Sundaymail Editor
Brighton Zhawi
THEY say there are more lessons in losses than wins and for Zimbabwe cricket men’s team the levels could be at PHD now.
The Chevrons underwent yet another tutorial against Afghanistan last week and consequently the head coach was changed.
In came Dave Houghton to replace Lalchand Rajput.
Houghton captained Zimbabwe in their inaugural Test against India in 1992, scored a century on his Chevrons debut. He went on to notch up three more in his 22 Test matches.
His 266 against Sri Lanka in Bulawayo in 1994 remains Zimbabwe’s highest individual Test score.
He also coached Zimbabwe in the ’90s with the 1999 World Cup in England being one of his shining moments as Zimbabwe made the Super Six stage following group-stage wins over India and South Africa.
In his long career, Houghton also coached Derbyshire, Middlesex in county cricket and in the domestic game with Mountaineers.
“I am very excited about this challenge. I am honoured as well to be given the opportunity,” Houghton told ZTN Prime last week.
“I last coached the national team full-time back in 1999- 2000 and although I had a couple of stints helping out when Walter (Chawaguta) was coach and also Allan Butcher, this is the first time I have had the opportunity to run the national team again, so I am really looking forward to it.”
With his predecessor, still around, will this not be an awkward situation?
“It’s not an awkward situation at all for me, I get on very well with Lalchand. We played against each other many years back, we talk cricket together …I think we have a good respect for each other.
“He will understand that at this time I am now running the side so it will be run the way I would like to run it, but I would certainly value his support and knowledge in the game,” Houghton said.
It’s his and captain Craig Ervine’s team too.
“One thing for certain is Dave will bring a very relaxed and calm vibe to the change room,” said Ervine.
“I feel that he is very well respected in the cricketing circles and he has been following Zimbabwe Cricket closely over the years so he will know how to get the best out of our players.”
That best is needed for the ICC World T20 Global Qualifier B from July 11-17 at Queens Sports Club and Bulawayo Athletic Club.
“The qualifiers are not far away but I can already feel a sense of excitement from the players with Dave coming in.
“There will be a big difference as to how we go about our business in training and as a supporter on the sidelines watching us, they’ll see it in the games as well. I know that there’s not a lot of time to turn things around especially with the results we have had.
“This is a very positive appointment by ZC and we will bear the fruits going forward”, said Ervine. Chawaguta also added his voice and backed Houghton to succeed.
“Dave Houghton’s appointment is without doubt, a huge step in the right direction for Zimbabwe Cricket given our long list of below average performances.
“His coaching experience, a calm and assuring disposition is exactly what the team needs at this juncture.
“The player group can expect an honest and forthright mentor in Dave as he prepares the team for forthcoming ICC World Cup qualifiers and beyond,” Chawaguta said.
On his part Houghton revealed that he would not put pressure on his players despite the Chevrons under-performing.
“The way that I have operated over sometime is to take as much pressure off the players as I can.
“I don’t like to see people practising for long periods of time, because they will just practice averagely. “I need them to practice for short periods and be really concentrating in their practice and then have good rest periods so they come with lots of energy.
“When I talk about the players playing with no fear, I don’t want to see a batsman go out playing a shot then come out expecting me to get into him and admonish him for the shot he played.
“You cannot ask people to play without fear and then admonish them if they make a mistake. So I want to take away that environment that admonishes the players when they make mistakes.
“I want to get them to play fearless and positive cricket”.
Houghton added:
“I think at the moment we still play our cricket in a way we worry about what we do, we are still concerned if we play a bad shot, we fear bowling a bad bowl.
“So the biggest thing for me is to take away those fears and get them playing to their full potential and ability.
“I think if they do, they will rise up so quickly from where they are.”
Zimbabwe are low not only in confidence, but rankings too. As of June 23, 2022, the Chevrons are rated 2 in T20s.
In July’s qualifiers they will face Singapore ranked 20, Jersey (21) and USA (26).
Losing to these teams will be hitting rock-bottom.
“You would be disappointed if you didn’t top that section with those groups and that’s no disrespect to those three sides, but we are far more experienced and better side than those three sides.
“I would expect USA to probably be the stronger side of those three bearing in mind that most of their cricketers are not really American-born and bred, a lot of them come from the sub-continent.
“They will have some good skills, but I still expect us to win those games,” he said.
With Houghton at the helm there is a belief that his presence could help lure back some lost talent who include Tendai Maruma playing in Australia and the pair of Nick Welch and Eddie Byrom (England).
Some even think 32 year-old Gary Ballance could feature for the Chevrons.
“It’s not something I would turn against at all, certainly we are open to have those guys back and I would happily have the conversation with them anytime they want to, but it’s not something I am going to actively pursue, if they want to come back they must start the process and the negotiations and I am sure we would help them out,” said Houghton.
Online Reporter