Online Reporter
Don Makanyanga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE coach Justin Sammons feels his Chevrons are on the right trajectory as the country prepares for the staging of the 2027 One Day Internationals World Cup.
Sammons was left a happy man after Zimbabwe secured a rare series win over Ireland, beating the Europeans 2-1 in their three ODI matches.
Zimbabwe is scheduled to co-host the ICC 2027 World Cup together with South Africa and Namibia.
The co-hosts are looking to build a competitive side for the global show-piece.
While they have one eye on preparing for the World Cup, the triumph over Ireland was even more welcome to the coach as it was Sammons’ first series win since his appointment to take charge of the Chevrons.
“I will take responsibility for the losses, but at the end of the day, it’s the players that go and win these series.
“So, the credit needs to go to them.
“They (players) have been unbelievable and have really put in a lot of hard work in the last sort of six, seven months.
“We have our vision and our goal as a team, and I think that, for me, is the ultimate that we are trying to achieve.
“The vision is obviously geared towards certain events,” said Sammons.
Zimbabwe’s series win against Ireland was the first series win for the Chevrons against a full ICC member in more than two years.
Their last series win in an ODI had come against Bangladesh in August 2022.
But for Sammons, the sweet taste of victory took a huge load off his shoulders and that of his players, and he acknowledged as much.
“I suppose it always helps when you’re winning, because when you’re losing, there’s always going to be question marks around the processes that have been followed and the direction in terms of the way we want to play the game.
“That’ll be questioned. Winning definitely helps in that regard.
“But at the end of the day, like I said, it’s not about the now. It’s about the end vision and being part of that journey to get to that vision. And we understand as a team, as a coaching staff, that there are going to be ups and there are going to be downs along that journey.
“It’s about obviously staying the course through those downs; I think that’s hugely important,” said Sammons.
The Chevrons coach said there have been some small improvements from the team since he joined last year but admitted that there is a lot of work that needs to be done to improve.
“I definitely see improvements, without a doubt.
“I think we are improving, even if the results did not go away. There are still small improvements that we are seeing within the process.
“If I am being honest, we have got a long way to go; we have got a lot of improving to do in all facets of the game,” he said.
Sammons said the packed 2025 fixtures for the Chevrons will be key in the team achieving their targets.
“As cricketers, I don’t think we are ever satisfied in terms of actually where we are, but we know there’s still a long way to go for us to be actually where we want to be.
“We are not going to make those improvements that we are looking for by being in the nets.
“The majority of those improvements will come from the experiences that are gained in the middle.
So, a lesson might not necessarily sink in immediately, but in two or three months’ time, in six months’ time, all of a sudden, things start happening. So, that exposure to playing the best is priceless,” said Sammons.
