By News18
The scene is perfectly set at Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club, where Zimbabwe and South Africa are gearing up for what promises to be another thrilling Test match. The Proteas are sitting pretty with a 1-0 series lead after absolutely demolishing the hosts by 328 runs in the opener – quite the statement, really. What made that victory even more impressive was how South Africa managed it without their big guns. They rolled up with three fresh faces making their debuts and a bowling attack that was missing all the usual suspects. You’d think that might spell trouble, but instead it became a coming-of-age story for South African cricket’s next generation. The new boys absolutely seized their moment. Lhuan-dre Pretorius announced himself with a brilliant 153 on debut, becoming the youngest South African batter to score a century – the kind of innings that dreams are made of. Dewald Brevis chipped in with a breezy fifty, while Codi Yusuf was simply unplayable with the ball, picking up three-fors in each innings and announcing himself in style. Then there was Corbin Bosch, who had the Test match of his dreams – claiming his maiden five-wicket haul and scoring his first Test century in the same game. The experienced Wiaan Mulder wasn’t about to be outdone either, chipping in with his second Test hundred from the crucial number 3 position. But here’s the thing about cricket – there’s always something to work on, even after a thumping win. While South Africa piled on a massive 787 runs across both innings, their opening partnership was practically non-existent. The top two batters managed just 45 runs between them, which is something the team will definitely want to address before heading into this clash. The Proteas, though, have been dealt a significant setback with captain Keshav Maharaj ruled out of the series due to a groin injury. Wiaan Mulder will step up to lead the side in his absence, while Senuran Muthusamy gets the nod as Maharaj’s replacement, which is a neat swap really, given that Muthusamy also bowls left-arm orthodox spin. Zimbabwe might have been on the wrong end of a heavy defeat, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom. Tanaka Chivanga was a real bright spark in his comeback Test, bowling with genuine pace and aggression alongside the reliable Blessing Muzarabani. The pair looked dangerous whenever they had the ball in hand. Where Zimbabwe perhaps got their tactics wrong was in their team balance – going with just two seamers and three spinners on a surface that had plenty of pace and bounce seemed like a missed opportunity to exploit the conditions. The bigger headache for Zimbabwe, though, is their batting inconsistency and alarming reliance on the senior pros. Sean Williams and captain Craig Ervine continue to carry the bulk of the responsibility, and without their contributions, the scorecard makes for pretty grim reading. With both veterans in the twilight of their careers, Zimbabwe desperately needs their younger players to step up and grab the baton. Brian Bennett has been one of the few bright spots in that regard, showing real promise with his performances. Unfortunately, his first Test was cut short after he took a nasty blow to the helmet, leaving him with concussion symptoms. Whether he’s cleared to play in this crucial second Test remains to be seen. Given that the pitch is expected to offer plenty for the quicks again, Zimbabwe have some interesting seam bowling options to consider. Trevor Gwandu looks the most likely candidate to come in, with Newman Nyamhuri and Kundai Matigimu also in the mix. It’ll be fascinating to see what combination the Chevrons opt for this time around. Sure, they can’t win the series now, but there’s still plenty to play for. Can they bounce back and level things up, or will South Africa’s confident young guns complete a clean sweep? The next five days should give us all the answers.