Taylor was fuming with the cut in coaching staff

Zimbabwe Cricket have defended their decision to cut down the number of coaching staff that go on tour with the national team, stating that their decision was based on recommendations given to them by the country’s cricket committee.

The board also announced that the change was mentioned during a meeting on October 5 last year, which was attended by captain Brendan Taylor, who recently expressed his infuriation at the new policy, deeming it a “step in the wrong direction”.

Zimbabwe Cricket attributes their decision not to send the batting and bowling coaches, along with the fitness trainer, on overseas tours to the fact that they want the coaching structure to be more free.

“The recurring theme was the differences the coaching staff have, the divisions in the team as a result, and their reservations about a coaching staff of that size,” Zimbabwe Cricket’s general manager of media and public affairs Shingai Rhuhwaya told ESPNcricinfo.

The cricket committee that decided on the new changes included such names as Alistair Campbell, Dave Houghton, the late Kevin Curran, Cyprian Mandenge and Freddy Kapuya.

Under the new recommendations, the coaching structure will consist of the head and assistant coach, an analyst, a physiotherapist and a manager, who is set to be chosen on a series by series basis.

“The head coach should be given the opportunity to make an input on the appointment of the rest of the technical staff, taking into consideration the status of the contracts of the current members of the national technical staff,” the recommendation from the committee said.

A further point made by the committee was centred around the fact that “specialist consultants should be engaged on a needs basis.”

Taylor expressed his frustrations with the new changes via his Facebook page and while Zimbabwe Cricket may not have appreciated the gesture, they seem unlikely to take any action against the captain of the national team.

A source close to the situation revolving around Taylor and Zimbabwe Cricket revealed that the skipper had been “spoken to” and all the board wanted in return was his full co-operation.

“We understand that he would prefer to have the batting coach there but we trust that he understands the need to try a different system, especially since he was part of the feedback that suggested a change was in order,” Rhuhwaya said.