26 Jan 2012

Tendency to underestimate Zimbabwe says Black Caps skipper

11:07 am on 26 January 2012

The NZ cricket captain Ross Taylor says Zimbabwe's return to test cricket in August last year after six years in exile has tended to make opposition teams underestimate them.

The two sides are underway in a one-off test at Napier's McLean Park with the Black Caps having won their last encouter in Bulwayo three months ago by just 34 runs.

Political turmoil in the country led to Zimbabwe's withdrawal from the test programme in 2005, rejoining in August last year when they beat Bangladesh.

Zimbabwe lost their next two tests to Pakistan and the Black Caps, but Taylor says in the recent tour match in Gisborne against a NZ Eleven he noticed a marked improvement.