Craig Ervine on improving Zimbabwe’s fielding standards as high-scoring test ends in an inevitable draw between the two.
Craig Ervine lamented Zimbabwe’s poor fielding after Zimbabwe drew the first Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
The two players who benefited the most from the missed opportunities were Rahmat Shah (234) and Hashmatullah Shahidi (246), who gave the visitors a 113-run advantage in the first innings despite giving up 586. Afsar Zazai also scored 113.
It was difficult for either team to force a result because of the three days of rain and the fact that just 13 wickets had been taken till the beginning of the final day.
“The one little area where we’ll probably look back and think, ‘the outcome could have been different if we’d taken our chances in the field’,” Ervine said. “I think a lot of credit also has to go to Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah, they way the batted was exceptional, patient, determined, and they showed great application for long periods of time.”
“We knew that pitch would come to the fifth day, down to maybe the last two sessions,” Ervine said. “I think it was going to be tough to take 20 wickets on that surface, but at the same time, you don’t know where the game would have gone.”
Richard Ngarava, a pacer who did not play in the first Test, will return for the second, according to Ervine. Newman Nyamhuri, who took three wickets in the match, and Blessing Muzarabani, who was occasionally ill but managed to persevere, will attempt to be “fresh and replenished” for the second Test, which begins at the same location on January 2.
“Bless was suffering from a bit of flu and a bit of dizziness,” he said. “So we didn’t really wanna push him too much, especially when you know we’ve got only two days between this and the next Test. Newman was struggling with his stomach for a few days. So, bowling will draw a lot more energy from you if you’re not 100 percent. So, we thought those guys may as well rest up and make sure when they come for the second Test, they are fresh and replenished.
“Brian Bennett getting a hundred in his second Test, the way he batted was really good. Guys weren’t really looking for sweeps, they were playing straight and keeping things nice and simple.”