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As the BCCI’s working committee prepares to meet after five months, they have key issues to address

Amol Karhadkar25-Sep-2014The working committee of the BCCI will meet after more than five months in Chennai on Friday and it is expected to make decisions relating to its administrative future and the national team. While N Srinivasan, the sidelined BCCI president, will not attend the meeting following a court directive, his influence could be visible in most of the major decisions that will be taken in the meeting.The decisions pertain to:The future of the Indian team’s support staff
The Indian team’s support staff, leading up to the World Cup, is likely to be finalised at this meeting. Mid-way through the England tour, Ravi Shastri was roped in as team director and three Indian coaches – Sanjay Bangar (assistant coach), B Arun (assistant coach) and R Sridhar (fielding coach) – were added to the support staff. Head coach Duncan Fletcher remained in charge of the team but bowling coach Joe Dawes and fielding coach Trevor Penney were sent “on vacation”.The central decision here is whether Shastri will remain in charge of the team as the roles of the other support-staff members are now as good as established. It is believed that Shastri is wary of continuing in the role he assumed for the limited-overs series in England due to his media commitments to multiple broadcasters and publications for India’s tour to Australia and the World Cup. If he accepts the Indian team position, he will not be able to carry out any of these commitments.It is understood that the BCCI hierarchy, through the board secretary Sanjay Patel, has told Shastri that he will be compensated adequately for his services and he can continue working as a media professional during the home series against West Indies. However, the BCCI is keen to have Shastri in the dressing room during the tour to Australia and the World Cup.ESPNcricinfo understands that Shastri has told the BCCI he will take a call after discussing the issue in detail with the media organisations he has agreed to work for. Shastri is expected to reply before Friday’s working committee and the Indian team’s support staff for the World Cup could accordingly be finalised.There is still uncertainty over whether Ravi Shastri will commit to a stint as India’s team director•Getty ImagesPatel has confirmed that Dawes and Penney have been asked if they are “willing to work at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore” until their contract expires at the end of the next year’s World Cup. Their reply will be discussed by the working committee, and a decision could be taken on whether to end their association with the BCCI prematurely.The three additions to the support staff – Bangar, Arun and Sridhar – have been assured that their services will be required at least until the World Cup. Fletcher has also been given the same assurance. The India coach has faced flak following the team’s dismal performance, especially in Tests, since he took over in June 2011. Despite the team’s poor run, Fletcher’s technical expertise and the World Cup’s proximity could keep him in charge until the marquee event.BCCI Annual General Meeting
As per its regulations, the BCCI has to convene its Annual General Meeting (AGM) every year before September 30 with a 21-day notice period. Since N Srinivasan, the elected BCCI president, was instructed to stand down by India’s Supreme Court in April this year until investigations into the 2013 IPL corruption scandal were completed, the BCCI has not convened the AGM.The election of office-bearers for the next three years and the finalisation of committees, including the selection panel, is held during the AGM and it is believed that Srinivasan’s intention of continuing as BCCI president for one more term is one of the reasons for postponing the meeting. He even staged a reported show of strength when a majority of BCCI members attended an informal gathering in Chennai on September 7.An official reason being offered for the deferment of the AGM, though not on record, is the confusion over whether court-appointed interim president Shivlal Yadav can sign the balance sheet, the annual budget and the annual report as the board president. Yadav, who is an elected vice-president, has been advised by experts to not sign the official documents in the presence of an elected president who has been restrained from discharging his statutory functions by a court. It is being argued that in the absence of a signed annual report by the president, the AGM cannot be held.Interestingly, the BCCI rulebook does not specify whether the financial documents have to be signed by an elected president. Since there is no provision of an interim president in the BCCI constitution, Yadav is cautious of signing any important document that requires the president’s signature.It is also understood that Yadav is hesitant to convene the AGM due to a constitutional clause that the meeting has to be held before September 30, according to the president’s convenience. According to Clause 16.1 of the BCCI’s Memorandum and Rules and Regulations, “The Annual General Meeting of the Board shall be held every year, not later than 30th September at such place and time as the president may fix.”On Wednesday, Aditya Verma, the petitioner in the IPL corruption case, filed an interlocutory application in the Supreme Court of India, requesting the court to intervene and order the BCCI to convene its AGM immediately. The BCCI is expected to submit a reply to the court before the application’s hearing on October 10.As Srinivasan’s future is expected to be decided in the first week of November based on Justice Mukul Mudgal committee’s report, the BCCI is likely to seek the court’s permission to wait until the committee’s investigative report is submitted to the court. The board could arrive at this line of argument, at the meeting, for not conducting its AGM.Domestic cricket-related matters
Issues around the Rajasthan Cricket Association and the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association are expected to be settled.The Rajasthan Cricket Association had been suspended by the BCCI on May 6, following Lalit Modi’s election as president. According to the BCCI regulations, any suspension ceases to exist after six months, so the disciplinary committee may be advised to speed up its proceedings against RCA. A disciplinary committee meeting last week was deferred due to the fresh objections raised by the RCA against the disciplinary committee, and these objections will be tabled before the working committee, after which a reply is likely to be formulated.The working committee will also discuss a proposal to allow a team from four disputed states – Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Uttaranchal and Bihar – to be fielded under the BCCI banner for the domestic season so that most players from Rajasthan do not suffer due to the board’s battle against the RCA. While the working committee may not have any problems in sanctioning such a team for age-group tournaments, the decision over a senior team would have to be taken more carefully. At the moment, the tournament regulations permit only full members of the BCCI to participate in the Ranji Trophy and the 50-overs Vijay Hazare Trophy.Patel had announced last week that Jammu & Kashmir’s home games in the domestic season would be played in Punjab after the state suffered devastating floods earlier this month. Since that announcement, however, JKCA secretary ML Nehru has informed the BCCI that the state association could host “most” of the matches at home. The working committee is, therefore, likely to confirm Punjab as a standby venue for J&K’s games.

Rajasthan Royals have appointed Paddy Upton as their new head coach, and Royal Challengers Bangalore have signed Abhinav Mukund and Sunny Sohal for the sixth season of IPL

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Jan-2013Paddy Upton has been appointed the new head coach of Rajasthan Royals for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. Upton replaces Monty Desai, who was the Royals coach for the last two IPL seasons. Upton, 44, is the performance director of the South African national team and held the same position with Pune Warriors in IPL 2012.Upton said he was looking forward to working with Rajasthan Royals. “It is an honour for me to coach a dynamic team like Rajasthan Royals. It will be wonderful to work with Rahul [Dravid] once more. The team has some very talented players who have been noticed by the cricketing fraternity because of their phenomenal attitude and undying team spirit. Going into the new season, I am looking at instilling fresh confidence into the team.”Rahul Dravid, the Royals captain, who has worked with Upton in the past, said that he was looking forward to the association. “I greatly respect him for his knowledge and professionalism. We welcome him to Rajasthan Royals and look forward to working with him in the coming months.”Upton worked with the Indian team till the 2011 World Cup as the mental conditioning coach and was an integral part of the support staff led by former coach Gary Kirsten.Royal Challengers sign two new batsmen for IPL 2013Royal Challengers Bangalore have signed Abhinav Mukund and Sunny Sohal for the sixth season of the IPL.Mukund, 23, played for Chennai Super Kings previously and was released after the last season. He has played 15 domestic T20 matches and has scored 235 runs at an average of 18 and strike rate of 100. He was recently the captain of the India A team that played a List A match against England XI prior to the ODI series.Sohal, a right-handed batsman, was released by Deccan Chargers after the fifth IPL season in which he did not play any matches. His last game was in IPL 2011. He has played 32 domestic T20 matches and scored 511 runs at an average of 19 and strike rate of 117. He represented Kings XI Punjab in the first three editions of the IPL.

Des Raj, a former international umpire, suffered a fatal cardiac arrest on Sunday

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-2013Des Raj, a former international umpire, has died following a cardiac arrest in Pune on Sunday.Raj, 69, officiated as third umpire twice, including in the Titan Cup final between India and South Africa in 1996. His lone appearance as an on-field umpire in the men’s game was in a match between Australia and Zimbabwe in 1998. Raj was a part of the panel of umpires in the Women’s World Cup in India in 1997, officiating in two matches, including the first semi-final between India and Australia. He also stood in a Test between India Women and England Women in 2005.Raj was active in the Ranji Trophy for 15 years, since making his debut in 1986. After retiring in 2001, he took on the role of BCCI match referee till the end of 2006-07 domestic season.

Trent Boult has been ruled out of the one-day series against England due to a side strain, putting in doubt his participation for the Champions Trophy, and will be replaced by Ian Butler for the one-day series that starts on Friday

Andrew McGlashan30-May-2013Trent Boult has been ruled out of the one-day series against England and the Champions Trophy due to a side strain. Ian Butler has been called into the New Zealand squad, in Boult’s place, for the two tournaments.*Left-arm pacer Boult picked up the injury early in England’s second innings at Headingley where he bowled just two overs. An MRI scan on Wednesday confirmed the initial diagnosis of a muscle tear in his right side and he is expected to make a full recovery in six to eight weeks.Boult was one of New Zealand’s standout performers in the Test series against England, taking 5 for 57 in the first innings of the second Test, and could have been a threat in the one-day matches although his record of six wickets in eight matches means he was by no means a certain starter with the return of Kyle Mills and Mitchell McClenaghan.Butler does not have far to travel to link up with the squad as he was already in the UK playing for the Lashings side. He hasn’t played a one-day international since February 2010 although was recalled to the Twenty20 side to face England earlier this year. In 26 ODIs he has 28 wickets at 37.07.Boult is the second player from New Zealand’s one-day squad to be hit by injury after Andrew Ellis suffered a fractured rib and was replaced by Doug Bracewell.Although the injuries are not ideal for New Zealand they are able to welcome back plenty of experience to their one-day squad as they aim to recover from the two heavy Test defeats at Lord’s and Headingley. Mills, Grant Elliott and James Franklin are back in the mix, but the most significant return could be that of Daniel Vettori who New Zealand attempted to have ready for the second Test before both parties conceded it wouldn’t be possible.Vettori, who played his previous ODI at the 2011 World Cup, does not believe the outcome of the Test series will have much bearing on the limited-overs leg of the tour and drew on New Zealand’s previous experiences in England of 2004 and 2008 when they responded by winning the one-day series which followed the Tests.”This is a completely different format and there’s a more comfortable feel with the one-day matches,” he said. “The guys know their game and have put in some good performances – looking back to that South African series, of recent note.”So I think the guys go into this format a lot more comfortable, and that’s been the same for a number of years. There’s a lot of experienced one-day internationals coming back into the team. I think that helps … a lot of the guys feel pretty good about their one-day game.”*09.15GMT, May 31: This article has been updated after news of the ICC’s technical committee approval of Ian Butler arrived

Carlo Ancelotti brushed aside speculation linking Real Madrid with a move for Kylian Mbappe and insisted that he remains focused on the job at hand.

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Mbappe continues to flirt with Real MadridAncelotti refused to be drawn in by rumoursInsisted balance is most important thing(C)Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

Mbappe has reportedly informed Paris Saint-Germain of his intention to depart the club, once he hits free agency in the summer. Real Madrid have been long-term admirers of the 2018 World Cup winner and after being snubbed on two occasions in the past, it seems that they would finally achieve their target.

AdvertisementWHAT CARLO ANCELOTTI SAID

However, Ancelotti remains unfazed about the growing speculations and told reporters: "I see and hear everything but nothing else. I understand that it’s the topic of the day for you but not for us. We have prepared for tomorrow’s game and that’s what we have talked about, not about anything else. I’d like to work on this season, there’s a long time to go before next season."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Aurelien Tchouameni reached for the popcorn after Mbappe's bombshell exit news went viral. However, Ancelotti asserted that the ongoing speculations won't be a distraction for the squad as they continue to fight for silverware on multiple fronts.

"If I’m worried about Mbappe, do you see me worried?" he asked. "I think it’s going to be the same for the next few press conferences, I’m not worried."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Ancelotti currently has Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, Joselu, and Brahim Diaz at his disposal in attack, with Jude Bellingham firing on all cylinders in midfield in an extraordinary debut campaign in Madrid’s colours. When asked if the inclusion of Mbappe would disrupt the equilibrium of the squad he explained: "Yes, I agree that good players can play together, but the important thing is to keep the balance. The most important thing is quality and balance. If you combine those two aspects well, it’s good."

Real Madrid will be in action against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in a La Liga encounter.

Namibia captain Sarel Burger’s unbeaten century put them in the lead against Canada as they ended the day on 293 for 6 in Windhoek

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Apr-2012
Scorecard
If Sarel Burger’s bowling was the highlight of the first day, his batting shone on the second. Burger was unbeaten on 135 at stumps after taking Namibia past Canada’s 274.At the start of the second day, it took Namibia just 2.5 overs to wrap up Canada’s innings. But when they came in to bat, they were forced into damage-control mode early as Durand Soraine trapped both openers in front. Another two wickets to Junaid Siddiqui’s legspin pushed Namibia further into trouble at 85 for 4. Burger, however, held on to his end and then found an able ally in Raymond van Schoor, who scored 71, to bring up a 107-run partnership. But it was Burger’s unbeaten partnership with Ian Opperman for the seventh wicket that put Namibia in control. He brought up his second first-class century during the course of this partnership. Namibia ended the day 19 runs ahead of Canada with four wickets in hand.

Two of USACA president Gladstone Dainty’s longtime allies have come out strongly against USACA vice-president Michael Gale’s claim that the solution to USACA’s current problems is to ratify an amended constitution

Peter Della Penna13-Nov-2014Two of USA Cricket Association president Gladstone Dainty’s longtime allies, Atlantic Region administrators Sheldon Mollineau and Shelton Glasgow, have come out strongly against USACA vice-president Michael Gale’s claim that the solution to USACA’s current problems is to ratify an amended constitution. Instead, they are withdrawing their support of the Dainty administration and are calling for all leagues to reject the proposed changes that are up for a vote at the coming weekend’s AGM.”If people were to read the document, there are some very disturbing elements in that document,” Glasgow told ESPNcricinfo. “The administration banks on the apathy of the leagues to get certain things through because a lot of people would not have read that document. If people approve that document, you’re going to have six more years of Dainty and company. I never thought I’d be saying this but we just can’t afford to have that for cricket. Cricket will surely die in this country by then.”Among the proposals put forth by a governance review conducted last year by TSE Consulting, were to cut down the total size of the board while adding independent directors to make up 50% of the administration, which would greatly reduce the current board’s power. Other recommendations were for athlete representatives to be added to make up 20% of the board and term limits be established.Instead, USACA is proposing to increase the number of people on the board while also reducing the number of proposed independent directors. Term limits would not be applied retroactively and the executive board member positions of president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer would no longer be voted on by all member leagues but would only be decided by a consolidated voting panel of 11 other board members.Mollineau said that although he considers Dainty a friend, he thinks the time has come for different administrators to have a chance after more than a decade under Dainty’s leadership.”I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel with the current administration,” Mollineau said. “I can’t stay involved if Dainty remains. This administration isn’t taking cricket in the right direction. There’s no vision and this constitution has nothing to help the development of the game. It is only revised to ensure the current board remains in power.”It goes completely against what the TSE governance recommendations were and takes away any voting rights from the leagues. I can’t deal with this. I’ll take it to court if I have to. The one thing we have in US cricket is a vote from the leagues and they’re trying to take that away from us.”Glasgow acknowledges he was one of Dainty’s biggest supporters during the last USACA election in 2012, but that recent events have made him rethink his stance on the current administration. He says he had hope that the administration would turn a corner and demonstrate progress if given enough time, but based on USA’s recent relegation to WCL Division Four, he no longer has faith that things will improve unless someone else takes charge.”I was fully supportive of the current administration, there’s no question about that,” Glasgow said. “What I do not support is the non-improvement. There’s no vision there for cricket. I was optimistic that after several failures people would learn from their mistakes and their experience would have benefitted the sport. That has not happened. We keep doing the same things over and over. If you look at progress and use the national team as a yardstick, it’s not so much that we fail or lose. It is the lack of preparation, the way teams are selected, the way selectors are appointed. It’s ridiculous.”

Michael Hussey has said he’d have liked an earlier crack at international cricket, but the long spell at the domestic level honed his game to perfection

Daniel Brettig30-Dec-2012No-one made more runs before being handed a baggy green cap than Michael Hussey, and it is highly likely that no-one ever will have to again. In addition to leaving an enormous hole in Australia’s batting order, Hussey’s exit from the game at 37 also poses a major question about the development of players capable of filling it.Was Hussey robbed of an even more illustrious career by a selection panel that scorned his talents until he was 30, or was the wonderfully dextrous and adaptable player he became a direct result of all those years spent honing his game for the opportunity? As he looked forward to more time at home, though he will continue to play for Western Australia and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, Hussey said he wished he had been given an earlier chance, but reasoned that the completeness of his game and the maturity of his approach stemmed from the extra time he was left to shape it.”I would’ve loved to get an opportunity earlier, there’s no question about that,” Hussey said. “I would’ve maybe liked to go through what young players go through at international level where you come in, you’re so excited to be there, probably go through some hard times and then come out the other side a batter player.”But in a lot of ways it probably did help me to be able to perform consistently at international level, to have so much first-class cricket behind me. To learn about the game and learn about batting and learn about myself as a person, I think held me in very good stead when I came to the international game when there’s so many distractions externally, to be able to put them aside and concentration my game. Knowing what worked for me helped me definitely.”With Hussey soon to be gone from the team, Australia’s selectors are left to pick from the meagre batting options they have left. Usman Khawaja is part of the current squad and has worked at rounding out his game in the manner of Hussey, while the Twenty20 captain George Bailey has a fighter’s instinct and a leader’s brain and attitude, if not quite the record of batting achievement that suggests he will make as instant an impression at 30 as Hussey did after he debuted in 2005.Hussey’s most cherished moments

“The 2007 World Cup was just an amazing experience – the way the team played throughout that tournament was just incredible cricket,. So to be a part of that was absolutely fantastic and a huge highlight for me. Being part of an Ashes series where we won 5-0 here in Australia and to play with some of the true legends and greats of the game I’m really thrilled to play with these guys and to play in such a fantastic Ashes series like that. They’re the two that standout most to me over my career.
“From a personal point of view my favourite moment would be hitting the winning runs in the second Test in Adelaide in that Ashes series [in 2006]. I’m not sure how many I made that day, but that feeling I got, to win that amazing Test match and to be out there to hit the winning runs, was a fantastic honour.”

Hussey himself believes his 35-year-old brother David deserves a chance, while Chris Rogers is of the same age and the possessor of endless first-class experience in England. Other young batsmen like Joe Burns in Queensland, Kurtis Patterson in New South Wales, Alex Doolan in Tasmania and Peter Handscomb in Victoria will in time press their claims, but their readiness for international cricket and all its myriad challenges will depend on how – and for how long – they are groomed.A major reason for Hussey’s exit is that he is no longer prepared to separate himself from his family for the long tracts of time required by international tours, but another is the wearing down effect of Test match pressure, be it from opponents, media, supporters, team-mates and the man himself. The support Hussey has been given from the likes of his first-grade batting coach Ian Keevan, the former Northants coach Bob Carter, and his wife Amy allowed him to push through much of it, and those relationships were also built up over the years he spent waiting for his chance.”There’s so much pressure, stress and tension around international cricket, on all the guys,” Hussey said. “I’m amazed how the guys handle it at times. But I think it’s very important to have a good support network around you, people who keep believing in you all the time, and keep you in a positive frame of mind when sometimes it’s quite easy to get yourself down and put more pressure on yourself. I’m very lucky to have that network around me that’ve remained really positive and confident and believed in me.”It’s a little bit sad and I will miss certain parts of it. But there’s so much more to life than just playing cricket, and I have those fantastic memories, but there’s going to be a lot of things I certainly won’t miss, like the really sick feeling in the stomach when you have to go out and bat in a Test match, the constant time away from home, training, travel, hotels and airports. It does wear you down after a while.”It’s taken me a long time to learn how I play my best cricket. It’s going to be different for everyone, but for me personally when I do relax, when I do enjoy the game I just stick to my very good preparation, and I just know and believe I will perform.”Hussey’s final summer has been played without the self-imposed expectations he had previously lived with, for he knew that retirement at the end of the season was always his most likely path. That allowed him to relax and play his best, just as he did not gain a start for Australia until after he had virtually given up hope of earning one.”I do feel like the pressure’s been off a little bit,” he said. “I was very keen to do well in this particular summer. Like every summer I guess. But I felt like I could go out there with nothing to lose a little bit because I knew in my own mind that it was probably going to come to an end at the end of the Australian summer.”So I could play with a bit more freedom and just go out there and relax. Maybe there is a lesson in there to be learnt – I have always been someone that has put a lot of pressure on myself and tried sometimes too hard and when you just relax and play and enjoy the game, that’s when I’ve played my best cricket.”There is a lesson in that for all those who will follow Hussey into Australia’s Test team, one of many that can be learned from observing the career and achievements of a cricketer who tried to – and usually did – do everything right.

Brendan Taylor, the Zimbabwe captain, has admitted his team were “taught a proper lesson” during their 2-0 Test series defeat against West Indies

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Mar-2013Brendan Taylor, the Zimbabwe captain, has admitted his team were “taught a proper lesson” during their 2-0 Test series defeat against West Indies. Both matches ended inside three days as the Zimbabwe batsmen, in particular, struggled to cope against a vastly more experienced West Indies side.Zimbabwe lost seven out of seven international fixtures on the tour – three ODIs, two T20s and two Tests – their first since a similarly disappointing trip to New Zealand last year. The defeat in Roseau was Alan Butcher’s last match as coach of Zimbabwe, with his contract up at the end of the month, and his replacement will have much work to do ahead of the visit of Bangladesh in April.”It’s been massively disappointing. We have been taught a proper lesson,” Taylor was quoted as saying by . “It hurts to be in this position but the West Indies were a far better side than us.”The seamers can hold their heads high and hopefully carry some momentum into the Bangladesh series but a lot of us need to go home and have a good think and then try to execute better in quiet a few areas. We can only learn from this, we are a side that will definitely try to rectify a few things.”The tour was a difficult one for Taylor personally, as he made just 123 runs from nine innings, with a top score of 39. Before Zimbabwe’s squad left for the Caribbean, Taylor had been critical of the decision to leave behind batting coach Grant Flower, bowling coach Heath Streak and fitness trainer Lorraine Chivandire and there is plenty for the support staff to work on ahead of the Tests against Bangladesh, the first of which begins on April 17.Zimbabwe only returned to the Test arena in 2011, after a six-year exile, beating Bangladesh in a one-off Test in Harare. The successor to Butcher, who guided Zimbabwe for the last three years, is expected to be one of Flower, assistant coach Stephen Mangongo or Andy Waller, a former international, and should be in place by the start of next month for Bangladesh’s return.

Zimbabwe have the courage and confidence to compete with and beat New Zealand in the one-off Test in Napier starting on January 26, according to the head coach Alan Butcher

Firdose Moonda18-Jan-2012Zimbabwe have the courage and confidence to compete with and beat New Zealand in the one-off Test in Napier starting on January 26, according to their head coach Alan Butcher. Since making their return to Test cricket in August last year, Butcher said the team had grown significantly from a mental perspective and are ready for their first challenge away from home in the new era.Zimbabwe endured the worst period in their cricketing history during six years of self-imposed exile from the longest form of the game. Defeats, disunity and disappointment abounded before they were able to make a commitment to rebuilding in 2010. Zimbabwe were ready for Test cricket again in August 2011 and beat Bangladesh in their comeback match in Harare. They played three series, all one-off Tests, in as many months and lost to Pakistan and New Zealand.Their defeat to New Zealand was by a margin of only 34 runs. Had they had managed to score those runs, they would have achieved a record Zimbabwean run chase. Although they didn’t, Butcher saluted the team’s efforts in just their third Test back. “People didn’t give us much of a chance so I was proud that we got that close,” he told ESPNcricinfo on the eve of Zimbabwe’s departure for New Zealand. “But I was also disappointed. We deserved to win it and to get that close and lose was disappointing.”The match highlighted one of Zimbabwe’s chief concerns on re-entering Test cricket: the inferiority complex that plagues so-called minnows, including Bangladesh. Throughout his tenure, Butcher has talked about developing Zimbabwe’s sense of self-belief and self-assuredness and as they embark on their first overseas tour as a readmitted Test nation, he says they have made progress. The results against New Zealand, which also included a record ODI chase by Zimbabwe, have helped.”I hope that the confidence we showed in those two matches will continue,” Butcher said. “In a lot of areas we showed that New Zealand can be beaten. What was really pleasing is that we did not have a bad day in the Test match, we played good cricket on all five days. And to win a one-dayer of that magnitude gave us a big boost. When we get into winning positions we have to be able to finish it off. The more times you get into a winning position, the more times you believe you can win.”One of the chief protagonists in getting Zimbabwe into situations where victory is a possibility is their captain Brendan Taylor. He scored back to back centuries in the ODIs against New Zealand and a hundred in the second innings of the Test. Taylor was offered a contract with Wellington to play in the HRV Cup as reward for his talents.Butcher said Taylor’s early experience of the New Zealand stint will help his leadership role and the team as a whole. “It’s been good to have him there, getting some inside information and insights on the conditions and a few of the players,” Butcher said. “And he has been fairly successful, which is a great feather in his cap.” Taylor was among the top 10 leading run-scorers in the Twenty20 tournament.The tour will also give some of Zimbabwe’s inexperienced Test players, particularly the bowlers, a taste of the big time. With senior seamer Chris Mpofu ruled out with a lower back injury, the third seamer’s spot is vacant. “[Kyle] Jarvis and [Brian] Vitori will be vital for us with the new ball but I would like to see one of Keegan Meth or Shingarai Masakadza do well in the third seamer’s spot,” Butcher said. “And both of them can hold a bat as well.”Graeme Cremer will also be interesting to watch. He may not get to play this time but it will be nice to see how an attacking spinner progresses.” Cremer has not been part of Zimbabwe’s comeback after a long recovery from a knee injury and may have to sit out for the experienced Ray Price if Zimbabwe opt for a safety-first approach. He is not in the ODI squad and will return to Zimbabwe, to be replaced by Prosper Utseya.From a batting perspective, Butcher said he would like to see “a couple of the fringe players” step up. “Guys like Forster Mutizwa and Regis Chakabva have good records in domestic cricket and it will be nice to see them do well. Then we will be well stocked.”Butcher said he would have loved to have had opening batsman Vusi Sibanda as part of the touring party but respected the decision of the cricket committee to exclude him. Sibanda was declared ineligible for national selection after choosing to play grade cricket in Australia and declining a Zimbabwe Cricket contract at the start of the season. He has since returned to Zimbabwe and is currently on a pay-as-you-play arrangement with the Mid-West Rhinos, which could turn into a full-time contract that will qualify him for national selection again.