FORMER South Africa all-rounder Lance Klusener has bounced back as Zimbabwe batting coach four years after being axed by the Zimbabwe Cricket board following the Chevrons’ failure to qualify for the 2019 England World Cup.
Ironically, the same board that fired him has ratified his re-appointment through a virtual meeting held yesterday.
In a statement released by ZC after the board meeting, Klusener takes over from Stuart Matsikenyeri, who has been elevated to the newly created post of assistant coach.
Bowling coach Douglas Hondo was the biggest casualty of the technical team reshuffling after he was shown the exit door.
Former Australia bowler Shaun Tait has emerged as the favourite to replace Hondo.
While Zimbabwe bowling has struggled occasionally, Hondo should feel unlucky to be singled out whilst head coach Lalchand Rajput and Matsikenyeri still have jobs.
In 2021 as stand-in coach Hondo managed to beat Pakistan away to earn Zimbabwe’s first 10 points of the Super League. The bowlers set up the victory.
His bowlers were at it again defending 119 in a T20I against Pakistan at Harare Sports Club to level the series.
Hondo’s bowlers did well in the period under review on responsive wickets.
Many had expected Matsikenyeri also to be axed. However, a source who spoke to EnterSportNews on condition of anonymity said that the former Test batsman was being groomed for the head coach’s role in the future.
“The fans were expecting both Hondo and Matsikenyeri to be axed, but unfortunately, the top hierarchy at ZC have faith in him. They are actually grooming him for the top job,” confided the source.
“In fact, he should have been given the job when Rajput’s contract expired, but some felt it was still too early, whilst those who were in his favour felt he couldn’t do any worse than Rajput.
Meanwhile, Shepherd Makunura, who doubled up as fielding coach and selector of the senior men’s side, was replaced on the selection panel by former national team all-rounder Elton Chigumbura. Makunura remains the fielding coach of the national men’s side.
Chigumbura joins former teammates Prosper Utseya and Gavin Ewing on the selection panel headed by David Mutendera.
In the same statement released by ZC, Craig Ervine was named the white-ball captain. Sean Williams was retained as the Test captain whilst wicketkeeper-batsman Regis Chakabva was appointed vice-captain across all the formats.
