Rhodesian first-class cricket in 1974/75

Rhodesia showed a considerable improvement on their form of the previous season; although they finished fourth in the Currie Cup table, they were only five points behind the leaders in a very close competition. This was in spite of the loss for almost all the season of Mike Procter, who seriously injured a knee on the eve of the first Currie Cup match. Perhaps this actually worked for the good of the team, who may have subconsciously realised that they needed to take more responsibility themselves rather than rely primarily on the performances of the great all-rounder. Remarkably, only rain almost certainly prevented them from winning the Currie Cup.

Brian Davison took over as captain and this had a beneficial effect on his batting. He had one of his better seasons for Rhodesia and generally batted with a greater sense of responsibility. He also scored the only two centuries recorded for the country. Rhodesia began with an inspiring victory over Western Province immediately after the shock of Procter's injury. But after that they struggled, especially as Robin Jackman, suffering from overwork, was not in his usual form. They had rather the worst of drawn games against Transvaal and Natal before losing to Natal and Western Province away. Procter did attempt to make a comeback, purely as a batsman, against Western Province, but the pain made him realise that it would be unwise to play again during the season.

Then Rhodesia's form improved again. They fought an evenly balanced draw with Eastern Province away, and were only one wicket away from defeating Transvaal when rain ended the match 65 minutes early; had the match continued, only a remarkable last-wicket stand could have prevented a Rhodesian victory, which in the end would have earned them the Currie Cup. Finally, magnificent bowling by Duncan Fletcher, who had stepped so well into the pace-bowling gap, was mainly responsible for a fine victory over Eastern Province.

Davison's 611 runs (average 33.94) made him the leading run-scorer of the season, followed by Stuart Robertson (477 runs, but at a disappointing average of 26.50) and the still-improving Paddy Clift, still generally required to bat at eight or nine (411 runs at 29.35). Peter Carlstein, Howie Gardiner and Jackie du Preez also scored over 300 runs. Gardiner's highest score was an invaluable 99, before being brilliantly stumped, which was a major factor in the team's victory over Western Province. Sadly he was never to score a first-class century. His availability this season meant that Robertson was relieved of his wicket-keeping duties, only to be thrust into the unnatural role of opening batsman as the selectors, unwilling to trust Brian Barbour or Jimmy Mitchell, who had served well in the past, struggled to find a suitable opening pair.

Duncan Fletcher headed the bowling, and the whole A Section averages, with 33 wickets at 18.69, which was to be by some way his most successful season as a bowler. Jackman's 28 wickets came at an increased cost, 26.60, while Clift also took over 20 wickets, 25 at 27.36. Spin bowlers du Preez and Traicos also bowled usefully throughout the season, but the emphasis now was mainly on pace.

The side was not as settled as it might have been, with the selectors frequently making changes. They could not bring themselves to trust the class of Brian Barbour, who played only three matches and whose confidence needed boosting, while Jimmy Mitchell, Martin Benkenstein, Tommy Dunk, Terry Bowes and Vince Hogg suffered from chopping and changing. A more regular player was the left-handed Keith Tattersall, a brilliant close catcher, but his batting form was inconsistent.

In the Gillette Cup, Rhodesia again beat Orange Free State in the first round and were again drawn to play Natal in the semi-final, although this time at home, their first home Gillette fixture for four years. In a magnificent day's cricket, Natal batted superbly to meet Rhodesia's challenging target in the last over of the match.

At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 14, 15, 16 September. RHODESIA 224 (S D Robertson 51, M J Procter 68; G D McKenzie 4/35, A W Greig 3/53) and 219 (P R Carlstein 55, P B Clift 73; J N Shepherd 4/37). INTER-NATIONAL WANDERERS 235 (D B Close 102, J N Shepherd 30; R D Jackman 3/52) and 214/3 (E J Barlow 52, J N Shepherd 71*, G R J Roope 32*). International Wanderers won by seven wickets.

At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 2, 3, 4 November. RHODESIA 246 (B F Davison 81, H A B Gardiner 31*; P D Swart 4/50) and 267/9 dec (P B Clift 74*, H A B Gardiner 99; J N Farrell 4/40). WESTERN PROVINCE 114 (H M Ackerman 35*; R D Jackman 6/51, P B Clift 3/16) and 286 (F S Goldstein 66, P N Kirsten 42, G P Pfuhl 34, D L Hobson 32*; J H du Preez 6/102). Rhodesia won by 113 runs.

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 16, 17, 18 November. RHODESIA 272 (P R Carlstein 60, D A G Fletcher 54, J H du Preez 43; D R Neilson 5/82) and 208 (B F Davison 47, D A G Fletcher 40, J H du Preez 44; D R Neilson 3/51, D S van der Knaap 6/61). TRANSVAAL 299 (B L Irvine 48, N G Featherstone 41, S J Cook 104, D R Neilson 32; D A G Fletcher 5/48) and 78/2 (W R Kerr 37*). Match drawn.

At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 23, 24, 25 November. RHODESIA 135 (K Tattersall 32; R A Woolmer 4/21, P P Henwood 5/32) and 308 (S D Robertson 30, J C Mitchell 40, K Tattersall 43, B F Davison 47, J H du Preez 32, P B Clift 55; P P Henwood 4/69). NATAL 284 (B A Richards 162, D D Dyer 37, G A Katz 39*; P B Clift 7/79) and 34/1. Match drawn.

At Pietermaritzburg; 13, 14, 15 December. RHODESIA 181 (S D Robertson 38, B D Barbour 40, J C Mitchell 31; V A P van der Bijl 6/46) and 221 (B F Davison 109; V A P van der Bijl 4/68). NATAL 379/6 dec (B A Richards 45, D D Dyer 87, H R Fotheringham 57, D Bestall 78, G A Katz 60*) and 28/1. Natal won by nine wickets.

At Cape Town; 17, 18, 20 January. WESTERN PROVINCE 317/8 dec (E J Barlow 152, A Bruyns 58, P N Kirsten 48*; A J Traicos 3/78) and 174/7 dec (E J Barlow 40, H M Ackerman 45; D A G Fletcher 3/30). RHODESIA 245 (K Tattersall 70, M J Procter 64, B F Davison 42; S A Jones 3/35, D L Hobson 4/68) and 161 (J H du Preez 33, P B Clift 32*; J N Farrell 4/35). Western Province won by 85 runs.

At Port Elizabeth; 24, 25, 27 January. RHODESIA 202 (S D Robertson 72, M M Benkenstein 31; R W Hanley 3/49) and 306/7 dec (S D Robertson 32, M M Benkenstein 55, B F Davison 107, J H du Preez 36, P B Clift 32*). EASTERN PROVINCE 274/9 dec (S J Bezuidenhout 117, R K Muzzell 64; J H du Preez 3/75) and 210/7 (C P Wilkins 32, R G Pollock 75*, A M Short 31*; D A G Fletcher 5/87). Match drawn.

At Johannesburg; 31 January, 1, 3 February. RHODESIA 175 (K Tattersall 31, P R Carlstein 66, B F Davison 40; D R Neilson 5/39, J P D Flanagan 3/55) and 298/9 dec (M M Benkenstein 84, D A G Fletcher 49, H A B Gardiner 43; F C Adams 3/37). TRANSVAAL 210 (B L Irvine 44, N G Featherstone 48, J P D Flanagan 45; R D Jackman 4/60, P B Clift 3/48) and 97/9 (R D Jackman 3/23, J H du Preez 3/16). Match drawn.

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 22, 23, 24 February. RHODESIA 182/9 dec (S D Robertson 52, M M Benkenstein 33; D J Brickett 4/36) and 243 (S D Robertson 74, P R Carlstein 33; R W Hanley 3/70, J W Gleeson 6/63). EASTERN PROVINCE 158 (S J Bezuidenhout 48, C P Wilkins 59; D A G Fletcher 6/31, A J Traicos 4/27) and 166 (K S McEwan 48*; D A G Fletcher 5/61, A J Traicos 3/39). Rhodesia won by 101 runs.

GILLETTE CUP (60 overs)

At Bloemfontein, 19 October. RHODESIA 266/9 (60 overs) (J C Mitchell 30, B F Davison 102, D A G Fletcher 38, H A B Gardiner 38*; E Maree 4/47). ORANGE FREE STATE 161 (57 overs) (M A Buss 50, R A le Roux 36; A J Traicos 3/43). Rhodesia won by 105 runs.

At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 8 February. RHODESIA 275/7 (J C Mitchell 34, S D Robertson 100, B F Davison 65, D A G Fletcher 35*; V A P van der Bijl 3/42). NATAL 276/8 (B A Richards 38, H R Fothering-ham 90, D Bestall 60, G A Katz 36*; R D Jackman 3/55). Natal won by two wickets with five balls to spare.

It is intended in the future to produce full scorecards, and also much more information about all cricket in Rhodesia during this season. At present, the next entry in this section is for 1975/76