Brendan Taylor’s return thrills coach
BRENDAN TAYLOR’S return to the Chevrons fold has thrilled coach Lalchand Rajput who believes the team needed experience to help its young players find there feet in this hostile environment.
The experienced Taylor, who is likely to be named the new skipper, former captain Graeme Cremer and Graeme Cremer did not feature in the Tri-Series against Australia and Pakistan because of a fallout with the cricket leaders over outstanding dues.
The trio also did not play in the ODI series against Pakistan where the Asian powerhouse whitewashed the Chevrons.
However, Zimbabwe Cricket’s financial position was boosted by an injection of funds from the International Cricket Council and this allowed them to pay off the players and their technical staff.
ZC consultant, Vince van der Bijl, who helped Zimbabwe starve off possible suspension from the ICC in June, has been calling for the return of Taylor and the experienced crew.
On Monday, the three joined their teammates at a camp ahead of the tour of South Africa next month and Bangladesh in October.
Taylor said despite the challenges he had with his employers recently, he never considered, at any time, tomove away from Zimbabwe.
And the Chevrons’ Indian coach is a happy man.
‘’It’s good to see Taylor, Cremer coming in, it will definitely help the boys because you have experience as well as youth and they both count and the team does well,’’ the Indian told ZBC last night.
‘’It’s good that we have two months before we go to two tough tours to South Africa and bangladesh so it’s good that we started as early as possible in our planning.’’
Rajput has already said he is determined to bring back glorious days of a struggling Zimbabwe just like he transformed Afghanistan cricket team.
Under Rajput Afghanistan secured Full Membership at the ICC and won six limited-overs series. They also savoured a morale-boosting win over West Indies in an ODI at Gros Islet as it was their first ever win in this format over a Full Member other than Zimbabwe or Bangladesh.
Afghanistan were recently given Test status and will play their first ever Test against India in next month in Bengaluru.
“When I joined Afghanistan nobody knew that Afghanistan would go to that level. And we (Afghanistan) got the Test status. We never lost a series.
‘’And now people are talking about Afghanistan that they are doing well. The same thing, I would like Zimbabwe to do,” Rajput told PTI.
“I am really happy that Zimbabwe approached me and they wanted my services. It is great feeling that an international team is recognising my talent.
‘’At the same time, it is a big challenge because Zimbabwe has not qualified for the (2019) World Cup, so people are talking about it. But I look at it in a positive way, it is a challenge for me and I like challenges.’’
Rajput insisted that Zimbabwe has a pool of talented players.
“Afghanistan had gone to Zimbabwe and we played them and beat them. So I know most of the players.
‘’Zimbabwe is a Test playing and it has been there for number of years. So talent is there and they have got fantastic players.
‘’They have produced some of the world class players like Flower brothers (Andy and Grant), (Brendan) Taylor is there, (Graeme) Creamer is there, so talent is there (and) now getting that talent into performance and performance on consistent basis is my main focus,” said Rajput, who played two Tests and four ODIs for India. — Sports Reporter/Press Trust of India