Zim Cricket looks on the bright side

Alan Butchers side bowed out of the international cricket extravaganza last week, despite an impressive 161-runs farewell victory against lightweights Kenya on Sunday.

But Chigumbura, who has not been on the best of his form during the tour, believes there is much his side learnt from the World Cup to ensure a better performance in future.

It was a good way to finish the tournament. The next three months will be very important to us as we prepare for a couple of tours at home and our return to Test cricket. We need to remember the way we went about things, especially the bat, and try to work on those things and make them even better, said Chigumbura.

The World Cup has been an eye-opener to Craig Ervine who, together with Tatenda Taibu, contributed to breathe life into the struggling Zimbabwean batsmen,

Ive learned a lot it has been a great experience, Ervine said after scoring his third half century in six matches.

Most of all Ive learned how much more work there is to be done before I can hope to be consistent against the best teams in the world. But Im prepared to do that work we all are.

Chigumbura hopes his countrys much awaited return to Test Cricket in August will contribute in shaping their game at international level.

“We have to put in hard work in the coming three months. We know where we are and what we need to do before we start our first game.”

Zimbabwe, who had a six-year absence in Test Cricket since their last match against India in 2005, will face Bangladesh in August followed by matches against Pakistan and New Zealand.

Head coach Alan Butcher is aware of what awaits them later this year. “No doubt you might be wondering if we are going to be up for the challenge and the answer to that, honestly, is probably no’. The only place to learn to play Test cricket is actually by doing that. There is no other place that can prepare you for it.”