ICC T20 WORLD CUP 2022

October 26, 2022

Craig Ervine

Perth Stadium

Zimbawae

Pre Match Media Conference

Q. How is Richard Ngarava holding up?

CRAIG ERVINE: I think he's doing all right. We obviously had a travel day yesterday. We had most of today to recover. We have got a training session this evening, and we'll see how he warms up this evening. But again, even after today's training session, the game only starts at seven tomorrow. It's quite a bit of time for him to recover and hopefully it's not too serious.

Q. Would Evan (indiscernible) be a logical replacement?

CRAIG ERVINE: That would obviously be (indiscernible) but we'll have to look at a few different combinations and probably take it from there.

Q. A lot has been made of the new positive game plan of Dave Houghton. How does that extend to the bowlers and how do the extend to the fielders, a lot has been made of the batsmen?

CRAIG ERVINE: Look, you want to play exciting cricket. They want to entertain the crowd. And I think we've got some really good youngsters on this side who are special fielders. (Indiscernible), you've seen him charging all over the field diving and taking a brilliant catch against Scotland. And I think we just want to play that exciting brand of cricket, whether you're bowling, whether you're fielding, whether you're batting. I think it should all fall into that sort of category.

Q. Here in Perth in Australia, more generally, you played under lights a lot. You don't have any floodlights in Zimbabwe. You obviously have people that played on the franchise circuit, play night games. When you're away, sometimes you experience it, but you don't often get to train under those conditions. Is that a big adjustment?

CRAIG ERVINE: It was quite a big adjustment for us coming over initially because we knew that all of our three qualifying games we're going to be under lights. And it didn't really get a great opportunity because our one warm-up game was supposed to be under lights but that got moved to the afternoon. But we have had quite a number of players that have played under lights before. So that's pretty much the experience that we drew on.

And then playing those three qualifying games under lights sort of held us in good stead, especially coming into the Super 12 and having a few games against Pakistan, India and South Africa under lights as well.

Q. After seeing the pitch here the other night, looks like the old WACA does. Are you looking forward to seeing (indiscernible) this pitch?

CRAIG ERVINE: Definitely. We watched I think it was England play Afghanistan, and it did look nice and quick and bouncy.

So I'm sure he'll be relishing that opportunity to run tomorrow evening. So I think all those seamers have done extremely well for us. And I think, especially Blessing, I'm sure he'll enjoy these sort of conditions. And hopefully Richard Ngarava is fit and he'll enjoy them as well.

Q. The match against South Africa, obviously a bit fast score, finish. Has that been a distraction heading here, or have you put that sort of in the back of your mind?

CRAIG ERVINE: I think that game against South Africa was a little bit of a bizarre evening. And it was from a batting perspective trying to work in how best to go about getting a decent score, nine overs. And we knew that we had to go fairly hard up front to try to get ourselves off to a good start.

The weather looks pretty good for tomorrow evening. So I think we can go back to our game plans. We've got a full 20 overs to bat. And I think our batting innings will look a little bit more calm and composed tomorrow.

Q. Did that sort of rattle the team at all? If so, did it take a while to get over it?

CRAIG ERVINE: No, I think we've always said, in the change, even if we do lose a few early wickets you can't get into your shell because it's very hard to change the momentum like that.

We do have a fairly longish batting lineup as well. And we've got to back everybody all the way down to 8, 9. If you're going to try and knock it around for 1s and try to bat the 4 overs, make sure you're not bowled off, you're not going to be able to put up a decent score.

Q. Pakistan, heartbreaking loss to India. Do you think you've got them maybe in a bit of a vulnerable state at the moment or do you expect them to kind of really bounce back?

CRAIG ERVINE: I'm pretty sure that Pakistan will be coming hard at us tomorrow. They've got some really quality bowlers up front there with the new ball. So that will be a big challenge for us.

And again looking at quite a few games that have been played, that first sort of five, six overs with the new ball is challenging for every team. I think it's a key area for us to try and get through with the bat tomorrow and try and capitalise on a lot of 2s with the bigger boundaries in those middle overs.

Q. We saw Haris Rauf obviously crank it up the other night. Is it a case of just trying to get through him in the beginning, or do you think sort of counterattacking him might be a decent strategy?

CRAIG ERVINE: Look, obviously Perth, the wicket is going to be a bit quicker than what we had in Hobart. So we'll obviously have to try assess those conditions and work out how best to get a decent score on the board. But I don't think that you can sit back and let quality bowlers like that bowl at you, otherwise it's only going to be a matter of time they get you out. I think it will be a case of trying to rotate, trying to make sure that you're putting them under as much pressure as they're putting you under.

Q. Is that a special game for him to play, obviously, Pakistan, his sort of heritage?

CRAIG ERVINE: I think he relishes every game that he plays for Zimbabwe. He's been such an inspiration for so many people over the last few months with his performances. And we know that a lot of Zimbabwe success obviously lies in his success as an individual and the team. So obviously they're hoping that you can continue that good form throughout the rest of the tournament.