Test Cricket is back at Bulawayo after an inappropriate time of 6 years, where it ended against Kiwis in an enthralling fashion at that point of time and the longer format is back again with the same contest. But things have changed a lot for hosts and visitors, as Both debutant captain set for their first assignment with the first test of Two test series set to make the roads on Thursday.
Where New Zealand cropping into new era with Baz retirement after the home series against the Tasmania's, it's time for Williamson to lay a new road forward for next generation of players with the new role as a captain in the longer format. While this series will be more of an helpful scenario to the visitors in preparation for India’s tour next month, in terms of acclimatising to the conditions on offer.
Meanwhile players in recent times stressing lot about patience, spending more time and being boring are vital factors for sustaining on slow and low surfaces which offer turn around the world. While Kiwis batsmen are not too far away from stressing those and the new spin attack which has been produced highly rated results at WT20 has to take another step forward, in meeting the needs of the longer format.
On the other hand Zimbabwe team and the fans are overwhelmed with the return of test Cricket to Zimbabwe after 2 years and a long space of 6 years to Bulawayo, but the scheme of scenes are not encouraging the confidence in team with the losses in shorter format both away and at Home. Where Ntini and Klusener set for an frist longer format assignment alongside Cremer who set to make his debut as an captain.
There were things to sort out for play outside the field before the uncertainty loomed over this series, but now it will be more about on-field challenges to handle for the hosts. It's about being consistent for long periods of time, who are unable to sustain to the pressure or to the intensity of the game in recent history.
While the pitch at Queens Sports club known for it's slow and low nature, but lack of Cricket in recent history suggests that it will be batsmen's paradise in early days. Although spin likely to play a huge role in later days of the match.
At the end of the day for a modern batsmen the big challenge is to play defence rather than to play shots in longer format and it's interesting to see whether the hosts able to challenge the visitors, in turn help them in improving in this conditions. But the contest will determine on how Zimbabwean bowlers will keep Kiwis batsmen quiet and also how their batsmen able to score freely against stabilising visitor's.
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