zimcricketnews.com

Zimbabwe coach Robin Brown has expressed some satisfaction with his side’s progress during 2007, but admitted in an interview with The Herald that he was disappointed with the outcome of the West Indies series:

“I am generally pleased with the way the side played in 2007 though I feel we could have drawn 2-2 against West Indies but I was satisfied with the way the boys played. The four-day games against the SA (South Africa) select sides were fruitful as they produced awesome results and definitely the way we play in the ODI has marginally improved.”

He also feels that the side’s main failing is simply a lack of belief - but that the side are on course for a return to Test cricket:

“The only weakness we have in our side is that we do not realise the talent and potential within ourselves and we also don’t use it to the best of our abilities. We can only achieve big targets if we work to the best of our abilities.

“With a little more exposure and experience I am sure that we will be ready for the return to Test cricket as the preparations are well underway and I am sure we can achieve more in 2008.”

Captain Prosper Utseya is also upbeat about the team’s progress during the year:

“From the way I see it we played well and we managed to win some of our games against the big sides because [during 2006] we were only playing the likes of Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago and Bangladesh. Our four-day games were also looking good and this all came from hard work and the more experience we are getting.

“But the most important thing is that we need to maintain hard work and another thing I would like to commend is the oneness the team showed during the games. Last year it was mainly that we played individually and there was no team work but I am sure with maturity we began to play as a unit and that is how it went this year. We are beginning to understand each other’s game a bit more and we are all contributing as a team and collective play is the best way to do it.”

The Herald’s report also ends on a positive note:

In the season that former captain Tatenda Taibu returned to the fold, Zimbabwe cricket can probably look back on the year with a lot to cheer its spirits. Even spinner Ray Price decided it was time to come back home and play for his country.

And only a fool can doubt that, slowly but surely, a competitive team is being built from the ashes of the rebellion that nearly destroyed this great game.

All true. It would just be a shame if any of those who want to play for the national side are prevented from doing so by some ill-considered quota regime - if even South Africa look set to do away with their (far more lax) quotas for their national sides, having recognised that playing the best side should really be the priority, it would be a huge disappointment if ZC were to undo the good work of the past few years by recreating the problem that led to the side’s collapse in the first place…
The Herald - Brown urges cricket team to work harder