Zimbabwe awaits a Bangladeshi counterattack, quite similar to the recent ODI series the two teams have played of late.
The trend started with the January 2009 series and continued till late last year when Elton Chigumbura’s side won the first game.
“We have played a lot of cricket against them. We’ve normally won the first game and then gone down 4-1,” said Taylor after yesterday’s training session.
This time too the Tigers have conceded the first proper game the two sides have played out and through the 130-run defeat, the visitors have received their customary wake-up call.
The first one-dayer’s importance is doubled when one considers that in the space of five days, they play three games of the five-match series.
“We just need to take some momentum into this one-dayer and really try and push home the advantage.
“We have to set the tone with the first game. Try and use the home advantage and we need to capitalise on that; make sure we get all three departments right,” said the Zimbabwe captain.
The home side are likely to have a five-man bowling attack with off-spinner Prosper Utseya who has his most ODI wickets against Bangladesh (24), coming back into the line-up. Brian Vitory, the left-arm pace bowler who rocked the Tigers in the first game, is likely to get the nod as the man to share the attack with Chris Mpofu, though Kyle Jarvis also puts up a strong case.
Taylor, who will open the batting with Vusi Sibanda, is no stranger to the Tigers’ fans. The right-hander’s last over heroics against Mashrafe Bin Mortaza in 2006 is still fresh in the minds of most, an inspirational moment for him too.
“That was a long time ago, obviously. They’ve become matured, as we have too. It’ll be nice to repeat that, we are a side that has come a long way in the last 8-10 months.
“All we said to each other was that if we play as a team, we are a good solid team at the moment; we can play our best cricket maybe another series win is possible,” he said.
The series win, if it does happen, will be Zimbabwe’s first since that 2006 victory that came via Taylor’s heroics.
Familiarity with the opposition also counts in favour of Taylor’s men, especially since they’re playing at home.
“We’ve played enough against them now. It might be a little bit easier to bat here than maybe in Mirpur or Chittagong.
“We still know they’re quality spinners, and there’ll be probably 30 overs of spin. We have improved as batters against spin,” he said.
-With The Daily Star input
