ZIMBABWE Cricket board chairman, Wilson Manase continues to effect changes in the cricket structures in an effort to turn around the fortunes of the Chevrons.
Last week the prominent Harare lawyer re-assigned former national team coaches Walter Chawaguta and Andy Waller to fielding and batting coach respectively for the World Cup assignment.
The technical team of the Chevrons now consists of Dave Whatmore as head, Douglas Hondo as bowling coach, Chawaguta fielding and Waller as batting coach.
The new technical set up has been specifically appointed for the World Cup to be co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia.
Chawaguta was at one time coach of the senior men’s team.
He is currently the Zimbabwe Under-19 team gaffer.
The two new appointments to help Whatmore means the Australian coach will concentrate more on tactical issues of the team.
If the team produces commendable results, it means an answer to the conundrum of where our team is failing would have been found.
Waller was appointed head coach of Zimbabwe in May 2013 until his reassignment to national director of coaching.
He had, last July, relinquished his post to his assistant, Steven Mangongo.
Waller has been with the team and has knowledge of the players making it a wise move to appoint him batting coach.
Zimbabwe batting woes have been the team’s Achilles heel for the past decade while of late inconsistency in performance has dogged the team.
Whatmore’s contract ends in April and it is the performance of the team that will determine his fate.
Zimbabwe are in Pool B where they face neighbours South Africa, Ireland, West Indies, United Arab Emirates, Pakistan and India.
The Chevrons will face tough resistance from powerhouses India, South Africa and West Indies.
While all odds favour the powerhouses, Zimbabwe will be out to spoil the day for any team caught napping.
Obviously against the big guns of the game, the Chevrons will need to believe in themselves if they are to make an impact at that high stage.
They have surprised Australia and New Zealand before.
Most players have been at the World Cup before and all they need is mental strength.
The last time Zimbabwe were in action in the limited overs was in Bangladesh where they lost all five matches.
The inactivity of the team is a source of worry as the team lacks game time.
The local cricket league is not as competitive as the international fixtures.
The national team left the country for New Zealand on Wednesday and will play practice matches with the hosts.