Pre-Series Q&A with Chigumbura & Butcher

[maehara]

From yesterday's press conference:

Pre-tour press conference with Zimbabwe Head Coach Alan Butcher and Captain Elton Chigumbura at the Intercontinental Hotel in Johannesburg on Monday 4 October

How important is this series to Zimbabwe?
Alan Butcher: “Every series we play is vital for us especially when we play against the top nations. Such games give us a yard stick as to measure where we are in the world order.”

Does playing the Proteas in South Africa put Zimbabwe on the back foot?
Elton Chigumbura: “We are not on the back foot because we have nothing to lose when we play against big sides. We just need to express ourselves and play to win.”

Will you spring a few surprises in the Standard Bank Pro20 similar to the ones in the ICC World Twenty20 in the West Indies?
Alan Butcher: “In twenty20 you are almost duty bound to play an aggressive game. If we can do that, and do it well, we may spring a surprise.”

How has been your role as the team captain?
Elton Chigumbura: “It has been a good challenge. I have so far tried to encourage the team to play to win against bigger sides and to take the opportunities that come our way in order to win more games.”

Any nominal changes you are going to make in this tour and in the future?
Elton Chigumbura: “We are working on being more offensive on our batting side because we have been too defensive in the last few years. We have done well with our spinners and it is now up to our seamers to come though. You should see them get more exposure during this tour.”

What are your views on franchise cricket in Zimbabwe?
Elton Chigumbura: “There has been a big improvement in our cricket because of the franchise system and now there are more games to be played, which is pretty good for us.”

Alan Butcher: “I have seen quite a few matches and what I have seen so far is competitive. I think we will also benefit from the experience of the likes of Allan Donald, Jason Gillespie and David Houghton; that experience is likely to help players develop quicker. People who have watched the previous season and compare it to the current one can confirm that there is already an increased intensity and the standard is higher.”

How prepared is the team for the world cup in 2011?
Alan Butcher: It is difficult to say in percentages but we are slowly identifying the players that we want to take to the world cup. As I have had the chance to watch franchise cricket I have also been able to see people who I think fit into our framework. Bit by bit the gig-saw puzzle is being complete. I hope this tour will give us more pieces to fit into the picture.

[sloandog]

What do you think our starting line up will be for the first T20 game ??

I reckon it'll be

1. Brendan Taylor (Wkt)
2. Hamilton Mazakadza
3. Charles Coventry
4. T.Taibu
5. Grant Flower
6. Chamu Chibahba
7. Elton Chigumbura
8. Graeme Cremer
9. Ed Rainsford
10. Prosper Utsea
11. Ian Nicholson/Chris Mpofu

COME ON ZIMBABWE !!!!!!!

[Conant]

I presume you meant BUTCHER in the headline, Maehera?

[bayhaus]

I presume you meant BUTCHER in the headline, Maehera?

Thought we had a Boxing face off between the two!!!

[maehara]

I presume you meant BUTCHER in the headline, Maehera?

Thought we had a Boxing face off between the two!!!

Heh. Butcher is correct - fixed. ^^;