by West Indies, Sri Lanka, Australia and India.

Zimbabwe have also been drawn in the same group as Kenya this time and must fancy their chances. Their Group A also includes hosts England, holders Sri Lanka, South Africa and India.

They will hope to upset at least one of them.

Mbangwa aims to live up to his promise

Pace bowler Mpumelelo Mbangwa was instrumental in helping Zimbabwe to their first Test victory abroad but he will be looking to the World Cup to cement his place in the national team.

The 22-year-old Mbangwa took three wickets in each innings as Zimbabwe beat Paksitan by seven wickets last November but he has still been unable to lay claim to a regular place in the side.

With the highly rated Heath Streak and Eddo Brandes likely to be automatic choices, the third pace bowling selection looks to rest between Mbangwa and Henry Olonga the first black to play for Zimbabwe.

Officials describe the lanky Mbangwa, known as `Pom’ by his team-mates, as one of Zimbabwe’s most promising young bowlers.

“He is coming through but there is still some work to be done I would like to see him running in with a little more energy very time he plays but he has great potential,” said Zimbabwe World Cup coach David Houghton a former captain.

Born in Western Zimbabwe, in a family of five children, Mbangwa started playing cricket at 10 and won a place in the school team at 11. He later represented Zimbabwean schools and graduated into the provincial Matebeleland team where he became a regular.

Mbangwa said the greatest influence on his career has been his school housemaster Lan Kemp, who has helped him groom his bowling action.

He has also attended coaching courses in England, India and South Africa under former Test players Clive Rice, Dennis Lillee and Hylton Ackerman.

“The one reservation many people have about his bowling is that it is a little short of top pace, but `Pom’ sees himself primarily as a line and length bowler who relies on seam and swing with the away swinger his stock ball,” said Zimbabwe cricket union official John Ward.

Mbangwa says he is aware of his shortcomings and will work harder to become a premier bowler. “I am not complacent just because I have been selected for the squad. I am working even harder to lift my play,” he said recently.

Fellow paceman Streak said: “He has a good future although he probably still needs a couple of yards of extra pace.”