Are we witnessing the resurgence of Zimbabwe?

It isn’t just their two wins in the West Indies over the last week. Things have been going on behind the scenes for some time.

Last August Heath Streak set aside his many differences with the Zimbabwe board to become their bowling coach. It seemed a symbolic reconciliation. Prominent Zimbabweans were ready to give the team their support once more.

Streak’s return came after a rejigging of the selection committee which saw former Zimbabwean batsman Alistair Campbell appointed chairman of selectors. This itself was a response to an ICC report that called for changes in Zimbabwe Cricket’s structure. It appears ZC has reacted positively.

More recently, former Surrey coach Alan Butcher agreed to take charge of Zimbabwe and Grant Flower will become the team’s batting coach following the 2010 English domestic season. Terry Jenner, Shane Warne’s mentor, held a two-week spin coaching clinic in the country in January and February, after which he confirmed “there is certainly a bright future for Zimbabwe’s spin department”.

There has also been an overhaul of the domestic structure, which was in decay. Five franchise teams were created to help spread the game beyond Harare, which was the last bastion of functional cricket in the country. The first-class domestic competition was expanded and a revamped Twenty20 tournament, with a sponsor on board, attracted crowds for the first time in a while. Former Zimbabwean Sean Ervine was impressed enough to return to his country as a coach for one of the franchises, as did England’s Chris Silverwood.

Zimbabwe last played a Test in 2005, after which began a self-imposed exile. Their goal is to return to Test cricket by the middle of next year, but Dave Houghton – another to have returned to the fold (as a consultant for the national team) – wants it to happen earlier. He believes they are ready.

It will take a while before the cricketing world will accept all is well with Zimbabwe cricket. But it is difficult to ignore the patterns of change over the last year and the big names who have thrown themselves into the resurgence of the game in their country (the ICC should be praised for their part in this).

On the field things seem to be going better, too. West Indies have been beaten twice in a week. And did you know that the left-arm spinner Ray Price – yes, another returnee – is ranked No.3 in the ICC’s list of ODI bowlers?

Benj Moorehead is editorial assistant of The Wisden Cricketer