Zimbabwe Cricket: Bridging the Gulf in Class

Rutendo Mazhindu

Zim Now Reporter

Zimbabwe cricket head coach Justin Sammons acknowledges the significant gap in class between his team and top-tier nations like South Africa and New Zealand, but remains steadfast in his belief that it can be bridged. Following Zimbabwe's elimination from the ongoing T20I Tri-Series after a seven-wicket defeat to South Africa on Sunday, Sammons highlighted the disparity in exposure and experience between the teams, largely due to the lack of Zimbabwean players in major international leagues.

"It's a different level of competition. You can see the quality," Sammons stated in a post-match interview. "I mean, I don't know how many of the South African guys will be playing in the IPL [Indian Premier League]. Same with the New Zealanders. They're getting picked up in those leagues because of their quality."

In stark contrast, only a handful of Zimbabwean players, such as seamer Blessing Muzarabani and all-rounder Sikandar Raza, have gained experience in international leagues. Sammons stressed the critical need to integrate younger Zimbabwean players into these lucrative leagues, emphasizing the invaluable exposure and experience they would gain. "We need to get our younger guys into those leagues, and the exposure and experience they'll gain will go a long way. Bringing it back here makes a big difference," he added.

However, the coach is pragmatic about the long road ahead for Zimbabwe to truly compete with the world's best. With one match remaining in the series against New Zealand on Thursday, Sammons pinpointed the power play as a key area for improvement, calling for more assertive batting during this crucial phase. "We need to be braver, I think, through that phase, definitely," he said, citing the team's struggles to accumulate significant runs early in their innings.

While Zimbabwe has demonstrated flashes of brilliance throughout the series, Sammons believes the team needs to sustain their good performances for longer periods. "We've competed in certain areas of each game, but we're just not competing for long enough," he observed. "There's maybe five, seven, eight overs where we're then blown out of the water, and then the game's over."

Despite the formidable challenges, Sammons maintains an optimistic outlook regarding Zimbabwe's ability to close the gap with the leading cricketing nations. "We need to be better, but I think we can do it. Series like this allow you to see and identify where those gaps need to be bridged."