The Sunday Mail
An improved showing by the Chevrons in Dubai against Afghanistan could be the perfect tonic to mark Dav Whatmore’s first anniversary as Zimbabwe cricket coach.
Zimbabwe and Afghanistan square off in five One-day Internationals and two Twenty20’s. Whatmore was appointed to the hot seat on December 31, 2014.
Afghanistan toured Zimbabwe in October, winning the ODI and T20 series 3-2 and 2-0 respectively, to become the first Associate nation to sweep a Test-playing country. Whatmore will be eager to wash away the bitter taste of that poor display when the Chevrons begin their tour from December 25 to January 10.
The Sri Lanka-born gaffer spoke to speak to The Sunday Mail Sport this week, and described his job as “challenging”.
Whatmore’s boys have been well below par, winning just 25 percent of the 29 ODIs they have played.
“Our competitiveness has been okay, but we haven’t won enough games. The most discouraging factor has been the number of winning positions we have put ourselves in, only to falter at the end,” said Whatmore.
The 61-year-old’s first challenge after replacing Steve Mangongo was the ICC World Cup. The story there was typical: Zimbabwe got into winning positions and then faltered. That competition also marked the end of Brendan Taylor’s international career.
“In the background we have also been unable to keep a consistent squad of players. We had the fourth-best batsman in the World Cup and he now is gone. We also had our best bowler at the World Cup, Tendai Chatara break his leg, and these things have seriously pegged us back. In international cricket, you need your best players playing all the time,” he said.
Whatmore stressed the importance of mental strength, and said the Chevrons were “lacking in the software department”.
“We are not the only team with this problem. We have the ability to play shots, take wickets and make catches, but when you put cameras on the field and 20 000 people, it becomes a different ball game.
“It’s the same ball, it’s the same distance you play over 22 yards, the white balls are the same, and so why do they continuously fail? Well, it’s because cricket is played in the head and we need to be a little bit tougher in our mental approach.”
Nonetheless, the former Australia player seems to have fallen in love with Zimbabwe. And its soccer league.
“My Chicken Inn lost last week, they gave away a penalty”, bemoaned Whatmore.
“But I want to congratulate the Chicken Inn coach for winning the league and it saddens me that they couldn’t win the double. I like the Chicken Inn outlet in Belgravia where I have had a couple of two-dollar chicken purchases and it appears that love has been transferred to the team. I haven’t gone personally to watch the team play but I have had good exchanges with some of the boys in the squad over the different teams they support.”
Whatmore has also taken a liking to “sadza” and loves the local weather.
“I have enjoyed living here, it’s pretty easy; there are no traffic hassles, the restaurants and supermarkets are good, the doctors, dentists, and the weather is fantastic. I have a little bit of sadza from time to time.”
‘It’s full steam ahead’
Sports Reporter
Chevrons skipper Elton Chigumbura has challenged his boys to produce their best in the upcoming series against Associate side Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates.
Zimbabwe lost 2-3 in the reverse ODI series as their Asian opponents became the first ICC Associate nation to win a series against a full member team in October. And Chigumbura doesn’t want a repeat of that ignominy.
“We have to make sure we improve and put our best foot forward when we play them (Afghanistan),” Chigumbura said.
“When we get into winning positions, we have to take them. It is also important for us to win the series and bounce back from losses against Bangladesh and Afghanistan. We have to play our best cricket,” he said.
The 28-year-old captain urged pure execution of roles from his charges.
“All areas should be ready to fire namely; batting, bowling and the fielding.
“If we can do that, then we will win easily. It’s good that the guys are match-fit. All the guys in the squad have done something and if they can play their roles correctly then I am sure we will win the series.
“It’s not about who is better than who, it’s about who plays better cricket on the day,” he said.
