Zimbabwe’s impressive batting on Test return

HARARE: Zimbabwe marked their return from a six-year exile by racking up an impressive 264 for two against Bangladesh on the first day of a one-off Test at the Harare Sports Club on Thursday All four of Zimbabwe's top batsmen made runs with Hamilton Masakadza finishing the day unbeaten on 88 with seven fours and a six as he closes in on a second Test century. Masakadza made his first century 10 years ago on his debut at the age of 17, scoring 119 against West Indies on this same ground.New skipper Brendan Taylor was also undefeated on Thursday, having made a steady 40 off 108 balls.Debutant opener Tinotenda Mawoyo made 43 while Vusi Sibanda smashed 78, with seven fours and one six, as the two put on 102 for the first wicket.After losing the toss, and being put into bat on a greenish wicket by Bangladesh captain Shakib al Hassan, Zimbabwe constructed a foundation for what could be a winning score. Zimbabwe's batsmen mixed caution with aggression, allowing few chances especially after a scare in the second over of the day when Sibanda was very nearly run out. Bangladesh, already defeated by a Zimbabwe X1 in a three-day tour match at the weekend, looked shell-shocked by the day's end.Only 21-year-old medium-pacer Rubel Hossain got wickets and finished with two for 58 off 18 overs. Mawoyo was the first to fall, caught by Mahmudullah at deep backward point with Sibanda the second to go, midway through the afternoon session, when he edged a short ball to wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.Despite the return of Test cricket, the match only attracted fewer than 1,000 people.But the performance of the Zimbabwe had International Cricket Council chief executive Haroon Lorgat feeling optimistic over the team's future in the five-day game

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Zimbabwe consolidate flying start against Bangladesh

HARARE: Zimbabwe continued their domination of Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club here Thursday on their return to Test cricket after a six year absence.At tea they had moved from 102-1 at lunch to 191-2 and were looking extremely comfortable against an attack that was lacking lustre.Vusi Sibanda scored 78, including a six and seven fours, before being caught behind by Mushfiqur Rahim off Rubel Hossain, the only wicket-taker of the day so far.This brought in new captain Brendan Taylor to join Hamilton Masakadza who was on 56 at the break with two sixes against his name. Taylor made a cautious five runs.Masakadza scored a century (119) against West Indies on his Test debut at the age of 17 in 2001. He lost form last year and was left out of Zimbabwe's World Cup squad but was showing a return to style and power.Bangladesh were struggling to make any inroads as Zimbabwe's batsmen looked secure.Sibanda was dropped at 60 but it was a sharp opportunity.Although greenish, the wicket was offering little by way of lateral movement to the seamers. Shakib al Hassan won the toss and put Zimbabwe in to bat in a decision that failed to have the desired result for the tourists.

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Zimbabwe off to flying start on Test return

HARARE: Zimbabwe were 102 for one at lunch on the opening day of their one off Test against Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club here on Thursday Tinotenda Mawoyo and Vusi Sibanda got the hosts off to a flying start on their return to Test cricket after a six year absence. The only blip came in the last over of the session when Mawoyo, on his Test debut, fell to Rubel Hossain trying a cut and he was caught at deep point by Mahmududullah. He scored 43 with five boundaries and until this mistake he was never in trouble against a modest attack. Sibanda will continue after lunch on 50, his highest score in Tests. Zimbabwe can be well pleased with this performance, especially as it was achieved on a greenish wicket and after being put in by Shakib al Hassan after he won the toss. Neither opener made any mistakes before the dismissal of Mawoyo, except for a scare in the first few minutes when they escaped a narrow run out of Sibanda. Although this was Mawoyo's first Test innings and only Sibanda's fourth they had the look of seasoned batsmen at this level. Zimbabwe have a strong looking batting line-up to come and will be looking for a large opening total by the close of play. Bangladesh are desperate for breakthroughs in the next session, otherwise the match could appear to be slipping away from them.

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ICC One Day Leaque

In October 2010, the ICC Board approved the recommendations from the ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC). These recommendations seek to give exciting content and context for international cricket within the Future Tours Programme after 2012 and also to consider future ICC events.In a series of recommendations, the ICC Board agreed that the should also consist of a One-Day International league, the first to run from April 2011 until April 2014, culminating in the crowning of an ODI league champion. This would run separate to the ICC Cricket World Cup.ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "Restructuring international cricket is a significant strategic challenge and one that must be dealt with. We have now agreed in principle to exciting and far-reaching proposals to tackle this most important issue.Achieving balance and unanimous agreement is not easy but we have responded well to a strategic priority to restructure international cricket. The proposals, especially introducing more meaningful context, means we now have the potential to follow international cricket that is even more exciting.Further details of the one-day league, including a fixture list, will be announced in due course

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ICC Test Championship

In October 2010, the ICC Board approved the recommendations from the ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC). These recommendations seek to give exciting content and context for international cricket within the Future Tours Programme after 2012 and also to consider future ICC events.The Board agreed that the should consist of a Test league to provide context for all Test matches and that the league would determine the top four teams to qualify for an ICC Test play-off.It also agreed that the play-off should be held once every four years to determine the Test champion team with a request to hold the first such play-off in 2013.ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: “Restructuring international cricket is a significant strategic challenge and one that must be dealt with. We have now agreed in principle to exciting and far-reaching proposals to tackle this most important issue.Achieving balance and unanimous agreement is not easy but we have responded well to a strategic priority to restructure international cricket. The proposals, especially introducing more meaningful context, means we now have the potential to follow international cricket that is even more exciting.

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