Zimbabwe is struggling in the cricket World Cup

Pallekele: Zimbabwe coach Alan Butcher said on Sunday his batsmen were struggling in the World Cup because they had not competed at Test level for a long time.

Zimbabwe last played a Test match in September 2005 before their cricket board voluntarily suspended Test status due to political instability in the country.

"You get used to bating for longer periods of times in Test cricket and that does relate to one-day cricket as well," Butcher said.

Zimbabwe scored 298-9 in their solitary win over weak Canada but struggled against Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka and posted their next best score of 188 against the co-host.

Only opening batsman Brendan Taylor has played a notable knock of 80 against Sri Lanka but despite a solid start of 116-0 last Thursday, Zimbabwe lost 10 wickets for just 72 runs before the innings folded in 39 overs.

The coach felt that players could learn to graft their innings in a 50-over game if they played Test matches more frequently.

"Your top four players who you want to bat the majority of the innings in a one-day game, may have had the opportunity to bat for a day and a half in Test matches," said Butcher, who played one Test and one ODI for England.

However, Butcher said Zimbabwe might have to look for new players if the batsmen continued to falter and post poor totals.

"I hope that eventually another couple of players will show that ability, because if they don't we have to find new players rather than continue with those who give us 170 totals," he said.

Zimbabwe could take inspiration from Ireland and Bangladesh's upset victories over England which has thrown Group B wide open for the race to the quarterfinals.

But Zimbabwe's coach feels his batters have to post a target of around 250 runs for their spin-dominated bowling attack against Pakistan.

"The history holds upsets and I think that's not beyond their (Zimbabwe players') capability," Butcher said. "If we are able to put a realistic target on the board, we have a bowling attack to make it difficult for many teams to chase down the totals."

Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura will be celebrating his 25th birthday on Monday, but so far he has struggled to give the innings any momentum in the middle-order.

"I'm not sure whether the captaincy is weighing on him," Butcher said. "He keeps practicing, keeps trying to work hard ... trying to turn things around.

"He has got the ability and working on some technical issues and hopefully they will pay dividends."