Fielding is our strength: Price

Chennai, Feb 11 (PTI) Many teams are relying on theirstrong batting while some on their superb bowling for a goodshow at the World Cup but minnows Zimbabwe say their biggeststrength is their terrific ground fielding.

Experienced leg-spinner Raymond Price, who has figured in83 ODIs and claimed 80 wickets, said their bowlers would becomplimented by their athletic fielders.

"Our greatest strength is fielding. That gives the bowleran extra cushion because I know if I happen to bowl at longhops, the fielders will somehow be able to prevent it frombeing a boundary," Price said.

Asked how he expects to fare at cricket''s biggestcarnival, starting February 19, he said, "I am not a ShaneWarne, not blessed with his variations. But I know I can beaccurate, and put the ball in the spot. I learned this from myfather. He was a golf professional and used to relentlesslypractice after office hours. I tried to do the same withcricket."

Price said he was not happy with the way things weregoing in Zimbabwe cricket and that''s why he left the nationalside in 2004 but rejoined when situation improved.

"I was not happy then about Zimbabwe cricket and then Igot an offer from Worcestershire, also it was my dream to playcounty cricket. The conditions and set up were totallydifferent. It was good for me, and helped me become a betterprofessional. There were former international players such asGraeme Hick, and I learned a lot from him, in terms ofpreparations and how to carry oneself outside the turf," hesaid.

"Zimbabwean cricket is only going upwards (now). From noteven domestic cricket, the franchisees have put cricket on theright track. There is lot of talent and they are gettingexposure. Now we have to bridge the gulf between our domesticcricket and international cricket. Thankfully, a lot ofsponsors are interested in the game. We''re more of a soccernation and it has rubbed on us a bit," he added.

Saying that he was away from international cricket forZimbabwe, Price said," I missed international cricket forthree-and-a-half years. I saw a lot of matches on thetelevision and felt that I wanted to return to internationalcricket. Then one of the franchisees offered me a contract andI obliged."

Price also said that it was tough for any national teamto cope with the transition phase.

"It''s tough for any team if the seniors leave the team atone go. If you take out seven senior players from theAustralian side, they would also struggle, and they will alsotake time to recover," he said.