Date-stamped : 30 Aug97 - 02:12 29.8.97 Former Australian coach to help Zim side. Vincent Kahiya FORMER Australian national cricket coach Bob Simpson will be in the country next week to assist the Zimbabwe national team to prepare for the forthcoming Test and One-day matches against New Zealand starting next month. The vice president of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and convenor of the national team selectors, John Traicos told the Zimbabwe Independent in an interview this week that Simpson was going to work together with national coach Dave Houghton who is expected to return from England on Tuesday. Simpson's trip to Zimbabwe was sponsored by Qantas who have become a notable sponsor of Zimbabwean cricket. Simpson was Australian team coach until the last Cricket World Cup. He was opening batsman for the Australian team in the 1960s and he has a great track record as coach from 1985, beating Sri Lanka for the world championship of cricket in 1987 and beating England in the Ashes in 1989, 1991 and 1993. Apart from assisting the national team Simpson will also conduct five to six coaching clinics in the high-density areas during his two week stay. The arrival of Houghton and Simpson next week should give fresh momentum to the preparation of the national team which has been doing field work and physical training as two squads of about 20 players each in Harare and Bulawayo. "The physical side is now okay but I think we have been late in starting in the nets which we started in August," said Traicos. The players who have been involved in the squad sessions will be active this weekend in the Logan Cup when Mashonaland A plays Mashonaland B at Harare South. Traicos said the final team to play New Zealand will be announced on September 7. He said the line-up may witness the emergence of new talent in the team. Zimbabwe lost Test opener Andy Waller who retired at the end of last year and another opener Stuart Carlisle is not likely to be available for the series due to study commitments in South Africa. Traicos said the two important batting positions should be taken by Dirk Viljeon and Graig Wishart. In the bowling, he said seamers Everton Matambanadzo, and Henry Olonga who recently returned from the Plascon Academy in South Africa had good chances of making the team. The Zimbabwean attack will however revolve around the twin-pace attack of Heath Streak and Eddo Brandes together with world class leg-spinner Paul Strang. Andrew Whitthal should weigh in with his off-spin. Traicos said on the whole, the player base for the Test side was widening as here were a number of players on the fringes of national team selection, These include Brian Murphy, Adam Huckle, Trevor Gripper, Benard Pswarayi and Walter Chawaguta. "We are still short of players but it is getting better," he said. The New Zealanders are expected in the country on September 10 before they play their first match against the Country Districts at Harare South two days later. The Kiwis play Mashonaland in a first class match from September 13 to 15, then the first Test in Harare starting on September 18 and the second in Bulawayo starting on September 22. The One-days are on October 1, 4 and 5 at Harare Sports Club. Source :: Zimbabwe Independent Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)