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Streak swipe at schedule
England, July 05: Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak has taken a swipe at the scheduling of the NatWest Series ahead of his side`s double-header this weekend.
England, July 05: Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak has taken a swipe at the scheduling of the NatWest Series ahead of his side's double-header this weekend.
After the all-African clash in Wales on Saturday, Zimbabwe face England in Bristol the following day. Last weekend, South Africa played two games in two days.
"It's something the ICC (International Cricket Council) have been asked to avoid," Streak said.
"From our side, it's just a thing of fairness.
"South Africa and Zimbabwe both have back-to-back games, but England don't.
"We don't have a problem with that as long as all teams have the same schedule."
Zimbabwe's hopes of qualifying for the final will be greatly enhanced if they can take something from one or both games. Standing in Zimbabwe's way at Sofia Gardens is the figure of Jacques Kallis, the all-rounder in the form of his fine career.
Kallis, with two centuries, is averaging 314, and Streak knows that stopping him is pivotal to stopping South Africa.
"He doesn't give his wicket away, he's tight and he scores runs all around the wicket," said Streak, whose only slight injury worry is that of all-rounder Andy Blignaut (hamstring).
"He's accumulated and timed his innings really well. What he's done, he's got to a certain stage, then freed the arms without taking too many risks early on.
"He's a good example to batters. He gets in and he stays in and that's what you need to win games."
The Zimbabwe skipper said Grant Flower, who made an unbeaten 96 in the four-wicket win over England at Trent Bridge, had it in him to play another match-winning innings.
"He didn't get off to a flyer but once he was in and got the pace of the wicket, converted, gave himself a chance and that's what you need your batters to do."
South Africa have been far from a one-man show, with Jacques Rudolph showing great composure with the bat and Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini proving a formidable new-ball pair.
But of concern to the team is the indifferent form of opening batsmen Herschelle Gibbs and skipper Graeme Smith.
Both have impressive records, but in six combined innings this series they have yielded just 55 runs together.
Vice-captain Mark Boucher has backed the openers to emerge from their slumps.
"Herschelle has played enough cricket to realise you are not always going to be at the top especially as an opener when you have to face the new ball," he said.
"They are due big scores and I have no doubt that they are going to produce the goods.
"I have no doubt that Herschelle will be back and I have got a feeling that he is going to hit form when it really counts - which is good for us."
Bureau Report
"It's something the ICC (International Cricket Council) have been asked to avoid," Streak said.
"From our side, it's just a thing of fairness.
"South Africa and Zimbabwe both have back-to-back games, but England don't.
"We don't have a problem with that as long as all teams have the same schedule."
Zimbabwe's hopes of qualifying for the final will be greatly enhanced if they can take something from one or both games. Standing in Zimbabwe's way at Sofia Gardens is the figure of Jacques Kallis, the all-rounder in the form of his fine career.
Kallis, with two centuries, is averaging 314, and Streak knows that stopping him is pivotal to stopping South Africa.
"He doesn't give his wicket away, he's tight and he scores runs all around the wicket," said Streak, whose only slight injury worry is that of all-rounder Andy Blignaut (hamstring).
"He's accumulated and timed his innings really well. What he's done, he's got to a certain stage, then freed the arms without taking too many risks early on.
"He's a good example to batters. He gets in and he stays in and that's what you need to win games."
The Zimbabwe skipper said Grant Flower, who made an unbeaten 96 in the four-wicket win over England at Trent Bridge, had it in him to play another match-winning innings.
"He didn't get off to a flyer but once he was in and got the pace of the wicket, converted, gave himself a chance and that's what you need your batters to do."
South Africa have been far from a one-man show, with Jacques Rudolph showing great composure with the bat and Shaun Pollock and Makhaya Ntini proving a formidable new-ball pair.
But of concern to the team is the indifferent form of opening batsmen Herschelle Gibbs and skipper Graeme Smith.
Both have impressive records, but in six combined innings this series they have yielded just 55 runs together.
Vice-captain Mark Boucher has backed the openers to emerge from their slumps.
"Herschelle has played enough cricket to realise you are not always going to be at the top especially as an opener when you have to face the new ball," he said.
"They are due big scores and I have no doubt that they are going to produce the goods.
"I have no doubt that Herschelle will be back and I have got a feeling that he is going to hit form when it really counts - which is good for us."
Bureau Report