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Hamilton Masakadza

THE series is already decided and with two games to go in the five match series, if Bangladesh plays anywhere near as they have been during this tour, then they are going to be tough to beat.

It is up to Zimbabwe to somehow find a way to turn around their form and eliminate their most glaring weaknesses.

One of the main issues that Zimbabwe has lacked, which is essential on a foreign tour, has been quality in the batting department. Early wickets in all the three ODIs have made it virtually impossible to find any momentum to even get close to Bangladesh’s totals.

While there have been some individual positives, collectively the batting department has failed to get past 200 on three occasions, and of particular concern is how the team has struggled to bat on the same pitches that were made to look easy by their hosts.

The real frustration in losing the series has been less the loss, more the nature of the capitulation.

Bearing in mind that the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup is only four months away, there is not much time to experiment and look elsewhere for batting resources.

The current batting line-up has been successful in the past so its ability is undoubted, but in recent times the players have been pale shadows of their former selves with bat in hand.

Perhaps a change in tactic could do the trick.

Chasing has been a challenge as games have been lost barely half-way into the chase. Winning the toss and putting runs on the board first could be the formula, seeing how it has worked so well for the hosts.

The bowling has Tinashe Panyangara to thank for his seven wickets in three matches for not many runs. He needs support, and not of the part-time kind he has been offered thus far. Roles have to be clearly defined, making sure those picked as bowlers complete their 10. It is criminal to have batsmen bowling most of the overs.

Intensity has to be shown in the remaining games, and, instead of viewing them as dead rubbers, they ought to be regarded as dress-rehearsals for the ICC Cricket World Cup. — zimcricket.