Zimbabwe face selection problems

For at least 20 years now, English counties have rarely fielded full-strength sides against Test opponents and this match was no exception. Worse still, Zimbabwe’s suspect batting did not show much improvement: they were bowled out for 68 in their second innings against Yorkshire.

However, new opener Guy Whittall made 89 in the first innings and the indications are that this is where he will bat come the Test match. Both Trevor Gripper and Grant Flower, the tourists only two specialist openers, have been in woeful form. Flower especially has been having an awful summer, averaging just over seven from nine innings.

Not that Gripper has been doing much better with a shade over 14 from seven innings. But they may be spared because former captain Alistair Campbell’s poor run of form has been going on for a lot longer: in his last 60 international innings he has made just two fifties while in his latest four senior innings he has managed just four runs including the dreaded king pair against Yorkshire.

So it’s not just brotherly bias which suggests that Campbell will be dropped with Grant Flower dropping down to the middle-order. Andy Flower’s suspect wicketkeeping has created yet another dilemma. By his own admission Flower’s display at Lord’s, where he dropped two routine chances, was his worst in Test cricket.

His words indicated that Zimbabwe were ready to give a Test debut to 17-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Tatenda Taibu. But Taibu had a poor game against Yorkshire and then couldn’t take the field for the second innings after bruising a finger.

The bowling too is far from settled. Heath Streak performed heroically to take six for 87 at Lord’s but who will take the new ball alongside him? Mbangwa is clearly in form but the quicker if more erratic Henry Olonga is confident of being fit after missing the first Test with an ankle injury. Given that Zimbabwe must win to square the series, both men could play, especially as the Trent Bridge pitch has been a seamers’ paradise in recent seasons.

Bryan Strang’s left-arm swing could prove effective if overhead conditions are right while his flamboyant tail-end runs, as seen at Lord’s, are a valuable asset. If someone can do a decent job supporting Streak, Zimbabwe could restrict England in the field — but that’s a big `if’. Should Zimbabwe go for a seam-only frontline attack leg-spinner Brian Murphy will be dropped.

That would be hard luck on the Cape Town University student who bowled respectably at Lord’s and demonstrated admirable defensive endurance with the bat. Grant Flower’s left-arm spin would then provide the slow variation.

England meanwhile, have hardly any selection headaches. They simply reduced their squad by one after Yorkshire all-rounder Craig White, left out at Lord’s, mysteriously collapsed in the street last week.

England’s seamers did a fine job at Lord’s and so the chances of Durhmam paceman Steve Harmison winning his first cap at Trent Bridge are remote. Lancashire leg-spinner Chris Schofield didn’t bowl a ball on his Test debut and so should get a second chance, particularly as the England attack looks lopsided without him.

Zimbabwe’s history as a Test nation can be summed up by the old adage "cricket makes fools of the wisest". Still it’s hard to see how, even allowing for the positive effect of wounded pride, they can win this Test. Hard but not impossible. One consolation for Zimbabwe, whatever the result, is that they cannot possibly play any worse than they did at Lord’s.