Zimbabwe team for NatWest Series match v South Africa

9th July 2003

The Zimbabwe team for the NatWest Series game against South Africa at the Rose Bowl, Southampton today (Thursday) contains one change from the side that played against England at Bristol on Sunday. All rounder Richard Sims comes into the team in place of Charles Coventry. Sims, who has played in two One Day Internationals, will bat in the middle order and offers a third spin option alongside Ray Price and Grant Flower. A reshuffled batting order will see Flower move up to open with Dion Ebrahim. The team is:

Shirt number Player

9 Heath Streak, captain

44 Tatenda Taibu, vice captain and wicketkeeper

22 Dion Ebrahim

68 Grant Flower

19 Travis Friend

45 Stuart Matsikenyeri

90 Richard Sims

99 Andy Blignaut

14 Sean Ervine

7 Ray Price

79 Douglas Hondo

12th man will be Charles Coventry

Previewing the match, Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak said: “Every international is an important learning opportunity for the team and that’s why we’ll be treating it with the same intensity as all of our previous games.

“Beating South Africa would be a great way to end the tour. We know they are a tough side who will want to regain their winning momentum ahead of Saturday’s final. The new ground at Southampton looks to be a superb venue for top class cricket so it should be a tremendous match to mark its first international fixture,” said Streak.