Match factsAugust 6-11, BulawayoStart time 0930 local (0730 GMT)Big PictureA week ago, Zimbabwe were wondering how to stay alive in the first Test against New Zealand. Now, they will be thinking about saving the two-match series and denying New Zealand a chance to claim a cup from the first leg of their self-termed African safari.Victory for Zimbabwe and a share of the spoils seems improbable unless they are able to correct perennial problems that creep into their approach, almost all of which stem from a lack of game time. Their struggle to build partnerships and bat for long periods of time will be crippled further by the absence of Hamilton Masakadza, who will miss the Test with a back injury. Their attacks battle to sustain pressure over extended periods also result in them falling behind early on. They have showed the ability to fight back, but that will probably not be enough against a more complete New Zealand unit.For New Zealand, a second victory and a clean sweep would be the perfect start in their search for more consistency after they lost ground to Australia. It will also give Kane Williamson a solid foundation on which to build his captaincy and sound a warning to South Africa that they could prove a challenge. Coach Mike Hesson could not find too many work-ons after the first Test but Trent Boults pace - which averaged in the late 120s - and the spinners returns will be areas to zone in on.The other area of interest will be the venue itself. Queens Sports Club will host back-to-back fixtures in a test of the ground staffs ability to turn around quickly. The outfield, which was sluggish for the first Test, would have been trimmed and may be a little quicker while the pitch itself is expected to be slow, low and flat. With school holidays and a long weekend, crowd numbers could be higher, especially as Bulawayo does not know when it will see Test cricket again.Form guideZimbabwe LLLLL (last five matches, most recent first)New Zealand WLLWWIn the spotlightAfter crashing to 36 for 4 and 17 for 4 in the first Test Zimbabwes top order will want to give their team a better start. Their ability to cope with a swinging new ball and a hostile short ball will be under particular scrutiny after Tim Southee and Neil Wagner used those tactics to run through them. In the absence of Masakadza, the responsibility will fall on Tino Mawoyo and Chamu Chibhabha.Apart from Trent Boult bowling below pace, the only aspect of New Zealands game that they may want to work on from the first Test is their spinners. While Mitchell Santner was economical, Ish Sodhi was expensive and with long spells likely to be needed on a flat track, he will need to tighten up and try to stifle Zimbabwes batsmen a little more.Team newsThe biggest blow to Zimbabwe is Hamilton Masakadzas injury. Opener Tino Mawoyo has recovered from a hand injury to take his place at the top of the order alongside Chamu Chibhabha. Peter Moor is in line for a Test debut in place of Regis Chakabva who battled tonsillitis during the first Test. Although Chris Mpofu looks fit and firing, Donald Tiripano and Mike Chinouya are likely to keep their places with John Nyumbu coming in as a second specialist spinner.Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Tino Mawoyo, 2 Chamu Chibhabha, 3 Sikandar Raza, 4 Craig Ervine, 5 Prince Masvaure, 6 Sean Williams, 7 Peter Moore (wk), 8 Graeme Cremer, (capt) 9 Donald Tiripano, 10 John Nyumbu, 11 Mike ChinouyaNew Zealand confirmed the same XI for the second Test which means no experiments to play Jeet Raval, Doug Bracewell or Matt Henry before they head to South Africa.New Zealand: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Tom Latham, 3 Kane Williamson (capt), 4 Henry Nicholls, 5 Ross Taylor, 6 BJ Watling (wk), 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Tim Southee, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Neil WagnerPitch and conditionsWhile Neil Wagner extracted a surprising amount of bounce from the surface for the first match, this one is expected to offer nothing of the sort. The teams are likely to face a hard, flat strip, which will keep run-scoring slow and make wicket-taking difficult. The fielders will not be able to enjoy any respite from the weather either. Temperatures will remain in the mid-to-high 20s and the skies will be cloudless.Stats and triviaKane Williamson and Tim Southee will be playing their 50th Tests individuallyFive years ago this week, Zimbabwe returned to Test cricket after a six-year self-imposed exile and won their comeback Test against Bangladesh. Craig Ervine and Tino Mawoyo are the only players who took part in that match who may be involved in this oneQuotesWe spent a day at Heath Steaks farm. We managed to get out of the hotel which is good. It was awesome to get out and see a bit of Zimbabwe. We saw a pretty cool sunset and got some relaxing time before a pretty big five days ahead.BJ Watling spills the beans on how the team utilised their free time.The good thing is that we have had one game already. The guys have had a good look at how they got out. The guys have done some work. Theres a little bit more grit needed, a little bit more application and time to suss out conditions.Tino Mawoyo is clear about the situation his team is in. Kevin Durant Shoes Cheap . Marincin has played in two NHL games so far this season with two penalty minutes. The 21-year-old has three goals, four assists and a plus-5 rating in 24 games with the American Hockey Leagues Oklahoma City Barons this season. Kyrie Irving Shoes In Order . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. http://www.cheapbasketballshoeswholesale.com/air-yeezy-2-shoes-wholesale.html . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. Cheap Basketball Shoes Free Shipping . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Best Chris Paul Shoes . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. CLEVELAND -- Andrew Cashner was acquired by the Marlins on July 29. Six starts and seven appearances later, he is still seeking his first win for them.The right-hander issued a career-high six walks Friday night, allowing six runs in five innings as the Cleveland Indians beat Miami 6-2. The third-place Marlins remained three games behind St. Louis for the final NL playoff spot.Cashner (4-11) threw 28 pitches before getting an out as the AL Central leaders scored three times in the first. The Indians tacked on a run in the second and two more in the fifth, sending the Marlins to their sixth loss in seven games.I was battling my fastball tonight and just never really got into a groove, said Cashner, who is 0-4 with a 5.57 ERA since joining Miami in a seven-player trade with San Diego. It was definitely a grind out there.J.T. Realmuto went 3 for 4, including a two-run homer in the eighth, and Destin Hood singled and doubled in his major league debut for the Marlins. Martin Prado added a pair of hits.To have my family here with me to share this experience really meant a lot, said the 26-year-old Hood, released by the Indians last July. I was actually really nervous, being in a much larger stadium, but it was a special night.Cleveland took advantage of Cashners inability to find the strike zone as he walked three in the first, including Mike Napoli with the bases loaded.One of the free passes occurred when Jason Kipnis was ruled to have checked his swing on a 3-2 pitch, which Miami manager Don Mattingly disagreed with from the dugout. Emotions remained high as first base coach Perry Hill was ejected in the ninth.God forbid that we complain about a call, a still-upset Mattingly said.Cashner, scratched from his previous tturn because of a blister on his pitching hand, has made nine appearances since his last win on July 15.dddddddddddd He fell to 0-6 with a 6.89 ERA on the road this year.After the first, I thought Cash was really good, Mattingly said. Its just tough because he threw 35 pitches to get out of that inning, which cost him the chance to go deeper in the game.Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco (10-7) struck out 11 and scattered six hits over 7 1/3 shutout innings. Jeff Manship allowed Realmutos eighth homer of the season, which also scored Prado, the first Marlins runner to advance past second.Christian Yelich went 0 for 4, snapping his career-long streak of three straight games with a homer.RARE APPEARANCEThe Marlins are playing their third regular-season series at Progressive Field, previously visiting in 2004 and 2012. They also defeated the Indians in the 1997 World Series. This is a beautiful ballpark, Mattingly said. Ive always loved the view, with the city in the background. It reminds me of Baltimore and Pittsburgh in that way.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: CF Marcell Ozuna (sprained left wrist) sat out his second straight game after getting hurt Wednesday while making a diving catch against the Mets.Indians: C Yan Gomes (separated right shoulder) began a rehabilitation assignment at Double-A Akron. He has been on the disabled list since July 18.UP NEXTMarlins: RHP Jose Fernandez (13-7) has the second-most strikeouts in the majors with 219. He ranks fifth with a 2.79 ERA.Indians: RHP Trevor Bauer (9-6), who has not pitched against Miami, is 6-2 with a 2.50 ERA in 13 career interleague starts. ' ' '