Chance for Test hopefuls to prove their credentials

Coach Roger Binny said it was a talented side and he would like to see a couple of them selected for Tests.

“Badani, Kanitkar, Mohanty and Vijay Bhardwaj have performed very well in the last season and I hope they come good here too,” Binny told reporters on Sunday after the team had a practice session in the morning.

“Dahiya is being dubbed as a One-Day prospect, but I think he can play well in Tests too,” Binny said of the Delhi wicket-keeper who played in the ICC knock-out tournament in Nairobi and the subsequent Sharjah triangular series but was left out for the one-off Test against Bangladesh currently being played in Dhaka.

Veteran off-spinner Ashish Kapoor, who took 50 wickets in the last season, is also in the reckoning as are Virendra Sehwag of Delhi and Ravneet Ricky of Punjab.

But all eyes would be on Kanitkar and Badani, two youngsters who have looked good in One-Day internationals and would now like to stake their claim in the Test squad.

With the wicket looking good for batting, Binny said he would go for not more than two seamers in the side.

The visitors who had a good outing in their tour opener against National Cricket Academy XI at Indore will look to continue their form and go into the first Test with confidence.

The strength of Zimbabwe is their batting which was amply proved at Indore when they declared both their innings at 300-plus scores with Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell hitting centuries in first and second innings respectively.

Stuart Carlisle, Guy Whittal, Trevor Modondo are all among the runs and Zimbabwe should not have problems on a batsman friendly pitch here.

With captain Heath Streak back in the side the bowling will also get a boost. Travis Friend has performed admirably well for Zimbabwe and along with his captain and Mluleki Nkala and Henry Olonga will spearhead, what looks a decent, Zimbabwe attack.

Streak said he was looking forward to three-days of good cricket to prepare well for the first Test. “The youngsters in the side have a good opportunity to prepare themselves and find their form for the Tests,” he said.

“Our batsmen have been playing well. I think we have a balanced bowling attack too that has the capability to take 20 wickets in a Test match.”

Zimbabwe have a few injury problems too with Bryan Strang almost ruled out for the match due to some dental problems. In his absence leg spinner Murphy may get a chance to play depending on the condition of the pitch.

Both Zimbabwe and Board President’s XI will decide on their final eleven this evening.

Teams (from):

Board President’s XI:

Hrishkesh Kanitkar (Capt), Connard Williams, Ravneet Ricky, Abhijit Kale, Hemang Badani, Virender Sehwag, Abbas Ali, Vijay Bhardwaj, Vijay Dahiya (WK), Debasish Mohanty, Santosh Saxena, Iqbal Siddiqui, Rahul Sanghvi and Ashish Kapoor.

Zimbabwe: Guy Whittall (captain), Alistair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Trevor Madondo, Douglas Marillier, Mluleki Nkala, Henry Olonga, Gavin Rennie, Bryan Strang and Paul Strang.

Umpires: Sanjeeva Rao and Mahal.