Zimbabwe: Former captain Dave Houghton named new head coach

Dave HoughtonGetty Images

Dave Houghton spent nearly 20 years coaching in England, including three spells with Derbyshire between 2004 and 2021

Zimbabwe have named former captain Dave Houghton as their new head coach.

Houghton returns for a second spell having previously coached Zimbabwe during the 1990s, before coaching in English county cricket with Derbyshire, Somerset, Worcestershire and Middlesex.

The 64-year-old replaces Lalchand Rajput, who assumes a new role as technical director.

He is expected to take up the role in time for the start of the T20 World Cup Qualifiers next month.

Former South Africa all-rounder Lance Klusener has already returned as batting coach after leaving his role in charge of Afghanistan earlier this year.

"We are delighted to be bringing in Dave and we count ourselves fortunate and privileged to be able to appoint such a vastly experienced and highly respected head coach at a time we are looking to improve our on-field performances," said Cricket Zimbabwe director of cricket Hamilton Masakadza.

"With Lance having also bounced back as batting coach, we believe we now have a formidable technical team that can push for World Cup qualification and ensure our players put in consistently competitive performances."

Houghton was his country's first Test captain and scored 1,464 runs at an average of 43.05 in 22 Test appearances between 1992 and 1997.

The coaching reshuffle was announced after Zimbabwe suffered 3-0 whitewashes in respective One-Day International and T20I series against tourists Afghanistan.

'No questioning Houghton's expertise'

Analysis by Steve Vickers, sports reporter in Zimbabwe

With Zimbabwe hosting the T20 World Cup qualifier next month, calls were growing louder for Lalchand Rajput to be relieved of the coaching post.

He looked detached from the team and was unable to repeat his exploits as coach of Afghanistan, where the team made great progress under him.

Houghton was Zimbabwe's first Test captain back in 1992, and he has been in and out of Zimbabwe Cricket ever since, in various roles.

There is no questioning his expertise and his love of the team, but there are deeper issues beyond the coach, including allegations of favouritism both on part of the selectors, and also in the ZC structures.

However, Houghton may well be able to bring about at least a short-term improvement with Zimbabwe following the whitewashes in both the T20 and ODI series.

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