It was not too long ago when Justin Sammons had to step away from his post as batting coach of the Proteas side.
Having served under Mark Boucher, Sammons had to move on from the Proteas when Boucher resigned.
Now, Sammons is the head coach of the Zimbabwe national team and works alongside former Proteas seam bowler Charl Langeveldt, whom he coached with when he was in the SA management staff as well.
Former South African domestic cricketer Rivash Gobind, despite being recently named Titans head coach, is also in the Zimbabwe national team’s management staff.
Together, the trio have led Zimbabwe to some memorable victories, including the most recent, where Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh in the first of two Tests in Sylhet.
Zimbabwe’s first Test win in over four years was inspired by some top performances 💥
Read how the first #BANvZIM Test unfolded ⬇️https://t.co/A5ibIvPXll
— ICC (@ICC) April 23, 2025
The Test victory marked Zimbabwe’s first away from home since 2021, and the side took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
In an exclusive interview with Independent Media this week, Sammons emphasised the importance of the victory, not only to the current Test team, but also to Zimbabwe cricket at large.
“To get an away win on the subcontinent is a massive achievement, and with that comes confidence that the group should take from it,” said Sammons.
“The three Tests that we’ve lost, we were in positions where we really had chances to nail down a win and weren’t able to get over the line.
“So, for us to now actually chase a score in the sub-continent, experience the pressures that one experiences in a fourth-innings chase, it’s huge in terms of the development and experience of the players.
“The confidence, I think, is the biggest thing. Also the knowledge for the group to know that what we’ve been doing is the right thing and we’re on the right track.
“So, hopefully it pushes us to work harder and raise our intensity both in preparation and the games, and to continue to lift our game.
“It’ll also, from a general Zimbabwe Cricket point of view, I think it’s massive. It lets the world know that we’re here to compete. We’re not just here to make up numbers.”
After the second Test in Bangladesh, Sammons will take his side to England for a one-off Test before hosting South Africa for two Tests in Zimbabwe in June.
Heading into such big fixtures, Sammons believes that the victory against Bangladesh in the first Test sends the message that they are not pushovers.
“We are not a pushover. We are definitely making improvements. We know we’re not the finished article. We are a long way from where we want to be.
“But again, we’re on the right track, and it’s really about us staying the course, holding strong, keep doing the right things and the results will eventually look after themselves,” said Sammons.
“It’s going to be a really tough few months. We’re going to Chittagong now, which will be in very difficult conditions. We will be completely different to what we experienced in Sylhet.
“Then we go to England, which again, is completely different conditions, a different ball in the Duke.
“And then back to Bulawayo for the two Tests against South Africa and then two against New Zealand.
“All those experiences, all those varying conditions, varying opposition will again hold this team in good stead.
“But yes, we look forward to really putting our best foot forward there and competing as much as we can.”
