Heath Streak wants Zimbabwe to playing winning cricket

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Harare, December 20: Zimbabwe are going into their Boxing Day Test against South Africa looking for a shock victory, rather than just to avoid a heavy defeat, says coach Heath Streak.

The Proteas host their African neighbours in Port Elizabeth for the first Test between the countries since August 2014.

It will be the latest day-night match in international cricket's longest format, and the first to be played over four days.

Since their last meeting with South Africa, Zimbabwe have lost nine and drawn one of 10 Tests, their previous victory coming back in September 2013 against Pakistan.

Facing the second ranked Test side in the world is a daunting prospect for Streak's men but he insists they are approaching it with confidence after beating Sri Lanka in July's one-day international series.

"It's about shaking off the underdog mentality and playing to win, not to compete and to not embarrass ourselves," the former fast bowler told a news conference.

"Our series in Sri Lanka was a watershed moment for us, more mentally than anything else.

"We are out to play winning cricket and we'd rather lose trying to play a winning brand than to just compete.

"We'll have our challenges, especially in the longer format because we don't play that much, but this team is going places."

Streak added: "It's well documented how little Test cricket we play. I think for us it's less about the type of cricket than about playing at international level.

"Whether it's playing Tests or one-day internationals, it's the gaps in between that are the biggest challenge for us."

Source: OPTA