Zimbabwe playing as a unit

If there8217;s one thing in common between New Zealand and Zimbabwe, it8217;s that both are outstanding in their fielding. But that8217;s just about all. The Kiwis are a far more experienced outfit, and the better team of the two, on paper at least. They have left-arm seamer Geoff Allott, who is having a great time with the ball in English conditions. He has a high arm action, tends to pitch the ball up to the right-handers, gets it to move away, anddoes so with an immaculate line. Little wonder he has the most number of wickets in the World Cup thus far.

Allott apart, the Kiwis have in Chris Cairns a talented player who can be as quick as anybody on his day. The problem, however, is that he8217;s temperamental and requires careful handling. In this regard, a lot depends on the New Zealand think-tank. For, Cairns is the type of character who, if not happy with the goings-on be it on the field or off it, may just lose interest in proceedings, and that would be counter-productive for his side.

The Zimbabweans did score runs briskly before inclement weather stopped play at Headingley on Sunday. But they had lost the important wickets of the Flower brothers as well as the dangerous looking Neil Johnson. By the end of the Zimbabwean innings, however, it were the Indians who were keeping their fingers crossed. Their own chances in the competition, after all, relied greatly on the outcome of this match.