HARARE - Zimbabwe assistant coach Stephen Mangongo remains bullish about the team’s chances of causing an upset in the one-off Test against New Zealand, which started today in Napier.

“It can be done,” Mangongo told the Daily News from the north-eastern New Zealand city of Gisborne, after Zimbabwe forced a draw against a strong New Zealand XI side in a three-day warm-up match this week.

Zimbabwe came agonisingly close to beat New Zealand in a one-off Test in Bulawayo in November, collapsing in the final session of the fifth day to lose by 34 runs. 

“It can be done and it is being done. We have seen the lads beating Bangladesh as well as coming so close to upsetting New Zealand in Bulawayo. The guys played extremely well in the warm-up match against a strong New Zealand XI line-up. What’s important is for us to be consistent. If the players can be able to notch high scores on a regular basis then that puts us in a better position to win the match.”

Inexperienced wicketkeeper batsman Regis Chakabva made a strong case for his second Test cap with an impressive half-century in the warm-up. The Mashonaland Eagles star made his Test debut against New Zealand in the Bulawayo Test.

Mangongo once again urged the team’s most experienced players to lead by example.

“They all have been in the trenches long enough and have played a lot of international cricket and it’s a positive sign that they have been coming to the party of let,” he said.

“Rome was not built in a day and I think the fact that we haven’t been in the Test arena for some time means that we cannot just come in and explode but so far the transition has been encouraging.”

Meanwhile, veteran spinner Ray Price and seamer Keegan Meth have been ruled out of the Test due to injury. Price is out with a groin injury while Meth was hit by a ball in training.

A four-pronged seam attack comprising of Kyle Jarvis, Brian Vitori, Shingi Masakadza and Elton Chigumbura now appears more likely. Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer, who is returning to the side after an injury layoff, will get the nod as the team’s frontline spinner.

Zimbabwe will play New Zealand in three One-Day Internationals before winding up the series with two Twenty 20 matches.