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Even a draw would be huge achievement: Streak
Perth, Sept 24: Simply achieving a draw against world champions Australia in October`s two-Test series would be a significant triumph, Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak said here today.
Perth, Sept 24: Simply achieving a draw against world champions Australia in October's two-Test series would be a significant triumph, Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak said here today.
"Obviously, you never walk on the park without the expectation of trying to win - that's the prime objective," he said after Zimbabwe's arrival here to prepare for Tests in Perth and Sydney.
"But I think for us, to be realistic, if we can set our goals to walk away with a draw it would be a huge achievement," he said.
"If we have the opportunity to win, obviously we are going to go for it, but that's the way I look at. I believe it is going to be a huge learning curve for a lot of us on this tour. If we can take some big positives out of this tour, Zimbabwe cricket will be the better for it," said Streak.
"Hopefully, we can come back in a couple of years' time as a more experienced side and one that can maybe play in a three-Test series," he said. Streak, who leads one of the least experienced sides fielded by Zimbabwe, said he was sure the team's fighting spirit would pull them through their first test tour of Australia.
"We have always tended to lift when we play the top sides, so hopefully we can do that again," he said.
"We enjoy being the underdogs, but the guys do not enjoy losing, so they don't want to be embarrassed - they will be going out there and giving it their best during this series," he added.
It was frustrating that Zimbabwe would be without the flower brothers, Andy and Grant, and other quality players, streak said. Andy Flower has quit Zimbabwe after his controversial protest during this year's World Cup against his government's human right record.
Grant, the side's most accomplished remaining batsman, has been ruled out of the current tour with a broken thumb - a setback Zimbabwe coach Geoff Marsh described as "a huge blow".
Zimbabwe squad: Heath Streak (capt), Andy Blignaut, Gary Brent, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Craig Evans, Gavin Ewing, Trevor Gripper, Douglas Hondo, Stewart Matsikenyeri, Ray Price, Tatenda Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Craig Wishart. Bureau Report
"But I think for us, to be realistic, if we can set our goals to walk away with a draw it would be a huge achievement," he said.
"If we have the opportunity to win, obviously we are going to go for it, but that's the way I look at. I believe it is going to be a huge learning curve for a lot of us on this tour. If we can take some big positives out of this tour, Zimbabwe cricket will be the better for it," said Streak.
"Hopefully, we can come back in a couple of years' time as a more experienced side and one that can maybe play in a three-Test series," he said. Streak, who leads one of the least experienced sides fielded by Zimbabwe, said he was sure the team's fighting spirit would pull them through their first test tour of Australia.
"We have always tended to lift when we play the top sides, so hopefully we can do that again," he said.
"We enjoy being the underdogs, but the guys do not enjoy losing, so they don't want to be embarrassed - they will be going out there and giving it their best during this series," he added.
It was frustrating that Zimbabwe would be without the flower brothers, Andy and Grant, and other quality players, streak said. Andy Flower has quit Zimbabwe after his controversial protest during this year's World Cup against his government's human right record.
Grant, the side's most accomplished remaining batsman, has been ruled out of the current tour with a broken thumb - a setback Zimbabwe coach Geoff Marsh described as "a huge blow".
Zimbabwe squad: Heath Streak (capt), Andy Blignaut, Gary Brent, Stuart Carlisle, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Craig Evans, Gavin Ewing, Trevor Gripper, Douglas Hondo, Stewart Matsikenyeri, Ray Price, Tatenda Taibu, Mark Vermeulen, Craig Wishart. Bureau Report