Zimbabwe count on Blessing to spice up seam attack

Blessing Muzarabani going through fielding drills ahead of the four-day Test against South Africa on Boxing Day. © Zimbabwe Cricket

Zimbabwe expect fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani to add some much-needed spice to their seam attack when he makes his international debut against South Africa in the day-night Test in Port Elizabeth on Boxing Day. Although coach Heath Streak would only publicly say that there's a "strong likelihood" of Muzarabani being selected, it is understood that the tourists see the 21-year-old as a potential surprise package.

At more than two meters tall, Muzarabani has the ability to deliver the ball from a greater height than Morne Morkel, and Zimbabwe believe his extra bounce could pose problems for the Proteas batsmen. Muzarabani generally clocks around 135 kph - but has reached as high as 140kph - making him the quickest bowler in Zimbabwe's current squad. Only the injured Carl Mumba is quicker in Zimbabwe at the moment.

Nevertheless the right-armer is very inexperienced. He toured England earlier this year with the Rising Stars Academy, and has played just five first-class games for them since they joined the Logan Cup for the current season. His impressive start to first-class cricket, in which he has taken 18 wickets at an average of 18, was enough to put him in the frame for the South Africa Test, while the recommendation of Brendan Taylor also helped.

After facing the tall quick in domestic cricket, Taylor picked Muzarabani out as the toughest opponent around. Now the seamer is likely to start what many hope will be a prolonged spell in the Zimbabwe attack.

"There's a strong likelihood," Streak said in Port Elizabeth on Sunday (December 24). "He's performed well in the warm-up game so there is a strong chance. We're excited to have him because he offers some variation to what we have. He's an exciting prospect for the future of Zimbabwe cricket."

Muzarabani had a mixed outing in Paarl this week as Zimbabwe warmed up for their first day-night Test with a three-day game against a South African Invitation XI. While he was expensive in the first innings, conceding four runs per over, he did claim the wicket of a fluent Temba Bavuma. In the second innings the South Africans found Muzarabani difficult to get away with as he took none for 17 in six overs, four of which were maidens.

Both of Zimbabwe's wicketkeepers in the game, Taylor and Regis Chakabva, had good things to say and captain Graeme Cremer gave a strong suggestion that Muzarabani will play the one-off Test. "They were very impressed as we all were," said Cremer. "He's very tall, he gets a lot of bounce and he gets the ball through when he gets a good rhythm. The wicketkeepers had good positive feedback from the warm-up game and we'll look to him to get us breakthroughs in the Test match."

Zimbabwe's main selection dilemma relates to who will keep wickets, with Taylor having done considerable work on his fitness since Zimbabwe's last assignment, against the West Indies in October and November. Taylor is expected to become Zimbabwe's regular wicketkeeper in limited-overs matches now that he is back in the picture, but could also take the gloves for this four-day Test, which could allow the visitors to squeeze the uncapped Ryan Burl, who was Zimbabwe's best batsman in Paarl, into the side.

Yet they must also ensure that they select the best man to keep wickets to the spinners, because for all of the private excitement about Muzarabani, Zimbabwe's most threatening bowler is still likely to be Cremer. The legspinner has been in good form in all formats this year, and took a liking to the pink ball during the warm-up match, when he returned match figures of 8 for 111.

"I find the seam a bit rougher - similar to a Dukes ball," Cremer said of the pink Kookaburra ball that will be used in Port Elizabeth. "I actually prefer it to the red ball. I find the shiny sides are more slippery than the red ball, but as a wrist spinner the seam is better."

While Chakabva kept well against Zimbabwe's spinners in the first Test against Windies, and even completed two stumpings, he struggled on a difficult pitch in the second match. With Chakabva, Burl, Peter Moor and Chamu Chibhabha all effectively competing for two places in the side, Chakabva's unbeaten 71 to save the second Test might not be enough to keep him in the side if Taylor is deemed good and fit enough to take the gloves.

For once it would appear that Zimbabwe have a welcome selection headache on their hands.