Zimbabwe coach warns: No player is safe
Zimbabwe coach Stephen Mangongo has laid down the law for his senior players, saying even the most experienced cricketer is not safe from the chop unless they start putting results on the board.
Zimbabwe coach Stephen Mangongo has laid down the law for his senior players, saying even the most experienced cricketer is not safe from the chop unless they start putting results on the board.
Zimbabwe lost their most recent ODI series to Afghanistan at home, a shock result for the African side against a team supposedly their inferior. Only one batsman, Sikandar Raza, made a ton in those three games.
Mangongo, newly appointed to the role, said in the Zimbabwe Independent: "We have underperformed for a long time and the time has come for us to be bold and make the right decisions.
"We will not hesitate to chop dead wood and we will not hesitate to unleash raw genuine talent if experience fails us.
"Each player will be held accountable for his roles, and the day you do not execute your role well I will look elsewhere. I would rather have young hungry talent learning than to have the experienced players continuously underperforming.
"The current group of players has played against all cricket nations in the world, but some of their performances do not show."
The Zimbos' next challenge is a Test and ODI series against South Africa at home, and then a triangular series against the Proteas and Australia, and Mangongo insists the bigger teams must not assume they'll beat his side.
The new coach continued: "Even when we play giants like South Africa and Australia, it should not be a foregone conclusion; they should know that when they come here they will play some tough cricket.
"This is a good opportunity for us to play good cricket consistently and the players are all excited about it. When we win against Bangladesh no one cares but when we beat Pakistan the world took notice.
"So when we play Australia and South Africa it's a rare opportunity for us to show the world that we can play cricket and prove our doubters wrong."
Latest
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.
-
Australia
On this day in 2018: Australia ‘sandpapergate’ ball-tampering controversy erupts
The incident led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned from playing for Australia.