adminchallenged his players to maintain the winning culture that swept them to an ODI series win over Bangladesh.
Having captured the ODI series, after holding their nerve to win the third match by five runs, Butcher wants his boys to go for a whitewash as the Bulawayo leg of the series starts at Queens today.
Butcher and his men suffered on the low wickets of Bangladesh last December as the rampant Tigers, buoyed by a 4-0 series win over New Zealand, clawed from losing the first match to win the series 3-1 with one game being abandoned, without a ball being bowled, due to rain.
The Englishman said then that there was very little separating his charges and the victorious Tigers and, eight months later, the Zimbabweans have rallied back to inflict a demoralising defeat on
Bangladesh.
While the Test defeat might not have hurt the Tigers, given that they had also been away from the grand stage for 14 months, Bangladesh have always found pride in the way they compete in the ODIs and the series defeat must have hurt them badly.
Everything has been going right for Butcher and his men – key players have risen to the occasion when needed, the pace bowlers have been impressive, their body language has been good and the support of the home crowd has been brilliant.
Inevitably the local media has all been united behind the team and cricket has replaced football on the back pages of most of the mainstream newspapers while Brian Vitori, virtually unknown before this series, is now a poster boy.
But there is always a danger that when a team finds rare success, as is the case with Zimbabwe, the players take the foot off the pedal and, suddenly, the downward spiral to mediocrity begins again.
For a team that had last won an ODI series against a Test playing nation five years ago, the celebrations that have been going on in Zimbabwe Cricket are understandable following the success over the Tigers.
Butcher believes his side can maintain the momentum and put the icing on the cake with a series whitewash.
The Englishman believes the new ball partnership of Brian Vitori and Kyle Jarvis and the support they have been receiving Christopher Mpofu and spinner Prosper Utseya coupled with the way the in-form Vusi Sibanda, Hamilton Masakadza and Tatenda Taibu have batted, gives his men the edge.
Captain Brendan Taylor might have been finding it difficult at the top of the batting order but it’s important to note the value of his contribution as a leader and how it has bonded the team into a unit.
Butcher is banking on his skipper to rise to the occasion.
“Yes, it has been hard but he was looking good in the nets today and I am sure he will come back strong,” said Butcher.
“It is still too early to take any action and change his position but after seeing him today he looks good.
“He has worked hard and is determined to get Zimbabwe going.”
Butcher added that the depth in his side was good enough for them to win even if they make a few changes in the City of Kings.
“There could be some changes here and there for the game tomorrow (today) but we are yet to see where we might adjust and if we make the changes we would like to keep them as few as we can,” said Butcher.
“Vitori and Jarvis are an exciting opening pair, they are very strong and they have been winning the games for us both in the Test and the three ODIs we have played so far and they have made a big difference in the Zimbabwe game
“But we have had a good preparation this (yesterday) afternoon, the boys are physically fit and they have worked a lot on the technical aspect of the game as well.
“Bangladesh put up a good show in the last game and we are aware that they are capable of causing an injury (defeat) to us.
“They have always been a side that comes from behind to win against Zimbabwe.
“So we are going into this game with the mentality of wanting to avoid a defeat, Mushfiqur (101) really put up a good performance in that game and that highlights their potential to cause damage to us.
“We have been playing well especially at the top, we have not been losing wickets and the bowlers have been getting those early wickets, something that is healthy for us and, because we are aiming for a 5-0, we have to give all.
“We have a 15-man squad and four other players who have not played could come in this side and we wouldn’t feel any weaker.”
The coach dismissed suggestions that his side was being helped by the tourists’ poor preparations.
“We have improved a lot, the last time we played them we led on the first ODI but went on to lose the series,” said Butcher.
“This has taken them by surprise and I am happy that these wins are giving a lot of confidence to the boys.
“However, in as much as we are aiming to win the rest of the games we cannot predict what is going to happen tomorrow because I don’t know if there is anyone who is going to get five wickets but I know the team’s performance will give us a win.
“Obviously Bangladesh would love to win and that is why they are here, we cannot go into the game with complacency. We have to work for our own results.”
Bangladesh coach Stuart Law feels the change of environment from Harare could help his side win as they look to restore battered pride.
“Even though the series is gone, there’s pride at stake, it would be nice to get out of Harare to erase some bad memories of our cricket at Harare Sports Club,” said Law.
Online Reporter