IF the opening day of the first Test here yesterday set the standards, the West Indies are in for yet another rough time on the road over the next three months.

Apart from Fidel Edwards’ spirited spell of hostile pace after tea, their inexperienced, one-dimensional bowling was as flat as a hard, true pitch.

A significant catch was missed, their ground-fielding was ragged and their digestive systems so affected by the bug that ruled Omari Banks out of selection that there were regularly two substitutes on the field.

Late in the day, the attack was reduced by a strained lower back that sent Jerome Taylor, the talented 19-year- old Jamaican, back to the dressing room to seek physiotherapist Sunit Liebenberg’s attention midway through his tenth over.

Last night’s verdict was that he would not bowl again in the innings and possibly the match.

Corey Collymore had the off-day always likely for those, like him, who have been obliged to alter their actions to save their backs.

He claimed a wicket but conceded 63 runs, with eight fours, from his 15 overs, and some more besides with his fumbling in the field.

Vasbert Drakes’ 18 overs were steady but never more.

Wavell Hinds, surprisingly used as first change, had 12 accurate, but hardly threatening overs of medium-pace outswing, even though he accounted for the dangerous Craig Wishart.

And there was the irksome sight late in the day of Chris Gayle, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Daren Ganga wheeling away for 16 overs of slow, club standard offerings between them.

Ironically, the only authentic appeal for lbw was Sarwan’s against Heath Streak late in the day to a ball heading down the leg-side. No more than a dozen deliveries beat the bat and every wicket fell to an attacking stroke.

In the circumstances, Zimbabwe, a depleted team that has lost its last 11 Tests, were able to transform the largely self-inflicted trouble of 58 for three an hour and a quarter into the day, and 155 for five three-quarters of an hour to tea, into a satisfactory, confidence-boosting 284 for six at close.

The scenario was not unfamiliar. The West Indies have frequently had such days at a host of overseas venues and the well-appointed, picturesque Harare Sports Club was one of them.

The last time they were here, two years ago, their progress to what appeared inevitable victory in the second of two Tests was thwarted by 18-year-old schoolboy Hamilton Mazakadza, one of the emerging players from Zimbabwe’s black majority whose 115 made him Test cricket’s youngest century- maker.

Mazakada has put cricket on hold while studying for a law degree at a South African university. But the West Indies found their advance towards a position of command arrested by another first-timer, Stuart Mazakenyeri, and vice-captain, Tatenda Taibu, both 20 and from the same Churchill High School that produced Mazakadza.

Mazakenyeri announced his arrival with a polished 57 and Taibu past his highest Test score in his 11th match to be unbeaten on 75 at the close.

Their stand of 78 either side of tea was Zimbabwe’s highest for the sixth wicket in the five Tests between the teams and took the wind out of the sails of a West Indies’ team that was already becoming becalmed.

Batting first on winning the toss, Zimbabwe were tottering at 112 for four half-hour into the second session when Mazakenyeri, a little right-hander, entered the contest.

Edwards had attracted a big drive from another young, black debutant, opener Vusi Sibanda for a catch for the first of the day’s five catches to keeper and first slip and surprised Mark Vermuelen with a bouncer to the body that he could only bunt to Hinds at a setback short-leg.

At the other end, Stuart Carlisle, century-maker in his previous Test against Australia in Sydney, fell to Collymore to a replica of Sibanda’s ambitious stroke.

Soon after, Craig Wishart escaped a low, two-handed catch to Gayle’s right at second slip in the first over of Edwards’ second spell, allowing him and the solid opener Trevor Gripper to settle Zimbabwean nerves.

They lunched at 85 for three and shared a stand of 54 before Gripper’s edged drive off Taylor offered Brian Lara his second catch. A hooked six off Edwards and six fours were his most productive strokes in two-and-a-half hours.

Such was the situation that greeted Mazakenyeri but it did not unnerve him.

Bristling with self-confidence and wristy strokes in all directions, he batted with the same authority that brought him an unbeaten 84 for Zimbabwe ‘A’ in the West Indies’ opening match.

He and Wishart put on 43 but when Wishart edged Hinds full-length outswinger to Jacobs, the innings was at the crossroads at 155 for five.

The fork took it in Zimbabwe’s direction as Mazakenyeri’s boldness seized the initiative from his listless opponents.

He assumed the lead in the stand with Taibu that tilted the balance, the pair upsetting sluggish fielders with their fleet-footed running and the bowlers with their ability to make the bad ball count across a verdant but fast outfield.

The total climbed to 233 before Mazakenyeri was a deserved victim for Edwards in his lively after-tea burst; one delivery was clocked at 93 miles an hour.

He fell to the same careless edged drive that accounted for all but one of the Zimbabwean wickets. A straight six, off Hinds, and seven meaty fours were his main scoring strokes.

Taibu, the wicket-keeper and, at five feet three inches, even smaller than his partner, was second string to his school and flat mate.

He came through a searching examination from Edwards right after tea, twice uncomfortable fending lifters off the body and hurrying his strokes, to take the lead when joined by captain Heath Streak.

He scored 34 of the 51 they added to the end, many of them to the sugary long hops presented by Sarwan and Chanderpaul. He was unbeaten 75 returning for the second day, emboldened by events in the second half of the day.