Zimbabwe Cricket: It’s time for the players to deliver

There is a lot at stake when Zimbabwe take on the West Indies in a two match test series in Bulawayo the first one set to take off on Friday.

Sikandar Raza leads the charge PIC: @Cricketracker on Twitter

This comes against the backdrop of changes to the global game which has seen the Chevrons slowly frozen out of the meaty sections of the high table.

First of all the creation of the 9-3 test formats where Zimbabwe is placed with newbies Ireland and Afghanistan gives an early indication that there are nations that would rather not have the southern African side represented at test cricket at all.

And with a country 24 years at the high table to have to play a qualifier for the next World Cup (granted the West Indies who retain a lot of goodwill have to as well) there are a few uncertainties about the game going forward.

And yet, all that could come to naught if the Zimbabweans put on a good show or even defeat the West Indies in Bulawayo. A bad performance creates murmurs at the high table about whether Zimbabwe can become a competitive nation.

Coach Heath Streak is on record saying

We’re trying to get ourselves back to where we know we can be in the game.

That is what we want to hear and if you see what the current board has done, you can see efforts are being made at improving the game.

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But that is going to have to come down to the sheer will of all sixteen players who have been called up for this series. They will have to unite for one cause, one goal. And the final eleven which will include the returning quality of Kyle Jarvis and Brendan Taylor will have to go for glory with bat and ball.

Every run conceded with be celebrated in some political capitals of the game. Every wicket lost too.

Game management will be key for every single one of those players. Classic collapses will have to be rid of. Wayward deliveries at critical points can’t be allowed. Momentum from strong sessions will have to yield results.

And for a nation that waits in hope, desperate for good vibes and feelings, it is up to the players, to make sure that they take advantage of the growing positivity at home