Ross Taylor of New Zealand . Photo / Getty Images
Stage two of New Zealand's first international engagement of the season starts in Harare tonight with the opening ODI against Zimbabwe.
All indicators are of a New Zealand win, and that's not a line you read too often.
Of their 29 clashes in the 50-over format dating back to the 1987 World Cup, Zimbabwe have won seven and lost 20.
Their most recent win seems an age ago - January 2001 at Eden Park, a one-wicket thriller. The Zimbabwe team is a far cry now from that side, which was captained by current England coach Andy Flower and included Heath Streak, Alastair Campbell, Guy Whittall and Bryan Strang, brother of the present Auckland coach Paul Strang.
Zimbabwe were coming towards the end of perhaps their strongest period, and grim times were ahead for the country and its cricket.
Now there is rebuilding, but with that comes giant learning steps, as the two T20 matches played so far have indicated.
Zimbabwe have a couple of useful medium pacers in Kyle Jarvis and Chris Mpofu, handy spinners in Prosper Utseya and Ray Price while the batting needs former skipper Tatenda Taibu back from injury, and Vusi Sibanda, who missed the T20s due to the death of his mother.
With Elton Chigumbura and Chamu Chibhabha they have the nucleus of a handy batting group, but the old rule about the longer the game the greater the gulf in class should be seen this week.
Zimbabwe have also suffered an off-field drama this week, with former captain Campbell resigning as head selector after Monday's 34-run loss in the second T20.
Campbell wants to concentrate on his role as a television commentator.
The conflict of interest didn't work but he will stay as chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket's cricket committee.
He will be replaced by former Zimbabwe wicketkeeper Wayne James.
New Zealand have sailed through the first leg of the tour comfortably, perhaps a shade too comfortably in some of their batsmens' minds.
Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum put on century opening stands in both T20 games. The first was won by 10 wickets, while Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor had brief bats in the second.
That's left the middle order significantly under-done, but that's the tradeoff when the openers are getting fat on an average bowling attack.
Only two of the 15 players on tour have yet to stretch their legs, batsman BJ Watling and left arm fast-medium bowler Andy McKay.
Expect McKay, certainly, to have a run in the ODI series. His stock is still good after getting a late call to the World Cup last March and performing tidily.
And with injury ruling Tim Southee out of joining the group for the solitary test starting in Bulawayo on November 1, McKay will be a decent chance to start.
Kyle Mills, recalled after a two-and-a-half year absence from the test squad, veteran seamer Chris Martin and newcomer Graeme Aldridge are others vying for the new ball in the test.
Tonight is the start of three ODIs and anything other than a clean sweep should prompt a serious inquiry.
Zimbabwe V NZ
First ODI, Harare, 8.30pm today
Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor (c), Chamu Chibhabha, Hamilton Mazakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Tatenda Taibu, Elton Chibumbura, Forster Mutizwa, Malcolm Waller, Prosper Utseya, Kyle Jarvis, Chris Mpofu, Keegan Meth, Ray Price, Natsai M'Shangwe.
New Zealand: (from) Ross Taylor (c), Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, James Franklin, Rob Nicol, Luke Woodcock, Doug Bracewell, Nathan McCullum, Jacob Oram, BJ Watling, Kyle Mills, Andy McKay, Graeme Aldridge.
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