Chevrons draw Australia again

Tinashe KusemaZimpapers Sports HubCRICKET fans still talk about that night in South Africa when Zimbabwe stunned Australia at the 2007 T20 World Cup. The Chevrons played with heart, Australia looked flat, and after a rain scare that briefly tilted the game in the Aussies’ favour, Zimbabwe closed out a famous five wicket win with two balls left.That was 19 years ago.Next year, Zimbabwe and Australia meet again on the T20 World Cup stage in Sri Lanka and India. Yesterday’s schedule announcement placed the two sides in the same group, alongside co-hosts Sri Lanka, Ireland and Oman.Two men who lived through that 2007 upset, Gary Brent and Chamunorwa Chibhabha, were quick to weigh in on the draw and Zimbabwe’s prospects.“It’s quite a fair draw to be honest, I’m actually excited,” said Brent.

“Oman is a team we should beat easily while our games against Ireland have always been competitive and the team that shows up on the day wins. We recently beat Sri Lanka and we can do it again.”Chibhabha took a more measured tone.“It is a very tough group but it is not impossible to progress,” he said. “The team is on a good trajectory but we need the lower order to start imposing their will on the game.

Many times when Bennett (Brian) and the top order have given us good starts, the lack of a pure finisher has often exposed us. Yes, Ryan Burl has done some good work but we need more and more batters to show up, either in support or when he doesn’t put up the runs.”On the group itself, he warned against taking anything for granted.“Australia and Sri Lanka are both quality sides and Ireland have been playing some good cricket of late, so it’s going to be tough,” he said. “Yes, we beat Sri Lanka recently but they bounced back and could possibly make the Pakistan Tri-Series final, which goes to show their quality.

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We shouldn’t underestimate any team in the group and just play the best cricket we can on the day.”Zimbabwe’s path to the Super Eight is possible if they take lessons from that famous 2007 win. Brent still remembers the details.“It was a classic case of ‘David versus Goliath’ and I really don’t think Australia took the match seriously,” he said.“Should the same happen again next year, Zimbabwe have to be ready to take the bull by the horn. A lot of things went right for us as I remember bowling to Ricky Ponting and getting a wild edge.

Brendan Taylor and Vusi Sibanda also batted very well to take us home.“There is hope for a good outing in India and Sri Lanka next year. We have a lot of talent at our disposal at the moment. Missing Blessing Muzarabani could be a major blow as he leads our bowling attack, but we have so many pace bowlers coming up like Kudakwashe Macheka.

In the batting department, we have the likes of Ben Curran and Jonathan Campbell coming up. No place is guaranteed.” CRICKET fans still talk about that night in South Africa when Zimbabwe stunned Australia at the 2007 T20 World Cup. The Chevrons played with heart, Australia looked flat, and after a rain scare that briefly tilted the game in the Aussies’ favour, Zimbabwe closed out a famous five wicket win with two balls left.

Next year, Zimbabwe and Australia meet again on the T20 World Cup stage in Sri Lanka and India. Yesterday’s schedule announcement placed the two sides in the same group, alongside co-hosts Sri Lanka, Ireland and Oman. Two men who lived through that 2007 upset, Gary Brent and Chamunorwa Chibhabha, were quick to weigh in on the draw and Zimbabwe’s prospects.

“It’s quite a fair draw to be honest, I’m actually excited,” said Brent. We recently beat Sri Lanka and we can do it again.” Chibhabha took a more measured tone. “It is a very tough group but it is not impossible to progress,” he said.

Brent still remembers the details. “It was a classic case of ‘David versus Goliath’ and I really don’t think Australia took the match seriously,” he said. “Should the same happen again next year, Zimbabwe have to be ready to take the bull by the horn.

Brendan Taylor and Vusi Sibanda also batted very well to take us home. “There is hope for a good outing in India and Sri Lanka next year. No place is guaranteed.”

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