Zimbabwe relying on Whatmore’s expertise

Africans keen to make it two wins out of three when they face West Indies.

CANBERRA: Zimbabwe believe the guile of coach Dav Whatmore can help them spring a World Cup upset by beating the West Indies, said senior batsman Hamilton Masakadza on Monday.

Zimbabwe head into Tuesday’s pivotal Pool B match at Canberra’s Manuka Oval level on points with the unpredictable Caribbean cricketers and responding well to the much-travelled Whatmore’s words.

Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to the 1996 World Cup title and has also been in charge of Bangladesh and Pakistan, was only appointed to the Zimbabwe job six weeks before the World Cup.

However, Masakadza said he had made an immediate mark upon the team. “The coach has had a very big impact on us. He’s changed a couple of things and he’s really got the guys going in a certain direction, and that’s been working really well for us,” he said.

“I think the atmosphere within the team has been really good now. The guys are really working hard and the guys are very focused.”

Masakadza, who top-scored with 80 in Zimbabwe’s creditable first-up loss to South Africa before his side defeated the UAE, said Whatmore had compiled plenty of information for the team ahead of the West Indies game.

“The coach got quite a bit of information when we got here, so we basically have a really good idea what it’s going to be like out there,” said the batsman. “We mustn’t let the West Indies get away from us too quickly. Pakistan were four down early [against the West Indies on Saturday], and you can’t really recover from a position like that.

“We just have to make sure that we start early, both with bat and with ball.”

Windies confirm Bravo absence

West Indies batsman Darren Bravo has been officially ruled out of Tuesday’s World Cup clash against Zimbabwe at Manuka Oval.

“Windies confirm Darren Bravo to miss match vs Zimbabwe on Tuesday. The team remains hopeful he might be fit to face SA in Sydney on Friday,” the team announced on its Twitter feed on Monday.

Bravo suffered a left hamstring injury in Saturday’s 150-run win over Pakistan in Christchurch. He made 49 before he was forced to retire hurt and didn’t field when Pakistan batted.

The 26-year-old Trinidadian had also been left dazed when a powerful throw from Younus Khan hit him on the side of the helmet as he scrambled through for a single.

To complete his miserable day, he was later reprimanded by the International Cricket Council for swearing.

Jonathan Carter is expected to be drafted into the team to play Zimbabwe.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 24^th, 2015.

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