Life has come full circle for Zimbabwe’s head coach Dave Houghton. He was his nation’s first Test captain, scoring a unbelievable 121 in opposition to India within the drawn match at Harare. Thirty years later, Houghton, in his second spell as a coach of Zimbabwe, is able to tackle India along with his new ‘fearless brand of cricket.’
Houghton, 64, took over from Lalchand Rajput and instantly produced the outcomes. Zimbabwe secured its first ODI sequence over a fellow top-tier crew since 2017 when it chased down 291 within the second ODI in opposition to Bangladesh. They additionally received the T20I sequence 2-1 for its first-ever T20 sequence win over a top-tier crew.
The Indian Express caught up with Houghton, who had in all probability performed the most effective knock of the 1987 World Cup (142 off 137 in opposition to New Zealand), spoke at size about cricket in Zimbabwe, its decline, the way forward for worldwide cricket, and the upcoming three-match ODI sequence in opposition to India.
Excerpts:
India will current a extra formidable problem than Bangladesh. What are your expectations out of your crew, and what sort of cricket would you like them to play in opposition to India?
Let’s not disrespect the Bangladesh cricket crew as a result of they’re a superb aspect, significantly in white ball cricket. We are taking part in good attacking cricket. We are having fun with taking part in the aggressive model of cricket, and it had led to some current success. It shall be a superb check for us, contemplating the energy of India. The sequence will inform us whether or not we’re progressing or if it was only a flash within the pan.
Fearless cricket has turn into a brand new buzzword lately, with ‘Bazball’ in England being a trendsetter, you will have spoken about instilling fearlessness within the Zimbabwe gamers. Can you outline what exactly this fearless cricket is?
I don’t set to narrate what we’re doing to what Brendon McCullum has accomplished with England’s Test crew. For me, fearless cricket is when cricketers specific themselves within the center, regardless of who the opposing crew is.
Zimbabwean coach Dave Houghton greets Bangladesh gamers on the second day of the One-Day International cricket match between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh at Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe, Sunday, Aug, 7, 2022. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
It anxious me after I took over this aspect; the gamers I’ve seen taking part in some breathtaking pictures within the native cricket have been too scared to play comparable strokes whereas taking part in for the nationwide aspect. They have been too afraid to play reverse sweep or improvise as a result of they have been anxious in regards to the repercussions of getting dropped within the subsequent sport. That was the concern that I’m making an attempt to eliminate.
In cricket, you reside and die by your success individually in addition to the crew. So that duty continues to be there, however they received’t be lambasted within the change room as a result of they’ve performed a rash shot. And if you’re that fearful, you possibly can by no means progress. So that’s the fearlessness I’m making an attempt to instil on this crew.
What is the distinction between fearlessness and foolishness, and the way do you clarify this to your boys?
There is a fantastic line. They will solely be taught the distinction between fearless and reckless with expertise. It just isn’t what coaches have instructed you within the crew assembly; one should use their senses in the course of the sport and be taught from others, be it the teammates or the opposition.
You’ve been concerned with Zimbabwe cricket for nearly half a century. From being a aggressive aspect within the 90s, it declined drastically, and after that, they failed to provide gamers with the identical ability units.
It was a really skilled crew. A number of the gamers performed in that period, together with me; we obtained to play extra worldwide cricket. We didn’t even have home cricket again then, different membership cricket. We learnt on the worldwide scene. By the time we obtained to 1999, and we had a few good additions too, Murray Goodwin getting back from Australia, Neil Johnson from South Africa. Shortly after that, gamers left the nation; there was a collapse in cricket round 2003. Lots of people retired; some went off to play in England. And we needed to begin once more. And within the restart, the board began first-class cricket, which is now often known as franchise cricket. It took them a very long time to begin producing their homegrown expertise. People like Sikandar Raja, Craig Ervine, and Sean Williams are the product of the aftermath of the collapse.
From its conventional white strongholds, how far has the sport unfold to the common Zimbabwean?
Now you possibly can see the inflow of younger gamers coming via the first-class system. That’s the large distinction between now and the way it was within the mid-2000 and early 2010s. The late 90s aspect had a superb 13-14 gamers, however there was no depth, and that’s why the collapse occurred. But issues have modified now.
T20 franchise tournaments have turn into essentially the most most popular choice for cricketers now. Do you suppose ODI cricket, the bilateral sequence, will quickly be a factor of the previous?
Tough to guess. Everyone is guessing. But in my very own opinion, I feel cricket has nearly reversed itself, as an alternative of getting a lot worldwide cricket all year long. I imagine cricket will in all probability find yourself like soccer. There could be extra franchise-based competitors globally, and there shall be solely a three-month window for International cricket.
Can you identify just a few promising children out of your crew whom you suppose are able to taking part in within the abroad T20 leagues sooner or later?
Wessly Madhevere: Top order batter, very, very thrilling prospect. An all-format cricketer and he’s solely 21. He is a trendy right-handed batsman and bowls some respectable off-spin, and is a superb fielder as nicely.
Tony Munyonga: A right-handed middle-order batter, performed a few sensible cameos in opposition to Bangladesh within the recently-concluded sequence. He is a finisher, and I sit up for seeing him excel in that function.
Blessing Muzarabani: We are with out Blessing, which is disappointing. He suffered a thigh muscle tear in the course of the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup qualifier. But a top-class bowler.
Victor Nyauchi: Another excellent seam bowler. Slightly wrong-footed however can shock the batters with the additional tempo and bounce.
Zimbabwe vs India Livestreaming: Watch the LIVE protection of India tour of Zimbabwe 2022 on SONY SIX (English), SONY TEN 3 (Hindi) & SONY TEN 4 (Tamil & Telugu) channels at 12:45 pm from August 18.
