ZIM v WI, 1st Test Preview: Zimbabwe boosted by Brendan Taylor's return; Windies eager for a turnaround

After getting outplayed in all departments in England, West Indies travel to Zimbabwe for a two-match Test series commencing at Bulawayo on Saturday. One thing which will hog all the limelight is Brendan Taylor returning to International colors, after calling off his career post the ICC World Cup 2015.

West Indies’ performance was dismal indeed in England, but they can take a lot of positives from the one Test match they managed to win. Shai Hope‘s record-breaking twin centuries and some noteworthy contributions from Kraigg Brathwaite and Jason Holder helped them win the second Test in the series, defying all possible odds.

Nevertheless, the Windies will not have an easy time combating this resurgent Zimbabwean unit. They put up a strong show against Sri Lanka and almost registered a victory in Galle. Skipper Graeme Creemer has been in terrific form with the ball and they have a strong batting unit to pose a challenge against a side that’s not too far away from them.

Toss: Windies won the toss and opted to bat

Windies (Playing XI): Kraigg Brathwaite, Kieran Powell, Kyle Hope, Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich(w), Jason Holder(c), Devendra Bishoo, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel

Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Hamilton Masakadza, Solomon Mire, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Malcolm Waller, Regis Chakabva(w), Graeme Cremer(c), Kyle Jarvis, Chris Mpofu

Jason Holder: We are gonna bat first. It’s a dry wicket. We want to make the first use of the wicket. We got to keep progressing. We have done good work in the last year. No pressure to be honest. We have played decent cricket in the past. We need to be consistent. We are going with the same team from the last Test. Three seamers, Bishoo is the spinner and six batsmen.

Graeme Cremer: It might swing with the overcast conditions. We would have batted first. We couldn’t get across the line in Sri Lanka. We have got a strong team to push the West Indies. I think runs on the board is important. We need to score 650+ runs and try to get 20 wickets to win the match. Happy about that (return of Jarvis and Taylor). Jarvis will lead the bowling attack. Not just batting at four, but the experience he (Taylor) brings is great for us.

Focus will be on

Brendan Taylor (Zimbabwe)

All eyes will be on the former skipper Brendan Taylor, as the 31-year-old will be wearing his Test cap after 3 long years. He called it the day after an emphatic hundred against India in the group stages of the 2015 World Cup and moved to England. After a going through a lean patch, Taylor’s back with Zimbabwe and he will have a crucial role to play in the middle order.

Shai Hope (Windies)

Arguably the best batsman in recent times for the Caribbean side, Shai Hope’s wicket is something the Zimbabweans will be targeting. The 24-year-old finished as the highest run scorer in the series against England and is growing in stature with every match. The hot and humid conditions at Bulawayo won’t make things easy and these are completely different conditions when compared to the ones in England. Nevertheless, he will be their main man and his stay will be really important.

Playing combinations

Zimbabwe

Solomon Mire was fantastic against Sri Lanka and he will continue opening the batting alongside the experienced Hamilton Masakadza. Brendan Taylor will probably come in at number 3, with Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Regis Chakabva and Graeme Cremer to follow in the middle order.

Chris Mpofu will be back with the team after missing out in the second Test against Sri Lanka. He will accompanied by Kyle Jarvis and Tendai Chisoro in the fast bowling department. Sikander Raza and Cremer will be the operating spinners.

West Indies

Kraigg Brathwaite was decent in the series against England he will be opening the innings alongside Kieran Powell. Kyle Hope will come in at 3 and the lad needs some runs to keep his place in the side. Shai Hope, Roston Chase, Jermaine Blackwood, Shane Dowrich and Jason Holder will take charge of the middle order.

Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel will relish bowling on these hard tracks. Jason Holder will be the most important bowler being the in-form man in the side. Roston Chase and Devendra Bishoo might not get much assistance from the track, but these are two decent spinners who any team would love to have.

StatAttack

2 – West Indies won just two Test matches in 2017 out of the 7 they’ve played.

4 – Cremer needs 4 more wickets to complete 50 Test scalps.

1 – Jason Holder needs one more wicket to complete 50 Test wickets.