Curran appointed Zimbabwe's coach

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union has appointed Kevin Curran as director of coaching at the CFX Cricket Academy in Harare. Curran will also coach the Zimbabwe A and Under-19 sides. He succeeds Geoff Marsh, whose contract expired this month and who made it clear that he was not interested in renewing it.

Curran, 45, represented Zimbabwe in the 1980s and forged a successful career in English county cricket. He was Zimbabwe's assistant coach for a time, and has recently been coaching in Namibia. In addition to his national duties, he will be supervising the Mashonaland provincial side.

Curran faces a daunting task, with Zimbabwe cricket in crisis and the national side full of young players of limited ability. Less than 12 hours before the ZCU made the announcement, Zimbabwe lost a Champions Trophy warm-up match against the USA.