BULAWAYO: New captain Kane Williamson has promised that New Zealand will continue their positive approach to Test cricket under his leadership.

But he warned that the brand may look a little different when they face Zimbabwe in the first of two Test matches at Queens Sports Club from Thursday.

Williamson will become New Zealand’s 29th Test captain when he leads the Black Caps out, taking over from Brendon McCullum following his retirement from the international game in February.

McCullum was credited with turning around New Zealand’s fortunes and image over his last three years as captain, when he led them to the final of the 50-over World Cup and adopted a popular, attacking outlook.

Under his watch, New Zealand drew just three of their last 21 Test matches, and one of their last 12.

Williamson promised to carry on that legacy, but said that the nature of the Queens pitch may force him to adopt alternative fields to what fans are used to seeing from the Black Caps.

“We’re certainly going to play in a way that gives us the best chance to win, which is what we do every time we go out in a Test match,” he said on Wednesday.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson also expects a well-contested series. “The last time we played in Bulawayo it was well fought, so we also exp­ect a tough series in the Test matches this time around.

“We respect every opposition that we play against, that’s something that we are very proud of, regardless of whether we are playing the No 1 team in the world or not.”

Zimbabwe will be without strike bowlers Tinashe Pany­an­gara and Tendai Chatara as well as opening batsman Tino Mawoyo, while leg-spinner Graeme Cremer will captain for the first time in a Test.

Although Zimbabwe’s recent lack of five-day experience will be an obvious hindrance, interim coach Makhaya Ntini also sees it as a motivational factor.

“My boys are ready because they have been waiting for too long to play Test cricket,” he said. “This country is a Test country and we don’t have enough of those. They have been waiting for too long to show how hungry they are.”

Zimbabwe will be without strike bowlers Tinashe Panyangara and Tendai Chatara, while leg-spinner Graeme Cremer will captain for the first time in a Test.

The hosts will also go into the opening Test without bat­s­man Tino Mawoyo has been ruled out due to a right thumb injury he picked up in the warm-up match in Harare.

Teams (from):

ZIMBABWE: Graeme Cremer (captain), Chamu Chibhabha, Brian Chari, Hamilton Masakadza, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Sikandar Raza, Prince Masvaure, Richmond Mutumbami, Peter Moor, Regis Chakabva, Donald Tiripano, Michael Chinouya, Taurai Muzarabani, Njabulo Ncube.

NEW ZEALAND: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson (captain), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, B.J. Watling, Mitchell Santner, Doug Bracewell, Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi, Tom Southee, Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, Jeet Raval, Matt Henry.

Umpires: Paul Reiffel (Australia) and Michael Gough (England).

TV umpire: Langton Rusere (Zimbabwe).

Match referee: David Boon (Australia).

Published in Dawn, July 28th, 2016