We're not mentally sharp: Brendan Taylor

CRICKET: After losing three straight matches to the world #1 ODI side in home conditions, a depleted Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor calls his team ‘mentally weak’.

After losing the third consecutive match, Taylor was asked about the problem in the post-match conference, and he came up with a honest answer.

"I think mental toughness. I don’t think we’re mentally sharp enough. We’re just not making the precise decisions at the right time and not putting a real price on our wickets. Too many soft dismissals.

"The most difficult one for me was the second game when we had an opportunity to win that game, and we dropped Dhawan and we dropped plenty of chances and allowed them to get to 290.

"It would have been a different story if we’d caught our catches and probably chased 230-240, we would have gone about our chase a lot differently. It’s very frustrating to see, knowing our batting ability and not getting the runs that we know we can get.

"We all know in the mornings it’s a little tricky (to bat) but technically we haven’t been good enough. The Indian bowlers, they just keep it nice and simple.

"They don’t give you too much to hit, but if we can get through that initial period and keep wickets in hand there’s no reason why we can’t catch up and post a decent total.

"It does hurt because they are passionate and they want us to do well, and today it was a bit disheartening to play the way we have played."

Zimbabwe will play for pride, when they take on the reigning World Champions in Bulawayo on August 1 and August 3.