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Brighton Zhawi
Sports Reporter
DAVE HOUGHTON loves Zimbabwe, and it is not a surprise he has led an English county side to his beloved country for a pre-season tour.
Derbyshire — coached by Houghton, who was Zimbabwe’s first Test captain at independence — are in the country, as are fellow county side Durham.
The two teams are presently on their pre-season practice.
Derbyshire were scheduled to play two T20s, two one-day games and as many three-day matches against a Zimbabwe Select side in Bulawayo between yesterday and March 27.
In Harare, Durham will face a Chairman’s XI side in two two-day matches.
“My own career was built around playing county sides coming out every season,” Houghton told The Sunday Mail.
“We would have at least two county sides coming over here; it was a fantastic experience and it is something that has been missing in Zimbabwe for 20 years.
“So it was always in the top of my mind to try and get this association going, again, for the benefit of both people. It is a fantastic destination for us to pre-season.
“Beautiful climate, it is a fantastic place, you get to see Victoria Falls, some wild animals — things they do not normally see.
“There is a life experience involved as well. We know the cricket will be strong, because the players we are playing against want to beat us.”
As the rest of the Derbyshire members enjoyed a lovely day at the majestic Victoria Falls, Houghton was savouring each and every moment.
It is a homecoming show for the 62-year-old who holds a highest Test score by a Zimbabwean batsman — 266 scored at home against Sri Lanka in 1994/95.
“When I put this tour together, in England, it was about the cricket and life experiences; so we started this tour with some life experiences, sending the guys to Vic Falls, and they were absolutely stunned by what they saw.
“I did not go to Vic Falls, I have been there before, so I spent the two days catching up with the family.
“I have two married daughters and granddaughters here.”
Home is a place of fond memories for Houghton, who made history in Zimbabwe’s first Test, a drawn match against India at Harare Sports Club in 1992.
“That Test in particular, that is the first Test match where we basically started our journey into the top section of international cricket.
“It was an amazing Test and the fact that I was lucky to get a hundred (121) in it as well brings back some amazing memories.
“I had such a wonderful career for so many years.
“I think I started in 1978 and retired in 1997. I had a very long period, but was involved in a lot of coaching too.
“Zimbabwe Cricket has been in my heart my whole life, and it will always will be.”
In 1983, Zimbabwe stunned the cricket world by beating Australia by 13 runs in a World Cup match in England.
It was Zimbabwe’s first ODI and the fact that it came in a World Cup match was considered to be awesome. Beating Australia was a surreal moment for everyone involved.
Houghton, who scored a first ball duck in that match, recalls: “For us, most of the people we played against in 1983 we had seen on TV. We had never had the opportunity to play against Jeff Thompson and Dennis Lillee and these guys.
“It was our international one-day debut, but we had had some good experiences, because we had played the West Indian A sides. They had some great players, you know they had Malcolm Marshall.
“We had some experience, but to play our full-bloodied international in a World Cup and win it was just stunning.”
Houghton was, however, disappointed by Zimbabwe’s suspension by the ICC.
“It was one of the lowest points for me. I made it a point to find out from people what was happening, on the ground, and I knew quite quickly there would be a solution.
“While it was disappointing, at the same time I knew they would be a solution.
“Let us hope it does not happen again.
“There always has to be a rebuilding process, all the time, and if you want the game to really work in Zimbabwe, a couple of things have to happen.
“Domestic cricket has to be strong again. When we started in 1983, we did not even have a first-class system, but our club cricket was strong.
“Our players were mentally and technically strong . . . we need to get that back,” he said.
He now hopes for a stronger partnership between Zimbabwe Cricket and English Counties, including the England Cricket Board.
“The benefits for are plenty, but at the same time, it is great benefit in bringing the two countries’ associations closer together.
“I think us and Durham will be the first ones; if these two tours go on well, there will be plenty more coming.
“The point of the matter with these relationships is that we can start to bring a couple of kids here from one of our counties, maybe take a couple from here to play in our second county teams.
“Groundsmen swaps and staff — all sorts of things are possible, once we have the association going.
“If we can include them in county second teams, which we can, as I am sure there can be arrangements made. Even if it is half a season, so they get some three-day cricket … certainly that is what I am looking at.
“At Derbyshire County, we carry quite a small squad, because we are a smaller club.
“Surreys and Yorkshires, these guys have staffs of 30s … we have a staff of 17.
“So for us to have a couple of young up-and-coming players to be able to play in our second team, that is a bonus.”
He still has plans for Zimbabwe after he is done with county cricket.
“I certainly hope when I finish my time in England, which could be in the next three of four years, that I could be spending time in both countries and still try to help even if it is some sort of mentorship and keep Zimbabwe Cricket live,” he said.
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