Butchers undesirable task

Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC), who decided to part ways with former coach Walter Chawaguta following a string of poor results, have roped in Butcher with the specific mandate of masterminding the countrys return to the elite club of test-playing nations within 18 months.

Butcher, a surprise appointee given his limited international experience, will be assisted by two former national team players and veteran development coach, Stephen Mangongo. In the past we have relied on one coach, but this time we have four individuals and are confident they will deliver. We have asked them to get us back into Test cricket in 18 months or so,” said ZC managing director, Ozias Bvute, following Butchers appointment.

Butcher vs Streak

However, a lingering feeling within local cricket circles that former Zimbabwe skipper Heath Streak should have been handed the job puts pressure on Butcher, and the Englishman now has to prove that the faith that has been put in him is not misplaced.

Butchers critics point to the fact that Streak, one of the most respected fast bowlers of his time, has a much better international record and is more adept to the culture of the sport in the country. Prior to his appointment by ZC, Butchers last position was with Surrey where he left after a poor 2008 season that saw his side failing to win a single Championship match.

He has little international experience having played a single Test and ODI for England as a left-hand opening batsman in 1980. The exploits of Streak, on the other hand, are more colourful.

He cemented his legendary status by becoming the only Zimbabwean bowler to have taken over 100 Test wickets and one of only two Zimbabwean bowlers to have taken over 100 ODI wickets (the other being Grant Flower).

Widely considered the best bowler to have played for Zimbabwe, Streak is nonetheless a novice when it comes to coaching, and perhaps it is the fact that he has not had a coaching stint with any side since retiring from international cricket in 2005 that sets him apart from the likes of Butcher.

Players prove their worth

Butcher will be in charge when Zimbabwe takes on West Indies in a 15 day tour of the Caribbean nation, which begins on Sunday and will be hoping to start his tenure on a high note by at least winning a few of the matches six matches.

West Indies is ranked 8th on the ODI Championship and while they are four places higher than Zimbabwe their erratic performance on the international stage make them one of the most vulnerable sides in the game.

Raymond Price, Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura who all have the capability of excelling in test cricket will be out to show Butcher why they are rated among the best players in the country. They will have to summon all their experience against the Windies in a Twenty 20 (T20) International that will be played at Queens Park Oval in Trinidad.

The first ODI between the two sides will be played on March 4 at Providence Stadium in Guyana while the second will be played two days later at the same venue.

Zimbabwe will then play the Islanders again in the remaining three ODIs at Amos Vale Ground in Kingston on March 10, 12 and 14.

Govts effect on the game

While it would be unfair to expect miracles from Butcher, the matches will, nonetheless, give him a fair idea of the kind of talent he has at his disposal as well as what can be done to build on the strengths of the team while addressing its weaknesses.

In May, Zimbabwe will return to the West Indies to play against Sri Lanka and New Zealand in the ICC World Twenty 20, where their progress under the more familiarized Butcher will come under more scrutiny.

For about a decade now, the political challenges facing Zimbabwe have been mirrored by the state of local cricket and those that have travelled the same road before Butcher will attest to the fact that the controversial policies of Robert Mugabe who is also the patron of the national cricket team have done more harm than good to the development of the game.