Cricket: Leg spinning ambush lies ahead in test

The theory that our cricketers find legspin harder to read than the national selection panel will come under more scrutiny during the test starting on Boxing Day.

Whatever else may be in the pipeline, New Zealand's woeful recent record against the twirly stuff means Zimbabwe will almost certainly look to legspinner Brian Murphy during the one-off test, whatever the condition of the Basin Reserve pitch.

New Zealand's batsmen may have compiled respectable records over the years, but they have consistently struggled against spin-bowlers of any note, including Australian Shane Warne, Pakistan's Mushtaq Ahmed and Sri Lankans Muttiah Muralitharan and Niroshan Bandaratilake.

Zimbabweans will well remember the previous success of Paul Strang and Adam Huckle, the latter taking 25 test wickets, 19 of them in four outings against New Zealand.

With Strang forced out of the tour by an arm injury, Zimbabwe's main spin-bowling hopes rest with Murphy, a 24-year-old wrist-spinner who has taken a dozen wickets in his first six tests.

"Brian's been bowling really well," captain Heath Streak said yesterday as Zimbabwe warmed up for the test with a three-day match against Canterbury.

"He's a useful spinner who gives it a rip, and although he struggled with his length in India, he was up against some of the best batsmen in the world."

Streak said his side were aware of New Zealand's vulnerability against spin, and legspin in particular, and would try to exploit that weakness by including Murphy.

"We've had some success against New Zealand with legspin in the past and hopefully that might continue into the coming test in Wellington.

"Brian has a pretty extensive repertoire although he's still refining his art.

"His wrong'un really goes, but his stock legspinner is possibly more of a threat."

New Zealand were not confronted by the Cape Town University student on their tour in September, but had enough problems coping with Strang, who had a match analysis of 10 for 158 at Bulawayo.

However, Murphy played in the high-scoring tests against India recently, and has the faith of Zimbabwe coach Carl Rackemann.

"The young guy is very good - he has a massive future," Rackemann said yesterday.

"I've seen a few leggies in my time but he is one out of the box, and to have him as a replacement is very fortunate for us.

"He gives it a rip and if he gets it right he'll create some pressure."

The tour of New Zealand is viewed as an important element in Zimbabwe's attempt to rebuild their test and one-day sides, which have been diluted by injuries, defections and retirements.

The biggest setbacks have been the injury to Strang and the loss of allrounder Neil Johnson, to South Africa, and batsman Murray Goodwin, who has returned to Australia.

For all that, the batting was the most impressive part of Zimbabwe's game during the tour of India, with the Flower brothers, Andy and Grant, and former skipper Alistair Campbell all finding strong test form.

Andy Flower emerged from the two tests with an average of 270.00 after scoring 540 runs, including two centuries, two 50s, and a top score of 232 not out.

Campbell, one of only two batsmen in world cricket to score 2000 test runs without the aid of a century, brought up his long-awaited milestone while averaging 46.00, and Grant Flower also picked up a hundred during a solid tour performance.

"It's an important time for us, this New Zealand tour," said Streak. "We've got a few young guys in the team and we're trying to find the right combination, the successful formula to carry us on to better things.

"On top of that, there's the Carlton and United Series [one-dayers] in Australia that we go to from here, and the overall health of Zimbabwe cricket, which is always our top priority.

"We're a small country in terms of cricket, but we've got great passion and determination, and hopefully those qualities will be evident at the Basin Reserve next week."