Dave Haughton opens his mouth to BD

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Zimbabwe offers rookies lessons


Houghton enjoyed many successes with Zimbabawe



By Matthew Allen
BBC Sport Online



Ten years ago this month Zimbabwe played their first Test and confounded their critics by having the better of a drawn match against a strong Indian side.
Captain David Houghton scored his country's first Test century as India were made to toil in Harare.

Houghton, who is now head of Zimbabwe's academy, has fond memories of how his side proved the doubters wrong.



Bangladesh don't look like they are ready to be entering the Test arena

David Houghton
"We felt that the rest of the world did not want us in Test cricket," he recalls.

"There were comments that we would bring down the standard of cricket, but we used that as an inspiration rather than something to be scared of.

"The result exceeded our expectation because we went into the game hoping to prove that we could play for five days.

"We did not think we could win but we were on the top of a draw.

"It was a fantastic result when you consider that the team was so unstable that we were picking players at midnight the previous day."

Houghton feels that Zimbabwe were far better prepared for Test cricket then Bangladesh are now.


Bangladesh still have a lot to learn

India were easy victors by nine wickets when Bangladesh played their first Test two years ago.

They were roundly thrashed by Zimbabwe in their next two Tests and face South Africa having yet to record a win in 13 matches.

"Bangladesh don't look like they are ready at this stage to be entering the Test arena.

"They just don't have the players to come up with a plan against South Africa. The difference between the talent in the two sides is like chalk and cheese.

"When we started to play Test cricket we had played 12 years against under-21 sides from Australia, the West Indies and India.

"So we had already played against these Test players as they were emerging, and it was hard cricket."



People only remember the Tests that you have won

David Houghton
Houghton feels that Bangladesh should slow down and switch their focus from trying to win matches to learning how to play Test cricket.

"They should lessen the amount of Tests they play and play more at home where they are more comfortable and try to eke out five days every game," he said.

"We played our first 10 matches trying to prove to everybody that we could play for five days. We didn't even look for victories at that stage.

"Once those first 10 matches were out of the way we decided that we would rather lose six or seven and win one than draw nine and lose one.

"So our attitude changed changed a little bit and we started to win the odd Test match.

"People only remember the Tests that you have won, not the ones you have lost or draw - especially for new countries."

Source: BBC Sports Online