Chawaguta reveals game plan

Deputy Sports Editor

THE Dunning-Kruger effect is one of those cognitive complexes that affect most people without them realising it.

The theory presupposes that people with limited competence in a particular domain often overestimate their abilities and capabilities.

In sport, this is usually common in coaches, most of whom are in the habit of promising success and glory.

However, when it comes to the new Zimbabwe cricket women’s coach, Walter Chawaguta, the 51-year-old seems to be an exception to the rule.

After all, the latest assignment is not particularly new to the former Chevrons and Zimbabwe A coach.

“I have been working with the girls for quite some time — first coming in as a technical adviser to the team,” said Chawaguta.

“That was like my introduction into women’s cricket.

“After that, I then came in as a fielding and then batting coach, during which I worked with Gary Brent for about a year-and-a-half . . .

“The transition is not a big one and I will still take on the responsibilities in the batting and bowling departments, but someone else is going to come and take over the fielding.”

Following his recent appointment as the substantive women’s coach, Chawaguta gave a hint of the plan he has for the Lady Chevrons.

“It’s exciting to be back and I am obviously looking forward to taking the team from where they were to the next level.”

He, however, does not underestimate the task at hand.

His side has two important assignments on the horizon, starting with a debut appearance (both for the team and sport) at next month’s African Games slated for March 8-23 in Accra, Ghana.

There is also the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers in Dubai in April.

In Dubai, Zimbabwe will slug it out with Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United States and Vanuatu for the remaining two slots for the biennial women’s tournament to be held in Bangladesh later this year.

The Lady Chevrons assembled as a team last Friday for a short camp before flying off to India for a string of friendlies this week.

There is also a proposed bilateral series between Zimbabwe and Papua New Guinea for three One-Day Internationals and three T20s.

“As it pertains to targets, one of the things I am really excited about and really want to push through is getting our bench strength right.

“I want to make sure that we have options and a deeper pool from which to select our team,” added Chawaguta.

“What usually happens is that a lot of emphasis is often put on the 15 or 16 who make the senior team, much to the exclusion of the players a level or rung below . . .

“The goal is to create two strong teams, which will broaden our selection base and create more competition for jerseys within the team.”

Currently, he is putting final touches to his programme for the T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers after having proclaimed that securing a place at the finals in Bangladesh is a priority.

In the UAE, the Irish women’s team, which humbled the Lady Chevrons on home soil last month, stand as the team’s biggest obstacle.

The Europeans, who are among the countries confirmed for the qualifiers, beat Zimbabwe 2-0 in the three-match ODI series and 5-0 in the five-match T20 series.

“Ireland is definitely our hurdle,” said Chawaguta.

“Not to look lightly at the other teams, we have to beat Ireland when we meet them either during the group stages or the knockouts. The fortunate thing about that last tour is that they brought their full-strength squad and we have now got them on record.

“We went into that tour hugely depleted, sometimes taking to the field with as little as three outright batters, which is not good enough, but still ran them close . . .”