One of Zimbabwe's best known cricket faces will be missing when the 15-strong squad arrive in New Zealand today for a brief tour.
Dreadlocked paceman Henry Olonga missed Zimbabwe's last one-day game against India in Rajkot, yesterday, presumably because of injury, and has been replaced in the touring party by uncappedallrounder Gus Mackay.
Olonga has been at the cutting edge of Zimbabwe's attack in recent years.
Mackay returned to Zimbabwe in 1998 after eight years playing league cricket in England.
A one-day specialist, he is noted for his powerful hitting and his ability to chip out wickets with the new ball.
Zimbabwe's hopes of being competitive in the test starting at the Basin Reserve on December 26, and in the following three one-day internationals, rest squarely on the shoulders of wicketkeeper-batsman Andy Flower.
The left-hander crafted an unbeaten 232 against India recently, and is ranked No 2 in the world test batting rankings behind Sachin Tendulkar.
Players returning here after the 1998-99 tour include captain Heath Streak, batsmen Guy Whittall, Alastair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Grant Flower, Dirk Viljoen and Gavin Rennie.
The tour opens with a one-dayer against Canterbury on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe: Heath Streak (captain), Guy Whittall, Alistair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Grant Flower, Andy Flower, Travis Friend, Gus Mackay, Trevor Madondo, Douglas Marillier, Brian Murphy, Mlukeli Nkala, Gavin Rennie, Brian Strang, Dirk Viljoen.
