LET me start off by admitting that like almost everybody out there, I too am guilty of writing off the Zimbabwe Chevrons prior to the commencement of the just ended first Test against Sri Lanka.

Let the record reflect that Sri Lanka, favorites from the go,  did go and cruise to a comfortable 225 run win.

During the five days; the Asians had three centurions – Kusal Perera (110), Upal Tharanga (an unbeaten 110) and opener Dimuth Karunaratne (110).

Led by Rangana Herath’s six wickets, Sri Lanka bowled out Zimbabwe in both innings.

Sri Lanka’s top order batsmen flourished, and were the backbone of the Asians dominance during the initial stages of the first Test.

Zimbabwe’s top order, with exception of Tino Mawoyo and Hamilton Masakadza first innings stand of 71 runs, never really came out of the blocks and ended up a colossal disappointment.

The Sri Lankan team is currently on a high and is 4-2 in Test cricket this year alone and has been the more active of the two nations.

Their Test feat is made even more impressive by the fact that three of those four wins came against the highly regarded Australian side albeit under Subcontinent conditions.

There is an argument to be made about Asian countries flourishing under their own conditions, but it should in no way negate Sri Lanka’s achievement in flooring the mighty Australians.

With the result now a foregone conclusion; what I feel now is less vindication and more disappointment.

But then again, isn’t that what comes with being a Zimbabwe cricket fan nowadays?

The Zimbabwe national cricket team has disappointed their fans so many times that losing, and in most cases losing big, has become second nature to them.

So many times have the Chevrons given their fans hope for a better future, with spellbinding performances; only to snatch it away almost immediately.

Last year’s 10-run consolation T20 victory over India at Harare Sports Club and that famous five-wicket T20 World Cup victory over Australia back in 2007, are prime examples.

A 50-run defeat to England saw Zimbabwe eliminated at the group stages of the 2007 cricket World Cup and the country’s woes at these international tournaments have never been the same since.

The consolation win over India, last year, was just that; a consolation!

It was then followed by series’ losses to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, a terrible World Cup campaign, India and New Zealand.

That put into perspective, kind of vindicates any fan what others might term a lack of patriotism in writing off Zimbabwe.

That said; there is something about Zimbabwe’s most recent performance that should ignite a sense of optimism at the very least.

And here is why……

In Streak we can trust right?

In Heath Streak, the team has a leader they can count on, and one who ticks all the boxes.

Streak has the admiration and respect of everybody in Zimbabwe cricket today; and deservedly so.

As a player he served with distinction, featuring in 65 Test matches and 189 ODIs during which he scored 1 990 and 2 943 runs respectively.

He also took 216 Test wickets and has 239 ODI wickets.

While he might not necessarily be the best candidate to coach Zimbabwe, experience wise, he is the right person for the job right now.

He can’t fare any worse than any of his predecessors, like Dav Whatmore, who had tonnes of experience but ultimately failed to take Zimbabwe out of its funk.

As a coach he appears to be a pragmatist and prior to the first Test targeted just lasting the full five days and in that he succeeded.

Juxtaposed with his predecessor Makhaya Ntini, who was in charge of the team on an interim basis, Streak can do so much better.

Upon his initial arrival, Ntini targeted beating everything that came along as way of sending a message to the rest of the world.

A message that they should send only their best teams and not just fringe players here.

What a dreamer right?

Streak’s first game in charge wasn’t that bad anyway.  

Unlike Australia, who Sri Lanka beat convincingly in August, Zimbabwe came within a whisker of forcing a much deserved draw.

By contrast the Aussies entered the fifth day of two of their Three Tests against Sri Lanka staring at the barrel of defeat.

The other actually ended within three days.

Cremer, Cremer, Cremer!

Cremer, who some believe turned the game with his wicket, emerged as the encounter’s man-of-the-match.

His 145 runs, from two innings, and four wickets for 209 runs, were reminiscent of the days of Dave Houghton, Andy Flower, Heath Streak himself, Tatenda Taibu and Brendan Taylor.

This special class of skippers were leaders who led by example; barking instructions with bat or ball and in some cases both.

Coming into the game, on day two of the Test, with the team in all sorts of trouble at 136 for six Cremer helped Zimbabwe claw their way back into the match.

He starred in a 132 seventh wicket with PJ moor and a 92 run eighth wicket stand with Donald Tiripano that helped Zimbabwe to a credible 373 first innings score.

For his trouble, the 30-year-old made a maiden unbeaten century, made even more impressive by the fact that at number eight Cremer came into the match with an average of 10.75 in Test cricket.

With the ball, Cremer had helped haul out the visitors for 537, taking four crucial wickets.

In the second innings, Cremer was at it again, this time soaking up 175 balls, including 121 dot balls, as the team came within seven overs of snatching a much deserved draw against Sri Lanka.

Out with the old, and in with the new

There is a revolution quietly taking shape at Zimbabwe Cricket.

Over the last couple of months names like Luke Jongwe, Wellington Masakadza and Neville Madziva have made headlines in national team colors.

They represent the next breed of cricketers; those expected to take over from the likes of old dogs Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Craig Ervine and many others when they call time on their careers.

The latest name to that list is PJ Moor and already the 25-year-old has shown the credentials of being a big time player in Chevrons colors.

Since making his Test debut against New Zealand, in August, Moor has not looked back.

His most recent exploits came in the just ended Sri Lanka first Test, during which his 132 partnership with Cremer ignited a revival of sorts for Zimbabwe.

Earlier on his 157 runs off 222 balls helped Zimbabwe A snatch a much deserved draw against Pakistan A in their first unofficial Test at Queens Sports Club last month.

Only God knows what else is in store for this young talented cricketer.

There is still fight in the old dog

This one is brief and fairly easy.

The just ended first Test between Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka was more than just a bilateral agreement between two budding nations.

It was the hosts’ 100 official Test.

Played at home and in front of their fans, there were certain expectations from the Chevrons.

A win would have been welcome, draw admirable, loss expected; but for God’s sake put up a fight.

Luckily the Chevrons managed to at least fight and came within seven overs of snatching that draw.

More of the same is expected during the second Test.