AUCKLAND, February 25: Zimbabwe are expected to include batsman Dirk Viljoen for the second Test against New Zealand starting tomorrow. Zimbabwe were beaten by 10 wickets in the first match of the two-game series and Viljoen is tipped to come in ahead of Craig Wishart with either off-spinner Andy Whittall or medium pacer Mpumelelo Mbangwa missing out.Zimbabwe used leg-spinner Paul Strang at No 7 in Wellington but he only managed one run in two innings. Strang and fellow leg-spinner Adam Huckle are expected to shoulder most of the bowling workload with medium pacer Heath Streak used to chip away in short spells. Zimbabwe coach david Houghton said he had been working on the mental approach of his out-of-form batsman Andy Flower, Gavin Rennie and Guy Whittall.
``Flower has got 10 fifties and four hundreds in 45 digs so he's got a proven record. But right now, he doesn't know where his next run is coming from,'' Houghton said.
Flower had a long bat at Zimbabwe's three-hour training session on Wednesday.NewZealand appear set to drop medium pacer Shayne O'Connor despite his career best four for 52 in Wellington. Spinner Mark Priest has been called up with the Eden Park pitch expected to provide turn early in the match. New Zealand have 13 players in Auckland with allrounder Chris Harris resigned to missing the game and O'Connor the most likely to join him. New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said a decision on which seamer to omit was causing problems.
``It is a very difficult decision. The guys have bowled pretty well so we are going to have to go on a gut feeling,'' Fleming said.
``It is a nice position to be in. Leaving form players out, while it is not easy to do, it is something we've been striving for a long time. Now we have the position which in a way is nice.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
