This was an exciting season for Zimbabwean cricket, and it was played with a view to preparing the players for the World Cup competition in England during the 1983 season. The ZCU could not have done a better job in securing two outstanding touring teams in the full Sri Lankan Test team, captained by Duleep Mendis, and the Young Australian side, under Dirk Wellham. Both provided Zimbabwe with just the quality of cricket it needed. Again it was noticeable how Zimbabwe improved during the course of these tours and finished much more strongly than they began.

Two first-class matches were played against both teams, whereas three had been normal in the past; there was a greater emphasis placed on one-day cricket, with the World Cup in view. In retrospect, this began a decline in interest in first-class cricket in Zimbabwe which has never been revived, and also led to a decline in performance in the longer matches which was never properly arrested until Zimbabwe gained full Test status in 1992.

The first match against Sri Lanka was a fairly well-balanced draw, on a fine batting pitch in Bulawayo. However, Zimbabwe now felt they had the measure of their opponents, and played magnificent all-round cricket in Harare to rout their Test-playing opponents by an innings. The Sri Lankans collapsed under pressure and scarcely put up a fight. In the two one-day matches, Sri Lanka narrowly won the first, but Zimbabwe came back to win the second convincingly.

The Young Australians, underestimated before their arrival, introduced a completely new dimension of cricket to the Zimbabweans. They were fiercely and aggressively competitive and, although their aggression rarely led to unacceptable behaviour, the Zimbabweans at first did not know how to cope with this. They were overwhelmed by an innings in the opening first-class match, but, after collapsing in the first innings in the second match, they fought back superbly to level the series. Their wins over Sri Lanka and the Young Australians were two of Zimbabwe's finest victories. The three-match one-day series began with a narrow victory on scoring rate to Young Australia, followed by a washout. After Zimbabwe had put themselves in a good position in the final match, a crucial dropped catch allowed Wayne Phillips to record a fine century and the Australians to win the match and the series.

Andy Pycroft continued his outstanding form in first-class cricket, although he was less productive in one-day cricket. In the four matches he scored 385 runs at an average of 55; never before had a batsman from this country averaged above 50 in three successive seasons. Dave Houghton, who also claimed 13 victims as wicket-keeper, scored 295 runs at an average of 42.14, but the surprise packet as a batsman was the left-handed opener Ali Shah (his official surname is Omarshah). Playing only against the Australians, by sheer guts and determination he overcame technical deficiencies to become the batting hero of Zimbabwe's victory. In his two matches he scored 215 runs (average 53.75), but sadly was never again to show such form. No other Zimbabwe batsman exceeded 200 first-class runs. For Jack Heron, it was a final first-class season, as he quietly faded out after the World Cup and later emigrated to Australia.

Peter Rawson, in his first home season, made an outstanding impression. He began with six wickets against Sri Lanka on the perfect batting pitch in Bulawayo, and finished with thirteen in the victory over Young Australia. He was the one Zimbabwean whose overt yet controlled aggression on the field matched that of the Australians, who nicknamed him 'Crazy Horse'. His 25 wickets in four matches came at an average cost of l6.04. John Traicos, the sole spinner in the team with the retirement of Richie Kaschula, took 14 wickets at an average of 23.78. Vince Hogg was not as consistent as the previous season, although he took eight cheap wickets in the victory over Sri Lanka; he took 10 wickets at an average of 23.10.

A 16-year-old named Graeme Hick played his first representative match for Zimbabwe Colts in a disastrous opening match against the Young Australians. The pace and hostility of Mike Whitney was so much greater than he had previously experienced that he was unable to see the ball and was quickly out without scoring. Such was his potential that he was included in the team to tour England, although he did not play in the World Cup.

Zimbabwe put a tremendous amount of preparation into their 1983 World Cup, and thus managed to find form and confidence before the tournament actually began. They lost a warm-up match against Sri Lanka, but then beat Pakistan; neither of these teams were in their group, which consisted of Australia, India and West Indies besides Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe caused a major shock by defeating Australia, who included such players as Kim Hughes, Kepler Wessels, Allan Border, Rodney Marsh, Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, in their first match. They had India reeling at 17 for five at one stage in their second meeting, only for Kapil Dev to play the innings of a lifetime and secure a victory which eventually made possible their World Cup win. They were no match for West Indies, though, but had every reason to take a pride in their fine performances during the tournament.

Kevin Curran, developing rapidly as an all-rounder, scored most runs (212, at 35.33), in the tournament, followed by Duncan Fletcher (191 at 47.75). This was remarkable as they batted at six and seven in the order, but frequently had to atone for the failures of those higher in the order. Dave Houghton (176 at 29.33) was the only other batsman to exceed 100 runs. Peter Rawson was the leading bowler, with 8 wickets at 29.87, followed by Fletcher (7 at 31.57).

SRI LANKAN TOUR

(50 overs) At Harare South Country Club; 27 October. ZIMBABWE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 213/9 (R D Brown 65, I P Butchart 66). SRI LANKANS 214/3 (R L Dias 102*, L R D Mendis 50). Sri Lankans won by seven wickets.

(1st ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 30 October. ZIMBABWE 196/6 (J G Heron 35, K M Curran 59, D A G Fletcher 45). SRI LANKA 197/7 (L R D Mendis 53, R S Madugalle 46). Sri Lanka won by three wickets.

(2nd ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 31 October. SRI LANKA 161 (S Wettimuny 42, S Jeganathan 36; D A G Fletcher 3/24). ZIMBABWE 162/4 (A J Pycroft 50, D A G Fletcher 60*; V B John 3/22). Zimbabwe won by six wickets.

(50 overs) At Mutare; 3 November. SRI LANKANS 284/6 (L R D Mendis 87). ZIMBABWE SELECT XI 118. Sri Lankans won by 166 runs.

At Queens Sports Club; 5, 6, 7, 8 November. ZIMBABWE 416 (D L Houghton 45, K M Curran 96, A J Pycroft 128, C A T Hodgson 40, A J Traicos 32*; R J Ratnayake 4/79, S Jeganathan 3/72) and 221/6 dec (D L Houghton 77, A J Pycroft 81). SRI LANKA 335 (M D Wettimuny 55, R L Dias 85, L R D Mendis 42, A L F de Mel 35, R G de Alwis 40; P W E Rawson 6/82) and 126/2 (R L Dias 61*). Match drawn.

(50 overs) At Triangle Country Club; 10 November. ZIMBABWE SELECT XI 165/9. SRI LANKANS 169/5. Sri Lankans won by five wickets.

At Harare Sports Club; 12, 13, 14 November. ZIMBABWE 365 (D L Houghton 50, J G Heron 72, A J Pycroft 96, P W E Rawson 63*; S Jeganathan 3/74, D S de Silva 4/145). SRI LANKA 104 (D A G Fletcher 3/20, K M Curran 4/24) and 221 (M D Wettimuny 38, L R D Mendis 67, D S de Silva 37*, R J Ratnayake 47; V R Hogg 6/26). Zimbabwe won by an innings and 40 runs.

YOUNG AUSTRALIAN TOUR

At Harare Sports Club; 30 March. YOUNG AUSTRALIANS 164/4 (G Shipperd 75*). ZIMBABWE COLTS 43 (R J McCurdy 3/4, K H MacLeay 3/10). Young Australians won by 121 runs.

At Harare Sports Club; 1, 2, 3, 4 April. YOUNG AUSTRALIA 408 (W B Phillips 58, D C Boon 148, G M Ritchie 69, K H MacLeay 31; A J Traicos 5/103, P W E Rawson 3/92). ZIMBABWE 164 (A H Omarshah 42, A J Pycroft 33; R J McCurdy 4/40) and 190 (A H Omarshah 55, D L Houghton 55; M R Whitney 5/29). Young Australia won by an innings and 55 runs.

(50 overs) At Mutare Sports Club; 6 April. YOUNG AUSTRALIA 236/5 (G Shipperd 49, D M Jones 66). ZIMBABWE COLTS 214 (G A Paterson 47, K M Curran 46). Young Australians won by 22 runs.

(1st ODI) At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 9 April. ZIMBABWE 234/8 (D A G Fletcher 79, D L Houghton 36). YOUNG AUSTRALIA 222/6 (46.4 overs) (W B Phillips 75, D C Boon 65*). Young Australia won on faster scoring rate.

(2nd ODI) At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 10 April. Match abandoned without a ball being bowled (rain).

(50 overs) At Harare South Country Club; 12 April. YOUNG AUSTRALIANS 242/5 (R B Kerr 58, G Shipperd 67, D C Boon 53). ZIMBABWE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 105 (M A J Seager 31; P A Blizzard 4/7, M J Bennett 4/15). Young Australia won by 137 runs.

At Harare Sports Club; 14, 15, 16 April. ZIMBABWE 127 (D A G Fletcher 44; R J McCurdy 4/37, K H MacLeay 3/27) and 308/9 dec (A H Omarshah 105, A J Pycroft 35, D A G Fletcher 56, I P Butchart 48*; R J McCurdy 4/75, M R Whitney 3/62). YOUNG AUSTRALIA 126 (P W E Rawson 7/55, A J Traicos 3/22) and 216 (D C Boon 108, M J Bennett 35; P W E Rawson 6/88, A J Traicos 3/44). Zimbabwe won by 93 runs.

(3rd ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 17 April. ZIMBABWE 242/7 (J G Heron 82, A H Omarshah 68, D L Houghton 32; K H MacLeay 4/52). YOUNG AUSTRALIANS 246/4 (W B Phillips 135). Young Australians won by six wickets.

TOUR OF ENGLAND 1983

At Derby; 25 May. DERBYSHIRE 201/7 (I S Anderson 74). ZIMBABWEANS 91. Derbyshire won by 110 runs.

At Birmingham; 26 May. ZIMBABWEANS 175/8 (G A Hick 52, K M Curran 40*). BIRMINGHAM LEAGUE XI 85 (I P Butchart 4/25). Zimbabweans won by 90 runs.

At Bedford; 30 May. ZIMBABWEANS 164/9 (R D Brown 44, D L Houghton 46). MINOR COUNTIES XI 108 (P W E Rawson 4/10). Zimbabweans won by 56 runs.

At Bedford; 31 May. MINOR COUNTIES XI 178/9. ZIMBABWEANS 62/1. Match drawn (rain).

At Cambridge; 3 June. ZIMBABWE 72 (A L F de Mel 5/13). SRI LANKA 73/2. Sri Lanka won by eight wickets.

At Leicester; 5 June. LEICESTERSHIRE 257/5 (B F Davison 132). ZIMBABWEANS 235. Leicestershire won by 22 runs.

At Uxbridge; 7 June. PAKISTAN 264/7 (Zaheer Abbas 53, Imran Khan 53, Ejaz Fakih 40*). ZIMBABWE 266/5 (J G Heron 92, A J Pycroft 77, D L Houghton 46*). Zimbabwe won by five wickets.

WORLD CUP COMPETITION (all matches scheduled for 60 overs)

At Nottingham; 9 June. ZIMBABWE 239/6 (D A G Fletcher 69*, I P Butchart 34*). AUSTRALIA 226/7 (G M Wood 31, K C Wessels 76, R W Marsh 50*; D A G Fletcher 4/42). Zimbabwe won by 13 runs.

At Leicester; 11 June. ZIMBABWE 155 (S Madan Lal 3/27). INDIA 157/5 (M Amarnath 44, S M Patil 50). India won by five wickets.

At Worcester; 13 June. ZIMBABWE 217/7 (D L Houghton 54, D A G Fletcher 71*; A M E Roberts 3/36). WEST INDIES 218/2 (C G Greenidge 105*, H A Gomes 75*). West Indies won by eight wickets.

At Southampton; 16 June. AUSTRALIA 272/7 (G M Wood 73, K J Hughes 31, A R Border 43, R W Marsh 35*). ZIMBABWE 240 (R D Brown 38, D L Houghton 84, K M Curran 35; R M Hogg 3/40, T M Chappell 3/47). Australia won by 32 runs.

At Tunbridge Wells; 18 June. INDIA 266/8 (Kapil Dev 175*; P W E Rawson 3/47, K M Curran 3/65). ZIMBABWE 235 (R D Brown 35, K M Curran 73; S Madan Lal 3/42). India won by 31 runs.

At Birmingham; 20 June. ZIMBABWE 171 (K M Curran 62; W W Daniel 3/28, I V A Richards 3/41). WEST INDIES 172/0 (D L Haynes 88*, S F A F Bacchus 80*). West Indies won by eight wickets.

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 1983/84