Zimbabwe all-rounder Sean Williams returns for the second ODI against Australia in Townsville, but Gun Quick Blessing will miss the series.
Missed the first match due to an injury to his right elbow:-
Williams missed out on Sunday’s match on the eve of the match after suffering a blow in the nets with an injury to his right elbow.
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He was dropped from the XI on the morning of the match, paving the way for rookie Wesley Madhevere to take his place at No.
Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton confirmed that the 35-year-old will be back for Wednesday’s second ODI.
- “He’s fine, he’ll play tomorrow,” Houghton told reporters on Tuesday.
- “It was just an external blow, it wasn’t anything on the bone or on the muscle.
- “He felt no pain overnight but the next day he could barely make a fist.”
A late addition saw Madharev top-scoring for Zimbabwe, hitting an impressive 91-ball 72 against Australia’s deft attack.
It will be fast bowler Luke Jongwe:-
And he is likely to remain in place as Houghton has hinted that it will be pacer Luke Jongwe who will make way for the returning Williams.
Jongwe was one of the four fast bowlers picked by the tourists but bowled the only over in Australia’s innings of 33.3 overs.
“After looking at the way the pitch was played, we went with four fast bowlers and one of our fast bowlers bowled only one over,” Houghton said.
“Sean is one of our spinners and we were thinking of an extra spinner for this game, so it would probably work that way.”
The 25-year-old is unlikely to feature in the next two ODIs:-
Australian fans will have to wait a bit longer to see Mujarbani swiftly in action, although Houghton confirmed that the 25-year-old is unlikely to feature in the next two ODIs.
Mujarbani was ruled out of the series with India last week due to a thigh injury and Zimbabwe will take a cautious approach with their leading pacer as they look forward to the T20 World Cup.
“Blessing will not realistically last on this tour,” said Houghton:-
“He is here with us and training with us and under the guidance of our S&C (strength and conditioning) and physio, whereas if we left him at home there probably weren’t enough people to take care of him.
My biggest priority is to bring him here for the (T20) World Cup. Zimbabwe’s T20 World Cup starts in Hobart on October 17 where they will face Ireland, Scotland, and West Indies in Group B.
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Australia Squad: 1. Aaron Finch, 2. Sean Abbott, 3. Ashton Agar, 4. Alex Carey, 5. Cameron Green, 6. Josh Hazlewood, 7. Josh Inglis, 8. Marnus Labuschagne, 9. Glenn Maxwell, 10. Steve Smith, 11. Mitchell Starc, 12. Marcus Stoinis, 13. David Warner, 14. Adam Zampa.
Zimbabwe Squad: 1. Ryan Burl, 2. Regis Chakabwa (c), 3. Bradley Evans, 4. Luke Jongwe, 5. Innocent Kaya, 6. Takudzwanashe Caetano, 7. Clive Madande, 8. Wesley Madhevere, 9. Tdiwanshe Marumani, 10. Tony Munyonga, 11. Blessing Mujarbani, 12. Richard Ngarwa, 14. Alexander Nyarzauchi, 15. Alexander Nyawchi.
