The world according to Prosper, by Tristan Holme

[bavuma_rabada]

Divisions bowl out coaches

As cricket fans grapple with specialist coaches Grant Flower and Heath Streak’s exclusion from the Zimbabwe party for the West Indies, it has been established that internal divisions forced the Cricket Committee to recommend the axing of the two.

Report by Kevin Mapasure

While speculation is rife that the reasons bowling coach Streak, batting coach Flower and fitness trainer Lorraine Chivandire were snubbed include a lack of finance, IndependentSport has established that the feeling within ZC is that the current set up that also includes head coach Alan Butcher and his assistant Steve Mangongongo has failed to click.

ZC communications manager Shingai Rhuhwaya yesterday confirmed that the decision was arrived at after recommendations from the Cricket Committee.

“This particular decision was made on the basis of recommendations by the Cricket Committee which includes reputable cricket greats Alistair Campbell, Dave Houghton and the late Kevin Curran who have 84 Tests and 290 ODIs between them,” said Rhuhwaya. “After the World Cup the Cricket Committee interviewed senior players and the recurring theme was lack of cohesion within the coaching structure.”
The committee, which also includes Cyprian Mandenge, Kapuya, and Chris Chiketa interviewed senior players, Brendan Taylor, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, Ray Price, Hamilton Masakadza and Richard Muzhange.

While Rhuhwaya declined to discuss the details of that meeting it has been established that the committee saw “a need to review the whole technical structure”.

They reviewed reports from the technical team from the World Cup where they noted it was improper for Flower to refuse to go to a match due to differences with convener Givemore Makoni.

It is understood Makoni and Flower clashed over who to play between Utseya and Price, and the batting coach threatened to stay away if Price was excluded.

According to minutes of that meeting, Campbell asked the players if there was unity within the camp and Taylor said the team was not pulling in the same direction.

Houghton also asked if the players felt the coaching staff had differences, which both Utseya and Taylor confirmed.

Chigumbura felt the structure was too big adding that he preferred to work under a coach and assistant only.

Houghton explained that there was no harmony in the team. It is understood there are factions within the team and players take instructions from their preferred coaches.

There are players who choose to listen to Streak only, which is why the former captain has fallen victim.

It is against this background that the committee recommended a technical structure with a head coach, assistant coach, analyst, physiotherapist, fitness trainer and a manager to be appointed on a tour by tour basis.

Streak said yesterday the only clashes they have had were on selection.

“We have been working well and have no issues that I know of,” Streak said.

“We have had debates and disagreements but those were only about selection, which is normal in this game.”

[jaybro]

I fail to see how any of that backs up your claim Streak was a cancer in the team?

He sure seams to be tearing BD apart their seamers just having been the same since he has arrived

[sure-shot]

In ZC-Outcast/Bavuma's world, even a goat can coach Zim, it only needs to be black for it to qualify.
I'll kindly suggest that he starts to frequent the cricket grounds (watch matcches at various tiers) and interact with the players for him to get a real cricketer's mindset. This will make up for the time he has wasted behind his computer (looking up stats) at the polit bureau over the years. Otherwise, am tired of his political & hypothetical gibberish which is sadly, only racially motivated with no constructive value to the game!!!

[bavuma_rabada]

sure-shot, I am flattered. Absolutely flattered that with all of this cricket happening before, currently and still to come - historic tour to Pakistan, India&NZ tours, now Pakistan currently, Ireland & Afghanistan to come, then Bangladesh much later - you have made it your sole objective to comment on the socio-political aspects accompanying the game. I'm deeply honoured.

Deeply honoured but at the same time deeply saddened that that has been your primary objective, whereas someone on the ground such as yourself should comment on the technical aspects of the youngsters and incumbetns, plus provide various first hand insight on developments on the pitch. it could help explain why Diplock&Munyoro struggled and continue to struggle to get into the Eagles as Flakeman suggests, yet a Rocks side that was piss poor struggle to get quality players to complete. Did they take pleasure in taking on the Eagles admin or simply felt things like moving or sleeping on the floor etc was far too below them and reerved for other players some of whom were internationals of all races.

Diplock's u19 record suggests there were many then and many now better than him. Somehow your naked eyes have the remarkable abiity to read beyond the stats that the rest of the sane cricket world at all levels bases their selections on, and forms the backbone of all cricket journos' arguments, except of ocurse those reporting on Zimbabwe - Tristan, Firdose & Liam! It seems Club stats and Possibles vs probabales games have taken superiority over international & FC stats, only your naked eyes can decipher the logic behind that. Therefore enlighten us please. I beg you.

Clearly Zimbawe is a paradox, but one I'm sure you will with time make me fully comprehend. Only your unqualified wisdom can decipher these mysteries.

Nonetheless, I'm truly honoured that your priorites alter because of me. Greatly honoured. Thank you. I mean it.