Incoming Zimbabwe cricket coach Andy Waller returns to the local game after a long absence following stints in the UK, as well as with the Namibia national team.
Having played two Tests and 39 ODIs for Zimbabwe during the 1990s glory years, the 53-year-old faces an insurmountable mission to transform the team which is struggling to find its way back into a formidable force.
His first assignment is against India in July at home, before Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe the following month followed by Sri Lanka in November. Below are the excerpts of Waller’s (AW) interview with Standardsport’s Michael Madyira (MM).
MM: How much of a challenge do you face in taking up this job?
AW: It is quite an exciting challenge. It is something I am looking forward to. There is so much talent in this country and that excites me. I can’t wait to get stuck into this whole thing.
MM: What are your impressions of the team?
AW: I was impressed by the Bangladesh outing. But I was not impressed by our tour of the West Indies which I watched from England. The players’ condition was not up to standard. Not something you expect from professional cricketers. Therefore we need to work harder in improving our fitness levels in the next six weeks as we prepare for India. Even the fielding is not up to standard like the 1990s side we had which was at its best in fielding.
MM: How do you see the team’s potential to become a great side?
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AW: There is amazing potential. That is one of the reasons why I took up this job. If there was no potential I was not going to accept this job at all.
MM: Do you feel you have what it takes to transform the team into a formidable force?
AW: There is no way I was going to take this job if I was not confident that I could turn around the team’s fortunes.
MM: How much work and effort do you think need to be invested for us to be counted up there with the game’s elite class?
AW: Of course a lot of work needs to be done. We have to make sure that every player is well-conditioned and in the right frame of mind. You cannot have only 75% of the team fit. That is not enough because everyone needs to be fully fit. MM: How far are we from being counted among the best cricket playing countries?
AW: It is not a short term thing. It is going to take a lot of time. Pride and self-belief is needed. The more we practice, the better we become. We have to shed a lot of sweat, blood and tears.
MM: What methods and approach do we need to employ to become one of the best?
AW: Instilling discipline in the team is fundamental. Here we are talking of things like punctuality, dress code and the way players carry themselves on and off the field. They have to toughen up because to compete against the best, you have to be extra fit.
MM: What is your main emphasis as you take over this team?
AW: Discipline, fitness, desire and pride. We have to share the same ethos and have a high work ethic.
MM: Are we going to see you making some changes in the team?
AW: No changes will be made. I just had a meeting with the convener of selectors [Givemore Makoni] and talked about the players. I have 27 players and we will give all of them equal chances to prove that they deserve a place in the team. I am not going to push anyone aside but give them equal opportunities. I have been away from local cricket for any years but I am not going to be told that so and so deserves to be in the team.
MM: How is it going to be coaching your son Malcolm?
AW: I have always had a lot to do with his game but I will be treating him just like any other player. He will not be getting any favours from me. If there comes a situation where I will have to choose between him and another player I will simply excuse myself and let the selectors make a decision. I will not be soft with Malcolm.
MM: Will Brendan Taylor carry on as captain? AW: Yes, he will remain as captain. He has proved he can cope up with pressure, even when things are not going our way. He is someone with a very strong character.
MM: Is there any leaf that you have taken from Allan [Butcher]’s reign as coach?
AW: I never worked under Allan so I will not say much about him. As I said, I have been away for some time but I closely followed the national team. My task now is to rectify all the shortcomings I noted.
MM: In your view, does the prevailing environment in the local game favour development?
AW: I have no doubt that the environment is conducive for development. We are starting down there from the juniors. Besides, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is committing a lot of money for development.
MM: Are we moving in the right direction?
AW: The tour by Bangladesh just proved that we are moving in the right direction. We only have to deal with the players’ financial issues. They need motivation to stay focused.
MM: Are there any other players you can point out as crucial in the team’s success?
AW: Everyone in the 27-man squad carries my hopes. There are some exciting players like Tino Mutombodzi and Natsai Mushangwe. We have highly-talented players.
MM: How does it feel starting your reign with a side of India’s calibre and then followed by equally good sides like Pakistan and Sri Lanka?
AW: All these sides are very tough. But the more we play strong sides, the better we become. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are also very good sides so the next three or four months will be tough for us, but we will be up for the challenge. We are going to be competitive. We used to beat such teams in the 1990s and that is the stage we are trying to get back to.
MM: What do you expect from the fans?
AW: I would like the public to understand that we are going to work exceptionally harder starting in the next six weeks as we prepare for India. It would be a crucial period as we try to get the team in shape. We will be a committed side. We just need everyone’s support.
