Online Reporter
Don Makanyanga-Zimpapers Sports Hub
LADY CHEVRONS top-order batter Modester Mupachikwa says new coach Mark Coles is already making an impact in the Zimbabwe camp as they prepare for today’s second ICC Women’s Championship One-Day International (ODI) against West Indies at the Harare Sports Club.
Mupachikwa, who emerged as one of Zimbabwe’s leading performers with the bat in the opening ODI, scoring 86 off 106, said Coles has brought greater communication within the team, particularly through his efforts to ensure players understand their individual roles and the team’s overall plans.
Since taking charge, Coles has been engaging senior players and different batting groups as he seeks to establish a clear approach to 50-over cricket.
“He has been having some conversations with the senior players. He just tells me, like, if we are opening with the bat, he just takes the openers and the middle order, then we just go through our team plan,” said Mupachikwa.
“So, he’s just trying to make everyone feel accommodated.”
Zimbabwe will be looking to bounce back from defeat in the opening match and level the three-match series against West Indies, with Mupachikwa believing the lessons from the first encounter will be important heading into today’s clash.
Mupachikwa said Coles has been encouraging the players to be patient at the crease, particularly after the team’s transition from the shorter T20 format to 50-over cricket.
“Honestly, cricket is a game of bat and ball. He tells us that we should just play your game, watch the ball, then we play straight and give ourselves time because this is a 50-over match,” she said.
The new coach’s message, according to Mupachikwa, has been to trust the process rather than attempt to force the pace from the outset.
“Since we shifted from the T20 overs, everyone wants to hit the ball, but we have had those conversations, let’s be patient and let’s go through the processes,” she said.
Mupachikwa applied that philosophy during the opening ODI, saying she focused on spending time at the crease, playing straight and assessing the conditions before attempting to increase the scoring rate.
“I feel like I managed to stay on the wicket longer and I was using a straight bat and, at the same time, I was trying to assess the pitch,” she said.
“When we went in earlier with Sharne Mayers, that was our plan — maybe let’s just see the first five overs, then we see how the pitch was behaving.
“The top-order batter said the team had also planned to avoid putting themselves under unnecessary pressure, given the number of deliveries available in a 50-over innings.
“As a team, since 50 overs is just 300 balls, we were just thinking to go run a ball and not put too much pressure on ourselves.”
