Masakadza back for Test series

Masakadza is back after completing his A-Levels

Teenage batsman Hamilton Masakadza and leg-spinner Brian Murphy have been added to Zimbabwe's squad for the forthcoming Test series Sri Lanka.

The first Test starts on 27 December at Colombo's Sinhalese Sports Club.

The rest of the squad are already in Sri Lanka, having taken part in the triangular one-day series.

Our bowlers bowled well in patches; they just haven't had scores to bowl at.

Stuart Carlisle

But they won just once in the tournament and a loss to the West Indies on Sunday means that they will miss out on Wednesday's final.

And the side will have a single first class warm-up match against a Board XI, beginning on Friday.

Masakadza, who at 17 became the youngest debut centurion in Test history when he scored 119 against West Indies in July, has been with Zimbabwe A in Kenya after completing his school A-Levels.

He replaces all-rounder Shaun Ervine, who suffered a stress fracture to his back during last months 1-0 Test series victory in Bangladesh, Cricinfo reported.

Murphy, who took over the captaincy after the sudden resignation of Heath Streak in October, was also forced home from Bangladesh with a broken finger but has now recovered.

Young team

Stuart Carlisle replaced him as skipper and is expected to retain the role.

Carlisle admitted that the series would be difficult for the young team, especially the batsmen, to move from one-day cricket to the Test arena.

Carlisle admits it will be tough for Zimbabwe

"There's only one way to go and that's to get stuck in, stow away our red kit and get on in our white kit," he said.

"Our bowlers bowled well in patches; they just haven't had scores to bowl at.

"We've just got to sort our batting out.

"It always used to be our batting that was strong, backed up by our fielding, but now the tide has turned.

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Zimbabwe squad: Stuart Carlisle, Heath Streak, Gary Brent, Dion Ebrahim, Sean Ervine, Andrew Flower (wkt), Grant Flower, Travis Friend, Trevor Gripper, Douglas Marillier, Hamilton Masakadza, Brian Murphy, Mluleki Nkala, Henry Olonga, Craig Wishart, Tatendra Taibu (wkt).