zimcricketnews.com

At a press conference at Harare Sports Club earlier today, Alastair Campbell and Ozias Bvute announced the new Zimbabwe Cricket coaching team. The rumour mill earlier in the day had indicated that Grant Flower would get the nod, but as it transpired he had been appointed batting coach, partnering Heath Streak who remains as bowling coach. Steven Mangongo was named assistant coach, just rewards for the good results he's been achieving with Zimbabwe A and Mountaineers but the surprise of the day was the naming of Englishman Alan Butcher as the new head coach. Butcher was considered an outside bet for the post, with his main coaching experience at Surrey ending with the side's relegation to the English County Championship's second division - but those in the know would also point to him having had to work with a side with little top-class talent other than Mark Ramprakash. In the end, though, Butcher will fill the role of the man with coaching experience, while his three assistants bring with them a wealth of knowledge of the Zimbabwean game - and in the cases of Streak and Flower, distinguished playing careers of their own. Zimbabwe Cricket clearly hope that these are the four men to see Zimbabwe back to Test cricket - we'll soon find out. Butcher will take charge of the side for the tour to the West Indies later in the month.