Fit-again Mawoyo calls for more application from Zimbabwe’s batsmen

While New Zealand took three days off and spent a night at a game farm – former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak’s game farm no less – Zimbabwe trained for three days and held a team dinner at what can safely be called Bulawayo’s best eatery.

In the serene surrounds of 26 on Park – a restaurant converted from a family home on a massive plot in which a garden forms a green moat around a gabled mansion – they openly and honestly thrashed out their issues ahead of the second Test against New Zealand in Bulawayo.

Between bites of thick-cut steaks, Zimbabwe, “spoke about where we feel we fell short in the last game and what we need to do to improve,” Tino Mawoyo, their opening batsman, said. “There were some encouraging things said to the up-and-coming youngsters from the senior guys, some good words from the coach to gee us up before the next game. Those kinds of things are important – doing things together a team.”

As a Test team, Zimbabwe rarely even play together, and their lack of familiarity of the format, and each other, shows. Primarily, the top order’s inability to provide a platform has placed extra pressure on the rest of the line-up and it is the first thing Zimbabwe want to fix.

“The guys have had a good look at how they got out and also had a good chance to look at New Zealand’s bowlers,” Mawoyo said. “There’s a little bit more grit needed, a little bit more application and being able to say to yourself, ‘let me go out there, suss out conditions and give myself a chance’.

Easier said than done, especially against a New Zealand pace pack that attacks through movement and length. While Tim …

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