• Alistair Campbell
• Eddo Brandes
• Stuart Carlisle
• Andy Flower
• Grant Flower
• Murray Goodwin
• Adam Huckle
• Neil Johnson
• Mpumelelo Mbangwa
• Henry Olonga
• Paul Strang
• Heath Streak
• Dirk Viljoen
• Andy Whittall
• Guy Whittall

Alistair Campbell (captain)

Age: 26
Team: Mashonaland
Style: Left hand bat; Off spin
Style: Right hand bat; Right arm medium

Though he has been referred to as the "Zimbabwean David Gower," there is more often than not little stylish in Campbell's batting. He grinds out his runs, occasionally, indulging himself with a cover drive or two.

His somewhat rigid approach could be a legacy of his father insisting he bat as a left hander - the theory being the best batsmen lead with their top hand - despite doing almost everything with his right hand.

Not that Cambell's approach is not effective. A precocious schoolboy cricketer (once hitting five successive centuries) he played in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test match as a 19-year-old and took over the captaincy from Andy Flower.

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Eddo Brandes

Age: 36
Team: Mashonaland
Style: Right hand bat; Right arm medium-fast

The man who put chicken farmers on the map when he took a hat-trick against England in a one-day international in 1996. Most observers could not see past his profession as a poultry keeper and that his brand of medium pace line and length is perhaps the most vital commodity in the one-day game.

Becomes the first Zimbabwean to play in four World Cups, although he has the dubious distinction of having gone for more runs in a tournament than any other bowler - 354 from 70.1 overs in 1992.

At 36 years of age is no spring chicken and has suffered recently from injuries - though is now virtually fully fit. Will not be underestimated by England.

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Stuart Carlisle

Age: 27
Team: Mashonaland
Style: Right hand bat; Right arm medium

A fighter and a talented one at that. Impressed national coach David Houghton, national coach and allround cricketing guru, with his never-say-die qualities earning him selection for the World Cup ahead of other candidates.

Feels he has rectified the back-foot weakness exploited by England when they were last in Zimbabwe and expects to bat in the middle order.

His first international for Zimbabwe remains his most memorable. Down to bat at number seven against Pakistan, he did not even make it to the crease as the Flower Brothers piled on the runs. The result, though, was Zimbabwe's first Test victory.

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Andy Flower

Age: 31
Team: Mashonaland
Style: Left hand bat; Off spin

Does not exactly set the pulse racing with his strokeplay, but is the steadiest and most dependable of all the Zimbabwe batsmen. Has sacrificed the flamboyance of his younger days for the steady, sometimes colourless, accumulation of runs.

A left-handed batsman, he has as a very simple approach to the game, defending his wicket against the good ball and looking to do little more than pick out the gaps in the field to everything else.

Became only the third player to score a century on his one-day international debut, when he batted through the entire innings against Sri Lanka in the World Cup of 1992. Has a Test century against England.

Took over the captaincy and the gloves from David Houghton. Has considerable experience of English conditions through club cricket and coaching Oxford University. Takes his cricket seriously.

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Grant Flower

Age: 28
Team: Mashonaland
Style: Right hand bat; Left arm orthodox

Only now learning to have faith in his gifts. An elegant right-handed batsman, too often in the past he has played within himself instead of allowing his powers of timing to get the better of bowlers.

He remains, however, Zimbabwe's only tried and tested opening batsmen, both in Tests and the one-day game, perhaps the cause of his often limited approach.

A wonderful fielder in almost any position, he can also contribute with his left-arm spin. Although, whisper it quietly, there are doubts over the legitimacy of his action.

Younger brother of Andy, he also has experience of English conditions through club cricket.

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Murray Goodwin

Age: 26
Teams: Mashonaland, Western Province
Style: Right hand bat; Leg break

Finally saw the light after years of trying to be an Australian and, mostly, failing at it. At the second time of asking, Zimbabwe tempted Goodwin away from his uncertain life playing for Western Australia with the lure of a career as an international cricketer in the country of his birth.

Despite his give-away Australian accent, Goodwin is a Zimbabwean, always has been. The switch from Antipodean to colonial African lifestyle is not a difficult one, partly explaining his apparently seamless transition to a dependable Test batsman.

A Test hundred is his pride and joy but, despite also having scored a one-day international century, his limited-overs career record is something that he desperately wants to improve on.

Also does a job as a leg break bowler. This World Cup could just be the international platform he has been waiting for.

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Adam Huckle

Age: 27
Team: Mashonaland, Eastern Province
Style: Right hand bat; Leg break

As a leg-spinner who has for some time now had to ply his trade in the shadow of Paul Strang, Huckle's selection for the World Cup is an achievement in itself.

He is, though, a very good leg spinner and solid cricketer who works tirelessly at his game, having already proved he is capable of holding his own in Test cricket.

Zimbabwe have already shown their willingness to play two leg spinners and with real competition, Strang can no longer take his place in the side for granted.

A good lower order batsman and a safe fielder anywhere. Once flirted with a life in South Africa, has now thrown his lot into Zimbabwe.

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Neil Johnson

Age: 29
Teams: Ireland, Leicestershire, Eastern Province, Natal
Style: Left hand bat; Right arm medium-fast

After drifting for some time in South Africa, Johnson finally turned to his native Zimbabwe and offered his services. They were quickly snapped up. Had a mixed season playing in the county championship for Leicestershire in 1997. As a batsman, he excelled, averaging 63 - which placed him joint sixth nationally - but an Achilles tendon injury restricted him to only 116 overs and a disappointing eight wickets.

Can be used to open the innings in the one-day game, where he already has two centuries to his name in his first 14 matches.

Needs confidence but guaranteed a place in the side.

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Mpumelelo Mbangwa

Age: 22
Team: Mashonaland
Style: Right hand bat; Right arm medium-fast

Powerfully built, Mbangwa can generate genuine speed as a new ball bowler, although he is at his most effective when he holds it back and hits the seam.

Known as Pom - a reference to what Zimbabweans see as a frightfully posh accent having gone to school in England.

Still finding his feet at international level but has done enough to suggest he could become a regular and he is a player the Zimbabwean Board are keen to push.

His strength can be his weakness. Usually bowls a good length - so good that he rarely feels the need to change it. In the one-day game he can therefore become predictable and be punished by good batsmen.

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Henry Olonga

Age: 22
Teams: Mashonaland, Matabeleland
Style: Right hand bat; Right arm fast

The first black to play cricket for Zimbabwe at international level and deservedly so. The authorities have invested a considerable amount of time in Olonga, recognising his raw pace as potentially the country's most vital cricketing asset.

Got himself into trouble early in his career when he was more than once called for "chucking" but seems now to have put that behind him

Bowled Zimbabwe to their first ever series victory away from home, against Pakistan, but still has some way to go in the one-day game where he is punished for often bowling both sides of the wicket. Capable of swinging a match with a burst of

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Paul Strang

Age: 28
Teams: Mashonaland, Kent, Nottinghamshire
Style: Right hand bat; Leg break / googly

Strang needs no introduction to an English audience. Having played for both Kent and Nottinghamshire, not to mention put in creditable performances for Zimbabwe against England, exploiting their famed weakness against top quality leg spin, he has nothing to prove, or indeed fear.

Outbowled fellow leg spinners Shane Warne, Anil Kumble and Mushtaq Ahmed in the last World Cup, finishing with 12 wickets at an average of 16 from six matches. His figures of five for 21 against Kenya are the fourth best in World Cup history.

Has the best googly in world cricket, having made a monkey out of Graham Thorpe in the past. Particularly effective against the left-handers.

Useful lower order batsman. A match-winner.

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Heath Streak

Age: 25
Teams: Hampshire, Matabeleland
Style: Right hand bat; Right arm medium-fast

Has matured into a fast bowler who can more than hold his own on the international scene. Is fortunate to have been born in Zimbabwe, where he pretty much rules the roost.

Raw when he first played for Zimbabwe against Pakistan in 1993/94, he was not without immediate success. A dearth of realistic contenders for his place ensured he was to remain a regular in the side, though there has scarcely been reason to question his inclusion.

Not unfamiliar with English conditions after playing a year's county cricket for Hampshire, though he struggled on pitches he claimed were "too flat".

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Dirk Viljoen

Age: 23
Team: Victoria
Style: Left hand bat; Left arm orthodox
A gritty and determined left-handed batsman, very much in the Allan Border mould. A new face in the Zimbabean side, though he has the look of a player who will be around on the international scene for some time.

What he lacks in strokeplay he more than makes up for in durability and plain common sense. Where others hit the panic button in a crisis, Viljoen plods along his merry way.

A solid, dependable cricketer, should look to develop his left-arm spin more. Has the makings of a genuine allrounder.

May, though, have to bide his time to break into an established top six.

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Andy Whittall

Age: 26
Teams: Matabeleland, Cambridge University
Style: Right hand bat; Off spin

Another Zimbabwean whose C.V. makes for interesting reading. By profession, Andy Whittall is not just a cricketer but, in his spare time, a big game hunter.

Learnt his cricket on a ranch where he lived with his cousin, Guy, and later at boarding school.

Played for Cambridge University, where he studied for an engineering degree, captaining the side in his second year.

Something of a drifter, has never been completely in or out of the national side since making his debut against Sri Lanka three years ago. More likely to be a threat as an off spinner than batsman.

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Guy Whittall

Age: 26
Team: Matabeleland
Style: Right hand bat; Right arm medium

A short and busy cricketer, Guy Whittall can bat anywhere in the top six and has the knack of sneaking a wicket or two as a change bowler.

Could have had an international career as a rugby centre, once playing in the World Cup qualifying tournament in Kenya. He earned himself near cult status at home with by taking a century off the Pakistani bowlers in Zimbabwe's first Test win.

Soon after, celebrated a double century against an admittedly understrength New Zealand.

Has said that he will retire from cricket and follow his cousin, Andy, into the world of big game hunting on the family ranch.

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