malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
Following a tour defeat at the hands of Ireland on Sunday, Zimbabwe Chevrons coach Dave Houghton has admitted that the batting department has contributed to the plummeting of the team’s performances in recent months.
The tour by Ireland comprised three T20I and three ODI matches.
Ireland won the T20I series 2-1, before going on to clinch the ODI series by winning two matches, with the other game disrupted by the rains.
The tour defeat came after Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup in July.
Zimbabwe also failed to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Speaking after the last match of the Ireland tour on Sunday, Houghton said he believes the biggest letdown of the Chevrons team in recent months has been the batting.
“We have been playing some bad cricket for a while now.
“It is pretty clear to see that our batting has been disastrous for the past few months, and it has not and it is not getting any better,” said Houghton.
Having lost some of the senior players due to injury in the just-ended tour, which opened up opportunities for upcoming players, Houghton admitted that the young players have not been good replacements.
“During the tour, we have lost some senior players through injuries and suspension, but the upcoming batters have not just been good enough,” he said.
Houghton has challenged the batters to up their game in the franchise teams, before stepping up to international cricket.
“How do you expect to score a hundred for the national team when you cannot score a hundred for your franchise in domestic cricket?” said the Chevrons coach.
Online Reporter