The Sunday Mail
Zimbabwe Cricket national team coach Andy Waller has lauded outgoing batting coach Grant Flower as hard-working and “irreplaceable”. Flower (43) is set to join Pakistan in August to take up the batting coach role and will not be available for the upcoming tours by South Africa and Australia.
Zimbabwe has since begun preparations for the August tours which start with a one-off Test against the Proteas from 9-13 August before Australia joins in for a Triangular series which starts on the 26th of the same month.
“Grant’s departure is a huge loss because he is an exceptional coach and it’s unfortunate that one of the country’s best is being taken away from us, but you can understand that he wants to go higher with his coaching.
“He is irreplaceable, but we have got one or two options in mind, but that is to be passed by the board.
“I hope it will be announced before the (South Africa) tour because with just Steve (Mangongo) and I ahead of this big series it could be too much for the two of us.
“We started fitness training and it has been fitness in the morning and pretty many easy net sessions in the afternoon because we still have a month before our first game.
“The fitness levels have been down a bit obviously because no cricket has been played for a month or so but the main thing is to make sure by the time Australia and South Africa come we reach the peak,’’ said Waller.
Zimbabwe will play the Proteas at Harare Sports Club, their first Test match since the historic win over Pakistan last September.
A triangular series involving Australia then follows and Waller is hopeful of conjuring upsets.
“The guys are excited, we are going to be playing cricket again and obviously when you are playing two of the best sides in the world, it’s a bonus.
“For any sportsman you always want to play against the best, I am sure the guys are all looking forward to it.
“It’s obviously not going to be easy, you have to be realistic of our chances, but we want to be competitive and with a bit of luck we might surprise in one or two games,” said the 54-year-old mentor.
Zimbabwe is expected to host Afghanistan next month in preparation for the high-profile clashes.
