Zimbabwe cut coaching staff for West Indies tour
Re: Zimbabwe cut coaching staff for West Indies tour
Only Mugabe can walk on water.
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes
Re: Zimbabwe cut coaching staff for West Indies tour
Who are the personnel going on this tour, other than the players?
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Re: Zimbabwe cut coaching staff for West Indies tour
http://dailynews.co.zw/article/Sport/1a ... 8ec6f93b94
Streak, Flower disappointed
HARARE - Former Zimbabwe Test cricketers Heath Streak and Grant Flower, the current national team bowling and batting coach respectively, have expressed disappointment at being left out of the upcoming West Indies tour.
The two ex-internationals were dropped from the tour in what is believed to be a cost-cutting measure.
“Obviously I would have loved to go. It’s always nice to see some of the younger bowlers playing in their first tour and give them support,” Streak told the Daily News yesterday.
“I understand a decision had to be made but any human being would be disappointed not to be on a touring part just like any player would be disappointed to be left out of the squad. It’s sad but of course I will put my pride in being in the country, I have always given 100 per cent to country and the game.
“Whilst I might not be there in flesh, I will be there supporting the boys and giving as much advice through various interactive platforms available. The Caribbean is a good place to play cricket and a great part of the world with a great atmosphere.”
Batting coach Flower was equally disappointed.
“I’m not very happy about it, I’m very disappointed and upset but I can only control what I can control and leave what I cannot,” Flower said.
“I have put in a lot of effort with the team and if anything I would have wanted to be there with the players because they are the most important aspect of the game.”
Flower is one of the three coaches interviewed for the coaching post that will fall vacant at the end of the West Indies tour is not sure whether the move the move to leave him behind automatically rues him out on succeeding Englishman Butcher.
“I’m not sure to be honest, I don’t know if it helps because I think it was ideal for anyone aspiring to be with the team in the near future to be left behind for such an important tour. ”
Meanwhile, head coach Alan Butcher also voiced his displeasure.
“I’m disappointed, they worked hard with the players and it’s unfortunate that it’s going to make life a bit harder for the players in the Caribbean,” Butcher said.
Butcher said there was no discord in the way the four coaches handled their business in the three years they have been working together.
“We have always discussed issues as a team, we disagreed on some, that’s normal, but we have always come to an agreement that everyone will be happy about.”
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Re: Zimbabwe cut coaching staff for West Indies tour
http://dailynews.co.zw/article/Sport/5e ... f2386d42b9
What is the true meaning of this madness?
HARARE - Zimbabwe Cricket made an announcement on Tuesday that has left every cricket followers in the country speechless and flabbergasted.
The announcement was that both Heath Streak and Grant Flower, who are the national bowling and batting coaches respectively, will not be traveling with the national team to the West Indies.
The team are due to leave for the Caribbean islands on February 16 where they will engage the West Indies in three ODIs, two T20 internationals, as well as two Test matches.
The only problem is that they will be minus a bowling and batting coach.
The question is, is it due to the massive financial constraints ZC find themselves under, or, is there something that has been well hidden and may very possibly be beginning to come to the surface.
Either way, the decision to leave Streak and Flower behind may be a huge disadvantage to the players.
Between the two of them, Streak and Flower have represented the country in 132 Test matches and 410 ODI matches.
They have scored more than 8000 Test runs between them, and taken close to 250 wickets in Test matches.
They also had several successful seasons with English county sides Warwickshire and Essex respectively.
No matter what challenges Zimbabwe cricket faced, be it financial, lack of space, or differences of opinion, the welfare of cricket must always be put above anything else.
There are a number of young players who will be nerves on this tour, and the likes of Flower and Streak would have gone a long way to calm the nerves of the players. So, it goes without saying that the players will benefit considerably less without their mentors who they looked up to while growing up.
The big question now is... who will spend time with the seamers and correct their mistakes?
Alan Butcher, although a vastly experienced player on the first-class circuit, was an opening batsman and not a frontline seamer like Streak.
All the major Test-playing nations have a coaching staff that cover all the required areas, which is another one of the many reasons why Zimbabwe are found wanting.
They have a head coach, a batting coach and most of the countries now even have a fielding coach.
These structures are not only at senior level, but, when the Under-19 teams of Pakistan and South Africa toured Zimbabwe in 2009 and 2010, they also had a full compliment of coaches.
This latest development is very worrying, and one can't help but sense the gathering of dark and threatening clouds over the game which is the very last thing an already shaky governing body needs.
If Zimbabwe Cricket are as passionate about the game and the growth and development of the game as the fans are, they surely have to reconsider their decision, and the repercussions of their decision. - Dean Du Plessis
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Re: Zimbabwe cut coaching staff for West Indies tour
http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/co ... 04208.html
Zimbabwe Cricket defends coaching decision
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has defended the decision to cut support coaching staff from tours, saying it was based on recommendations made the country's cricket committee. The change to the technical structure was proposed and accepted at a meeting on October 5 last year, to which captain Brendan Taylor was party.
Earlier this week, Taylor made known his disappointment on the decision, which means Grant Flower and Heath Streak will not travel to West Indies, and called it a "step in the wrong direction." ZC reacted to his statements with "concern," especially over the insinuation that Taylor was not consulted because they say he was involved in the process.
They attribute the reasons for not having the batting and bowling coaches and fitness trainer travelling with the team as an attempt to try and streamline the structure. ZC also said it resulted in mixed messages to the team.
"The recurring theme was the differences the coaching staff have, the divisions in the team as a result, and their reservations about a coaching staff of that size," Shingai Rhuhwaya, ZC's general manager of media and public affairs told ESPNcricinfo.
The cricket committee, who at the time included Alistair Campbell, Dave Houghton, the late Kevin Curran, Cyprian Mandenge and Freddy Kapuya discussed a new coaching structure which was debated at a ZC board meeting in November. The suggestion was accepted and adopted at that meeting.
The recommendations state that the technical team structure will consist of the head and assistant coach, an analyst, a physiotherapist and a manager who will be appointed on a tour by tour basis. "The head coach should be given the opportunity to make an input on the appointment of the rest of the technical staff, taking into consideration the status of the contracts of the current members of the national technical staff," and a further point added "specialist consultants should be engaged on a needs basis."
Taylor posted a message on Facebook pointing out the importance of having specialist coaches, particularly Flower, on tour. He cited their experience and knowledge as being important to any chance of Zimbabwean success.
His outburst will not have gone down well but ZC do not look likely to take any action against the captain. A source close to the situation said he had been "spoken to," about his statement while ZC have only asked for his co-operation.
"We understand that he would prefer to have the batting coach there but we trust that he understands the need to try a different system, especially since he was part of the feedback that suggested a change was in order," Rhuhwaya said.
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Re: Zimbabwe cut coaching staff for West Indies tour
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/02/0 ... AR20130208
Zimbabwe coach laments loss of support staff
(Reuters) - Zimbabwe coach Alan Butcher has expressed disappointment at a decision to leave batting coach Grant Flower, bowling coach Heath Streak and fitness trainer Lorraine Chivandire at home for the team's tour of West Indies.
"I am disappointed because they have been a big part of our preparations," Butcher told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"Lorraine has worked really hard to improve the players' fitness. It's a pity. I think it will be a disadvantage for the players.
"If it is a question of finances then I accept that, but those are not the reasons given in the media."
Captain Brendan Taylor has called the decision "steps in the wrong direction".
Butcher, 59, who played one test for England, said the West Indies' trip would be his last tour before he leaves his post after three years in charge of the national team.
"They have interviewed already for the post but I didn't look to continue. It is more for personal reasons, I have been away from my family for the best part of three years," he said.
"I would have loved to continue working with the players, but it would have been difficult to spend more time away.
"I leave the national side in a better place, 90 percent of the players have improved in a technical sense. I would like to think that I have benefited Zimbabwe cricket."
Zimbabwe will play two tests, three ODIs and two T20 matches on their tour, starting on February 20 with a warmup match in Grenada. (Reporting by Nick Said in Cape Town; Editing by John Mehaffey)
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Re: Zimbabwe cut coaching staff for West Indies tour
http://www.newzimbabwe.com/sports-10221 ... ports.aspx
Ervine takes swing at ZC over Flower, Streak
BATSMAN Sean Ervine has waded into the war over the omission of Heath Streak and Grant Flower for this month’s West Indies tour, saying Zimbabwe Cricket is digging itself into a hole.
Ervine used his Twitter account on Thursday to criticise Zimbabwe Cricket, joining skipper Brendan Taylor who has already voiced his disquiet over the move.
He said: “If Zim Cricket keep doing the things they doing, players who are making a name for themselves around the world will leave!
“Zim have improved since the likes of Streak & Flower have been involved. You are digging a big hole for yourself and there is only one.
“Organisation to blame when it goes underground! I feel for the players who are involved as their games will not improve. Enough said!”
Taylor has labelled it a "step in the wrong direction" that coaching support staff will not travel with the team to the Caribbean.
ZC spokesperson Shingai Ruhwaya has insisted that the decision to drop Streak, Flower and fitness trainer Lorraine Chivandire was taken after consultations with the team, including Taylor.
She said: “The decision is based on recommendations made by the Cricket Committee (Alistair Campbell, Dave Houghton, Cyprian Mandenge, the late Kevin Curran and Freddy Kapuya) in November last year.
“They made these recommendations after consultations with senior players and coaches following Zimbabwe's poor performance at the ICC T20 World Cup.
“Those players who were present, and these include the captain, Brendan Taylor, were in agreement that the team was not pulling in the same direction, that they were getting conflicting instructions, that the coaching staff has differences and that the coaching staff is too big.”
But Taylor has come out to suggest he was not part of the decision.
Taylor is particularly worried about the absence of Flower, who was playing with the team until September 2010, and has since been in charge of training the batsmen.
Re: Zimbabwe cut coaching staff for West Indies tour
i bet that Taylor voted for 'change'....but not neccessarily THIS 'change'.
Cricinfo profile of the 'James Bond' of cricket:
FULL NAME: Angus James Mackay
BORN: 13 June 1967, Harare
KNOWN AS: Gus Mackay
'The' Gus Mackay.
Hero.
Sportsman.
Artist.
Player.
**
Q. VUSI SIBANDA, WHERE DO YOU HOP?
A. UNDA DA ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE*
FULL NAME: Angus James Mackay
BORN: 13 June 1967, Harare
KNOWN AS: Gus Mackay
'The' Gus Mackay.
Hero.
Sportsman.
Artist.
Player.
**
Q. VUSI SIBANDA, WHERE DO YOU HOP?
A. UNDA DA ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE*
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Re: Zimbabwe cut coaching staff for West Indies tour
taylor is not very bright! You are correct on this one! They can all comment all they want while not adressing the real issue does not solve anything.ZIMDOGGY wrote:i bet that Taylor voted for 'change'....but not neccessarily THIS 'change'.
Source: Cricket Zimbabwe facebook
If you missed it, this is what Shingai Rhuhwaya, general manager of media and public affairs of ZC had to say live on Radio. (Star FM)
* Aparently the recommendations to drop Heath and Grant on foreign tours were given by Kevin Curran (May his soul rest in Peace), Alistair Campbell and Dave Houghton.
* Heath and Grant duties have now been reduced to taking care of players who dont make it in the team.
* Grant and Heath dropping has nothing to do with finance, West Indies will take care of all Zimbabwe's expenses on tour, get that right, everything is paid for by the Windies.
* Heath and Grant will use technology to help the debutants and the inexperienced Zimbabwe players, i.e. Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter and Skype.
* Shingai confirmed that Taylor was contacted on the matter including other senior player (names withheld), and Taylor's utterances on the social media will make him face disciplinary action and the team Manager is already on it.
* The new Coach will be announced soon after the AGM on the 22nd of February.
* She claims the current technical structure is the reason for the team's failure on the international arena
* Special mention was given to this platform and your comments. Hopefully we hear more.
* She could not comment abt the ZC's SRC directive saying its not yet for the public. (Really, now we are being shut out, cricket now belongs to themselves and the boardroom)
Re: Zimbabwe cut coaching staff for West Indies tour
Anyone hear the Star FM interview of Shingai Rhuwaya?
When it comes to spin doctering, she's no Jonah Moyo, is all I can say...
When it comes to spin doctering, she's no Jonah Moyo, is all I can say...
Peterhouse U14C 4th change bowler and no. 10 batsman (but only because Aaron didn't have a bat).