Dane Paterson, the Cobras quick, has been called up as an emergency replacement for Wayne Parnell in the South Africa A squad that will take on England

Firdose Moonda18-Dec-2015Dane Paterson, the Cobras quick, has been called up as an emergency replacement for Wayne Parnell in the South Africa A squad that will take on England in a three-day warm-up match in Pietermaritzburg starting on Sunday. Parnell has picked up a foot injury and will not be able to take part in the match.The news will come as a blow to Parnell’s long-form ambitions and hopes of an international recall after he was left out of South Africa’s squad to tour India in October and November. Parnell, who also plays for the Cobras, has been opening the bowling in the recently completed 20-over competition and twice opened the batting as well. He was being primed for a comeback after last playing a Test in March 2014 and took part in the South Africa A side’s tour of India.Paterson was also part of that A series and opened the bowling with Parnell. The visit was tough on both of them – they only picked up a wicket apiece – but Paterson has been on the selectors’ radar since he topped the first-class bowling charts last season. In nine matches for the Cobras, Paterson took 42 wickets at 22.54 to take his overall tally to 228 first-class wickets at an average of 21.81.He will bowl alongside Marchant de Lange, who is challenging for a Test spot, and Chris Morris in a strong A side. South Africa have named the two wicketkeeper batsmen competing for a place in the senior side, Dane Vilas and Quinton de Kock, although neither of them is part of the squad for the first two Tests, and also included left-hander Rilee Rossouw, who has recovered from a stress fracture and is the reserve batsman in the Test squad.South Africa have received some good news ahead of the Test series against England, with Dale Steyn passing a fitness test on the groin injury he suffered in India last month.

Melbourne Renegades fast bowler James Pattinson will miss his team’s final league game of the season, against the Adelaide Strikers on Monday, due to soreness in his left shin

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jan-2016Melbourne Renegades fast bowler James Pattinson will miss his team’s final league game of the season, against the Adelaide Strikers on Monday, due to soreness in his left shin.Pattinson, 25, picked up the knock towards the end of the recently-concluded home Tests against West Indies, and has not played any game since the Sydney Test. A new bowling action earned Pattinson 13 wickets in that series, though he had trouble with his front foot in the second Test, in Melbourne.A Cricket Australia release confirmed that the decision to stand Pattinson down for the Strikers game was taken by the board’s medical staff in consultation with the Renegades to ensure that Pattinson recovered fully in time for Australia’s upcoming international assignments; the team has tours of New Zealand and South Africa, as well as the World T20 in India to prepare for immediately after the Australian summer.Pattinson last played a T20 match almost a year ago, during the previous edition of the Big Bash League. He has not played a T20 international since March 2012.The Renegades are currently fourth in the BBL table, and need a win to keep their qualification hopes alive.

James Neesham has joined the influx of New Zealand internationals playing county cricket this summer after signing for Derbyshire as their second overseas player for the NatWest T20 Blast

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-2016James Neesham has joined the influx of New Zealand internationals playing county cricket this summer after signing for Derbyshire as their second overseas player for the NatWest T20 Blast.Derbyshire have already recruited Hamish Rutherford and Neil Broom, who holds a British passport, for the 2016 season. Both also play for Otago alongside Neesham, who is expected to be available for all of Derbyshire’s Blast games, with the competition starting up in May.”The opportunity to play the entire NatWest T20 Blast this summer with Derbyshire is fantastic and it’ll be great to join up with Hamish and Neil,” Neesham said.”The three of us being able to contribute as a unit is a big attraction and should give us a real head start. Hamish has told me a lot about the club and their ambitions for the NatWest T20 Blast, and I’m looking forward to joining up with the squad later this year.”Derbyshire have finished bottom of the North Group in the Blast for the last two seasons and have only reached the quarter-finals once, in 2005.Neesham, who has been capped 41 times and has experience of playing in the IPL, averages 27.24 with the bat and 24.85 with the ball in T20.Derbyshire’s elite performance director, Graeme Welch, said: “Winning the race to sign James means we can add more quality and experience to our Twenty20 side. He’s an exciting talent, with IPL experience, and has the capability to win games with both bat and ball.”To have three internationals, all of whom are team-mates in New Zealand, available for the entire NatWest T20 Blast campaign is massive and will provide us with stability on the field and within the dressing room.”Neesham will come up against a number of his international team-mates during the summer. Tom Latham signed for Kent last week, with Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor among a dozen New Zealanders already brought in by counties for 2016.

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor is in line to make a return from the injury at the Island of Origin match on February 28 in Wellington

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Feb-2016New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor is in line to make a return from injury at the Island of Origin T20 match on February 28 in Wellington, which is being seen as a warm-up game before the team’s departure for the World T20 in India. The batsman had suffered a muscle tear in his left side during the T20I series against Pakistan last month. While the injury kept him out of the Pakistan ODIs and the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy and Tests against Australia, he is in contention for the World T20, which starts from March 8.Apart from Taylor, eight other players of New Zealand’s World T20 squad will also feature in the match. The North Island squad, captained by Taylor, includes allrounder Grant Elliott, fast bowlers Mitchell McClenaghan and Adam Milne, batsman Colin Munro, wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi and legspinner Ish Sodhi. The South Island squad, which will be captained by Tom Latham, includes offspinner Nathan McCullum and batsman Henry Nicholls.National selector Gavin Larsen said the match was an opportunity for several players to get into T20 mode before they left for India.”It’s two very strong teams who will both be eager on taking bragging rights,” Larsen said. “It’s also a great chance for a number of players to get back into Twenty20 mode ahead of the tournament in India.”We’ll be watching with interest, as it’s also a chance for a number of fringe players to push their case for higher honours going forward.”North Island: Ross Taylor (capt), Todd Astle, Doug Bracewell, Anton Devcich, Grant Elliott, Mitchell McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi (wk), Ish Sodhi, George WorkerSouth Island: Tom Latham (capt), Dean Brownlie, Jacob Duffy, Andrew Ellis, Peter Fulton, Matt Henry, Nathan McCullum, Henry Nicholls (wk), Marty Kain, Hamish Rutherford, Nathan Smith, Neil Wagner

Ross Taylor and Martin Guptill recall their fondest memories of their mentor and pay tribute to the fallen New Zealand hero

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Mar-20163:44

‘Passionate, emotional, genius, inspirational’

Ross Taylor has said that a letter from Martin Crowe late last year inspired him and played a key role in his knock of 290 against Australia in Perth. Taylor spoke of a one-and-a-half-page note as he and Martin Guptill fondly remembered Crowe, their mentor, who died on Thursday after a prolonged battle against cancer.Crowe’s name has often found mention when Taylor and Guptill’s success has been spoken of. “It was the first time in my career that I actually doubted how long I’d be playing this game,” Taylor said. “He (Crowe) wrote a one-and-a-half page letter, one of the most amazing letters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, and it was about me and just a little reminder of why you play this game. I’m sure in time I’ll show people the e-mail, but it was pretty special and I must admit, I definitely wouldn’t have got 290 without this e-mail.”But in saying that, he sent a message after I bettered his record of 188 and said that that was the only record he was proud of and I took that off from him. But, he was still in good enough spirits to tell me that his highest Test score, 299, was better than mine. That put me back to earth very quickly. That e-mail may have only been a small thing, but it had a huge influence on the way I batted that day.”Taylor and Guptill shared very close relationships with Crowe, the extent of which was best reflected in the words Crowe chose for the two batsmen, just before World Cup final last year. “To see the two sons I never had, Ross Taylor and Marty Guptill, run out in black, in sync with their close comrades, will be mesmerically satisfying,” Crowe had written. “I will hold back tears all day long.”Guptill had not known Crowe for as long as Taylor did, but Crowe still had a massive influence on his career. “The last two years, it’s been valuable and I won’t forget my time with him,” Guptill said.”He’s very positive, he just wanted to push me to be the best I can be. I’ve got a lot of stuff we’ve worked on together, I’ve got it locked away in my head.”Taylor remembered how it was only on the insistence of Ian Smith that he first approached Crowe. “I was probably a little different to most Kiwi kids,” Taylor said. “My favourite players, growing up, were Sachin Tendulkar and Mark Waugh. I didn’t mind Hogan, I enjoyed watching him in the 1992 World Cup, but I didn’t really model my game on his. But I had just come into the New Zealand team, I was in limbo.”I knew Ian Smith very well, I went to school with his son Jarrod and we were good friends. I was just talking to Smithy one day and said I was enjoying playing cricket, but want to be better, and he said, ‘I think it’s about time you gave Martin Crowe a call.’ It was pretty nerve-wracking, ringing a New Zealand great, but he was pretty open and I flew up and stayed in his house in Auckland.”He’s just a genius. He was a pretty hard taskmaster. That’s what I needed in my career, for someone to kick me up the backside when needed. But at the same time, he understood when to pump your tyres up a little bit. I don’t think I’d be the player I’ve become without the guidance he gave me throughout and I owe a lot of my career to what he passed on to me.”Taylor was especially emotional while talking about the time he first learnt of Crowe’s illness, during New Zealand’s tour of England last year. “When I first found out, he was pretty open about the illness. He sent a message through a couple of days before the Test in Leeds and said, ‘I’m not well and if I do pass away, please do not come back for the funeral.’ His last wish was for me and Gup to bat together. So Kane [Williamson] knicked off and I went out to bat, glove-punched Gup and we both said at the same time, ‘this is for Hogan.’ I’m sure he’ll be looking down and telling me to play straight.”Guptill was packing his bags to leave for Dubai for New Zealand’s preparatory camp ahead of the World T20 when he received news of Crowe’s death. “I was with my wife Laura and she got a notification from New Zealand Herald, saying he had passed away and, straightaway, I just felt very numb. We knew it was coming but didn’t know when. And when it eventually did, it still came as a bit of a shock and one that will take some time to get over.”Ross has known Martin longer than I have. We were both quite emotional getting on that plane. We shared a glass of wine together in memory of Hogan, so that was a nice thing to do while we were in the air.”Calling him a family man, Guptill fondly recalled the time he spent with Crowe outside of cricket, particularly the night before his wedding as well as the day when Crowe, along with his entire family, went to watch the NRL grand final of 2014 with Guptill’s family.Guptill summed up Crowe as one of New Zealand’s finest ever. “When I was a lot younger, in the lounge, watching the Test matches at Eden Park, I used to pad up and pretend to be while Martin was batting on TV, so that’s one thing I’ll take away from his early career. I don’t remember too much of him playing, to be honest. All I remember is him being a seriously good player and probably our finest ever.”Taylor recounted Crowe’s first impression of him as a “dirty slogger” and summed up Crowe as a passionate man who loved and wanted to give back to the game. “I had only just started playing first-class cricket and Leanne (Taylor’s manager) rang him up and said, ‘I’ve got a new player, Ross Taylor, can you go and have a look at him?’ I think I batted at 5 then for CD (Central Districts) and I saw Martin walking around the boundary, like a selector at an age-group tournament. I think I got about 40 off 25 balls on the first morning of a first-class game and Hogan said to Leanne, ‘he’s nothing but a dirty slogger.’ But things have come a long way. Hopefully, I’ve improved from that slogger back at Eden Park No. 2.”He was passionate, emotional, and a genius. He had a kind heart and I think he just wanted to be included and give back to the game of cricket that had been so good to him. He saw what I wanted to do and I just hope I was able to give him a little bit of personal satisfaction out of my career because he did give me a lot.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board has increased the number of women’s central contracts from 21 to 22, and retained Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan and Asmavia Iqbal in the top category

Umar Farooq04-May-2016The PCB has increased the number of women’s central contracts from 21 to 22, and retained Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan and Asmavia Iqbal in the top category. Fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz was moved from category C to D while opener Marina Iqbal has been dropped from B to C.

The contract list

Category A (PKR 1,00,500, USD 960)
Sana Mir, Bismah Maroof, Javeria Khan, Asmavia Iqbal
Category B (PKR 85,000, USD 810)
Nida Dar, Anam Amin, Nain Abidi
Category C (PKR 65,000, USD 620)
Sadia Yousuf, Sidra Nawaz, Rabiya Shah, Sidra Ameen, Nahida Khan, Aliya Riaz, Iram Javed, Marina Iqbal, Sania Khan
Category D (PKR 30,000, USD 285)
Muneeba Ali, Almas Akram, Aiman Anwer, Diana Baig, Ayesha Zafar, Kainat Imtiaz

Muneeba Ali, Almas Akram, Aiman Anwer, Diana Baig, Ayesha Zafar are the new inclusions in the contract list. Uncapped players Fareeha Mehmood and Maham Tariq, along with fast bowler Sumaiya Siddiqi, who played nine limited-overs games in 2015, were not awarded a contract.Left-arm spinner Anam Amin, who took 33 wickets in 17 limited-overs matches in 2015, has been promoted to category B from C. Sania Khan, who last played for Pakistan in November 2015, has been demoted from from B to C.”These contracts have been given to women cricketers for their outstanding performance and progress they have shown in domestic and international events throughout the year 2015,” the PCB said in a release. “The one-year contract is effective from January 1, 2016, and is divided into four categories (A, B, C and D).”Despite lacking an organised international calendar, Pakistan Women have put in impressive performances at global events. They beat India and Bangladesh in the group stage of the recently-concluded World T20 in India, but failed to make the semi-final after losing to West Indies and England.

Somerset won a thrilling T20 Blast game for the second time at Taunton this season and in doing so sent Surrey tumbling to their second defeat of the campaign

ECB Reporters Network10-Jun-2016
ScorecardJohann Myburgh played the match-winning hand•Getty Images

Somerset won a thrilling T20 Blast game for the second time at Taunton this season and in doing so sent Surrey tumbling to their second defeat of the campaign.Although Chris Gayle provided one or two fireworks during his 13-ball cameo at the top end of the innings, it was Johann Myburgh and Roelof van der Merwe who led the way as Somerset overhauled Surrey’s 186 for 4 with four balls to spare.Having won the toss, Surrey lost their first wicket in the fifth over when Jason Roy, who was dropped on 10 by Jamie Overton off the bowling of brother Craig, was caught by van der Merwe off Craig Overton for 28.Somerset’s fielding was certainly not up to scratch and both Kumar Sangakkara and Dominic Sibley benefitted before the former well caught by Gayle, at extra cover, off Yasir Arafat for 37 off 19 balls. The Sri Lankan struck seven boundaries in his short stay at the crease and was understandably miffed when Gayle stuck out a hand and held on to a smart catch.In the very next over, Rory Burns departed for a single, caught by Craig Overton at deep midwicket at 96 for 3. At that stage, Surrey needed a partnership of real substance. Thanks to Sibley and Dwayne Bravo they got it.The pair added 69 off 42 balls with Bravo helping himself to 15 before van der Merwe held on to a wonderful catch on the deep midwicket boundary.Sibley continued to lead the way for Surrey and though Somerset bowled well at the death, the 20-year-old bolstered the visitors’ total to 186 for 4 with an unbeaten 74 off 55 balls. The youngster, who hurt his back in trying to hit Jamie Overton out of the ground, struck six fours and three sixes.Somerset’s reply was only eight balls old when captain Jim Allenby top edged a Ravi Rampaul delivery to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, at 10 for 1.Normal order was restored, for the Somerset supporters, off the final three balls of Rampaul’s first over. Gayle, looking to improve on the 49 he scored against Essex at the ground seven days previous, struck all three deliveries for six.
Another six, off Tom Curran, followed before the West Indian star was caught by countryman Bravo on the square leg boundary for 31 at 37 for 2. Bravo was celebrating again three balls later when Peter Trego gloved a short ball to Foakes, for 2, at 39 for 3.With two of the big hitters having departed, it was left to Myburgh and Gregory to pick up the pieces. Myburgh, who batted so well against Gloucestershire in the Royal London Cup last Sunday, struck successive sixes off Tom Curran to help Somerset to 57 for 3 after five overs.Myburgh, who continued to punish anything over-pitched, took his side to 100 in the 10th over, but lost fourth wicket partner Gregory at 102, caught by Foakes off Sam Curran for 21.The disappointment was only temporary as Myburgh brought up his 50 off 28 balls in the 12th over and laid the platform for Somerset’s second victory of the season.Myburgh and van der Merwe put on an unbeaten 87 for the fifth wicket with the former finishing 86 not out and van der Merwe unbeaten on 39.

Former India captain Anil Kumble and former cricketers Pravin Amre and Lalchand Rajput are among some of the applicants who will make presentations to the BCCI’s three-member cricket advisory panel that will pick India’s head coach

Nagraj Gollapudi and Gaurav Kalra 20-Jun-2016Former India captain Anil Kumble and former cricketers Pravin Amre and Lalchand Rajput are among some of the applicants who will make presentations to the BCCI’s three-member cricket advisory panel that will pick India’s head coach. The presentations and interviews will be conducted in Kolkata from Tuesday.It is understood that Kumble and Amre will meet the panel, comprising Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman, on Tuesday afternoon. It is not yet known whether Ravi Shastri, who was India’s team director until the end of the World Twenty20, will also make a presentation. Shastri, who confirmed his application in early June, did not respond to the query sent by ESPNcricinfo.Sandeep Patil, the chairman of selectors, has reportedly not yet received any communication from the BCCI. Patil had stated earlier this month that he had applied for the job.Last week, the BCCI had trimmed the list of 57 names to 21 but clarified that the advisory committee could be given the entire list if required. The committee is expected to submit its choice by June 22. If it does so, the BCCI could announce the appointment at the working committee meeting in Dharamsala on June 24. In an interview with , Ganguly did not divulge the names of the shortlisted candidates but said that the committee was hopeful of finalising a coach by June 24.”The interviews will start from tomorrow. We know the candidates, we’ve shortlisted the candidates but unfortunately I cannot tell that to you. So please pardon me from doing that. Yes, as you said, the interview is tomorrow and hopefully by June 24 you will get to know the name of the Indian coach,” he said.According to a BCCI official, the advisory panel – which was appointed in June last year – has already met a few times to discuss procedures before it meets shortlisted candidates. It is also understood that the panel, including coordinator Sanjay Jagdale, has done “thorough homework” on the applicants who will travel to Kolkata on Tuesday. When asked whether the interview process will extend to Wednesday, the official said that a decision on that would be taken on the basis of what happens tomorrow.The BCCI is seeking a coach for the India team after Shastri’s contract expired at the end of the World T20 earlier this year. The board opened the process on June 1, with an advertisement on its website, and had set June 10 as a deadline for candidates to apply for the role.Apart from Shastri, Patil and Kumble, current selector Vikram Rathour, Venkatesh Prasad, Balwinder Singh Sandhu and former Bangladesh coach Stuart Law also applied for the job.Among the key qualifications stipulated by the BCCI was that candidates should have coached at the international or first-class level. It was also mentioned that “it is preferred that the candidate should be qualified through a certification/assessment program conducted by any of the Full Member countries, and currently possess such a valid certification.”

A round-up of the Dhaka Premier League matches on June 20, 2016

Mohammad Isam20-Jun-2016Abahani Limited took another step towards the Dhaka Premier League title, beating Legends of Rupganj by 60 runs at the BKSP-3 ground in Savar.After being put in, Abahani’s batsmen made solid contributions to lift them to 290 for 8 in 50 overs. Rupganj were bowled out for 230 in 44.4 overs, with Mosaddek Hossain, the offspinner, taking 5 for 43.Both teams are now level on points – 20 each – but Abahani are on top on account of more wins.Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das, the Abahani openers, added 76 runs for the first wicket before left-arm spinner Taijul Islam had Tamim caught at long-on in the 17th over. Then Liton, having made 51 off 69 balls, was caught at short midwicket as Rupganj fought back to reduce Abahani to 112 for 4 in the 28th over.Shakib Al Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain regained the advantage with a 140-run fifth-wicket stand. Shakib, who made 66 off 57 balls, was severe on everything short. The best of his six fours and two sixes came via cuts and pulls. Mosaddek preferred the cover drive and chips over midwicket. He made 73 off only 55 balls, with eight fours and two straight sixes. Both batsmen fell in the space of nine balls between the 45th and 46th overs which prevented Abahani from making 300.Taijul finished with 3 for 45. Asif Ahmed claimed 3 for 57 in nine overs and Alauddin Babu took 2 for 35. Jahurul Islam took four catches, the most by an outfielder in a DPL List-A match, joining Tushar Imran, Hasibul Hossain, Raqibul Hasan and Naeem Islam.The Rupganj chase began horribly. They lost their top three in 8.3 overs. Jahurul and Junaid Siddique were bowled by Shakib and Mosaddek respectively when the batsmen tried to slog across the line. Soumya Sarkar’s stumps sustained damage as well after he was beaten by Taskin Ahmed’s pace.A 59-run fourth wicket stand fanned hopes of a recovery but Nahidul Islam was stumped off Shakib for 36 and his partner Mohammad Mithun was caught at long-on for 55.Asif Ahmed hammered 70 off 54 balls with five sixes and three fours, but with no one else contributing Abahani’s total was never under threat. Asif was the last man out, but he seemed to suggest he wasn’t ready for the Taskin full toss that bowled him in the 44th over.Mosaddek was adjudged Player of the Match for the third time in the DPL having taken a five-for to go with his half-century.In Fatullah, Prime Doleshwar Sporting Club beat Victoria Sporting Club by 91 runs. Despite that, both teams are out of contention for the titlePrime Doleshwar amassed 333 for 5 in their 50 overs thanks to a 96-ball 100 from opener Raqibul Hasan. Victoria were in and excellent position to chase the target down with the openers Abdul Mazid (50) and Jubair Ahmed (56) and their No. 3 Mominul Haque (61) making fifties each. But they collapsed from 201 for 3 to 242 all out. Left-arm spinner Sunzamul Islam took 3 for 44, while Al-Amin Hossain and Rahatul Ferdous took two each to secure the victory.Prime Doleshwar were able to post a strong total despite losing an early wicket – Imtiaz Hossain was dismissed for 8 in the first over – thanks to Raqibul and the partnerships he led – 70 runs for the second wicket with Rony Talukdar, then 124 for the third wicket with Sachin Baby, who made 64 off 92 balls. Raqibul raised his first hundred of the season off 94 balls, but was dismissed soon after.With 14 overs left and a foundation of 202 for 3 to work with, Nasir Hossain plundered an unbeaten 74 off 42 balls to push the score well beyond Victoria’s reach.In Mirpur, Ariful Haque’s unbeaten century sealed a thrilling one-wicket win for Mohammedan Sporting Club against Prime Bank Cricket Club.Fast bowler Rubel Hossain, who had his national contract reinstated yesterday, was given the final over with six runs to defend. Mohammedan took singles off the first two balls, but lost three wickets in the next three due to run-outs. The last of those came about in unsavoury fashion.Off the penultimate ball, an appeal was made for lbw that was turned down by the umpire, even as Ariful and Subhasis Roy tried to take two. Prime Bank appealed for a run out on both ends, but the batsmen were ruled not out, prompting the Prime Bank players to go off the field for 15 minutes as protest. They were persuaded to return by the match referee, and Subhashis was declared run out.Ariful took strike for the final ball on 99. With two runs required, he struck a four through third man to seal the win.Prime Bank’s total of 244 had seemed more than enough when Ariful had come to the crease at 76 for 4. But he didn’t give up. He added 61 runs for the fifth wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim (50), added 59 more for the seventh wicket with the Faisal Hossain and finally shepherded the team across the line amid intense pressure.In a game of small margins, Prime back would rue the disappointing returns in the latter overs of their batting innings. Sabbir Rahman’s 77 off 66 balls and opener Unmukt Chand’s 40 off 62 balls had helped them to 196 for 5 in the 41st over, but it ended with Shuvagata Hom’s wicket, and thereafter, Prime Bank lost their way and were bowled out before facing their full quota. Shahidul Islam, Faisal, Enamul Haque jnr and Naeem Islam took two wickets each; Habibur Rahman and Roy took a wicket apiece.

Zimbabwe opener Tino Mawoyo, who has recovered from injury, has called for more grit from the batsmen, ahead of the side’s second Test against New Zealand in Bulawayo

Firdose Moonda in Bulawayo05-Aug-2016While New Zealand took three days off and spent a night at a game farm – former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak’s game farm no less – Zimbabwe trained for three days and held a team dinner at what can safely be called Bulawayo’s best eatery.In the serene surrounds of 26 on Park – a restaurant converted from a family home on a massive plot in which a garden forms a green moat around a gabled mansion – they openly and honestly thrashed out their issues ahead of the second Test against New Zealand in Bulawayo.Between bites of thick-cut steaks, Zimbabwe, “spoke about where we feel we fell short in the last game and what we need to do to improve,” Tino Mawoyo, their opening batsman, said. “There were some encouraging things said to the up-and-coming youngsters from the senior guys, some good words from the coach to gee us up before the next game. Those kinds of things are important – doing things together a team.”As a Test team, Zimbabwe rarely even play together, and their lack of familiarity of the format, and each other, shows. Primarily, the top order’s inability to provide a platform has placed extra pressure on the rest of the line-up and it is the first thing Zimbabwe want to fix.”The guys have had a good look at how they got out and also had a good chance to look at New Zealand’s bowlers,” Mawoyo said. “There’s a little bit more grit needed, a little bit more application and being able to say to yourself, ‘let me go out there, suss out conditions and give myself a chance’.Easier said than done, especially against a New Zealand pace pack that attacks through movement and length. While Tim Southee and Trent Boult swing the ball, Neil Wagner brings a barrage of short balls, which test Zimbabwe’s technique. As Prince Masvaure suggested after the first day’s play in the first Test, the more Zimbabwe told themselves not to succumb to Wagner, the more they did, but Mawoyo explained they have worked on a better mental approach.”As the psychologists say, if you don’t want to do something, don’t say don’t. Find a better way of saying it which is probably, look to get under the ball. As we saw the captain in the second innings, and a little bit of Donald Tiripano earlier, they took it on the body,” Mawoyo said. “Saying don’t is something negative and the mind gravitates towards it naturally, but those chats have happened. Guys have done a little bit more work with the shorts ball in the nets. I think that’s something we will address a lot better in the second Test.”Mawoyo will have to walk that talk first. He has recovered from a thumb injury to take his place at the top of the order, and despite a week on the sidelines, believes he is ready. “I back my ability,” he said, a rare statement of self-belief from a Zimbabwe batsman, but one Mawoyo is justified in. His unbeaten 79 for Zimbabwe A in a draw against South Africa A last month is fresh in his mind and he hopes to take that determination into this Test.If he is able to, it will also be an act of leadership in a Zimbabwe team riddled with inexperience. Hamilton Masakadza’s injury-forced withdrawal has left Mawoyo as the most experienced batsman in the line-up, alongside Craig Ervine, with both having eight caps each to their name. Only captain Graeme Cremer, who has played 12 Tests, is more experienced.After handing out three new caps in the first Test, Zimbabwe could end up with another rookie in the second. PJ Moor, who scored a century and a fifty in two Logan Cup appearances last season, is likely to come into the starting XI and could even take the gloves from Regis Chakabva. Moor has shown promise for several years, including during a stint at South Africa’s University of Pretoria Academy, where he was in 2010. “It was obvious that he was going to play at a high level,” Pierre de Bruyn, who coached at the academy, told ESPNcricinfo. “He embraced every challenge in the academy year which is a very intense program, and what stood out was his work ethic, combined with very strong values.”Moor’s talent, like Masvaure’s, can only bloom in nurturing circumstances, and with so few fixtures in the Zimbabwe calendar, planning that way ahead may be too optimistic. That may be why Mawoyo offered nothing more than realistic expectations ahead of the second Test.”If we show improvement, we’ve done well. We’ve spoken about the top order probably not doing as well as they should have, the bowlers not striking as well as often as we would have liked them to,” he said. “Realistically, to come out and say we’re going to win the next Test would not be honest. If we can go out there and improve on the things we have spoken out, we are going forward.”