Zimbabwe squad in training, Taylor absent - but ready to play

Posted by brmtaylor.com admin on July 10, 2009

The Zimbabwe Independent's Enock Muchinjo spoke to Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya ahead of the 5 match ODI series against Bangladesh next month. Utseya says it's time for Zimbabwe to have a killer punch, with the experienced campaigners Stuart Matsikenyeri and Hamilton Masakadza needing to perform consistently.

The Zimbabwe preliminary squad is currently in training at Harare Sports Club. Mark Vermeulen looks set to make an international return, having been training very hard and showing a real desire to make the team. The final squad will be named on August 5.

Brendan Taylor was a notable absentee from the training squad. Vusi Sibanda, who often plays cricket abroad under the same agreements as Taylor, was training with the rest of the squad. Despite being absent from the training squad however, Brendan Taylor has confirmed in a conversation to forum member zimfan1 that he will be returning to Zimbabwe ahead of the series. It is expected that he will join the the rest of the squad at the beginning of August before returning to England at the end of the series.

Meanwhile, there are question marks over the fitness of Sean Williams and Charles Coventry. The rest of the training squad were practicing in the cricket nets while Williams and Coventry were running in the outfield, with team physio Amato Machinkicho saying the fitness trainer was working with them.

The first one day international will be on August 9 at Queens Sports Club.

Thank you to Enock Muchinjo and zimfan1 for the news about Brendan Taylor and Sean Williams.