The ninth issue of this magazine comes out as the Zimbabwe team begin their programme in the triangular tournament in South Africa, which also involves England. Zimbabwe's prospects were previewed in our last issue.

South Africa are obviously strong favourites to win the

tournament, as they would be against any other country in the world except Australia. They rarely have a bad day, and it is their consistency as much as anything else that is their strength. Zimbabwe and England, in contrast, are both unpredictable. In the recent five-Test series between South Africa and England, England lost convincingly the two Tests in which they played badly, but held their own in the others. Zimbabwe this season have unfortunately been more predictable than usual, being usually defeated. The team is probably under pressure right now as all their supports wait to see whether they really have maintained the improvement shown at the end of the Sri Lankan tour.

On recent form, England have had more good days than Zimbabwe

and will expect to be finalists with South Africa. In the next month there will be no fewer than seven one-day internationals between Zimbabwe and England, which could radically alter the 5-2 advantage Zimbabwe hold in the seven matches the two countries have played so far over the past eight years. Zimbabwe will want to hold on to that advantage, while England will be desperate to put things right, from their point of view. The cricket will be very competitive, and Zimbabwe will expect to have the South African crowds supporting them, as they did in their last triangular tournament there three years ago.

Self-confidence, according to Ravi Shastri and others, is the

key to Zimbabwe's success, especially in a tight situation. Zimbabwean society is such, though, that genuine self-confidence, of the right kind, is somewhat rare. The success of the Australians is due in no small measure to their brash self-confidence, as was clear in the World Cup when they twice beat South Africa in vital matches, holding their nerve while South Africa cracked. Zimbabweans, as a rule, tend to allow too many negative, defeatist thoughts into their cricket, and other areas of life as well. Cricket is a psychological battle, played in the mind, as has been said often enough before.

The English too tend to lack self-confidence at times,

especially in recent years. South African cricket before Eddie Barlow suffered from the same problem, but since then they have scarcely looked back, although they have not yet reached the same level as the Australians. Self-confidence can become arrogance, however, as several leading West Indians will testify has happened to their Test team and been responsible for their spectacular crash from the heights.

Self-confidence cannot be mastered quickly, and it does not

help when the public are quick to deride the failures of the national side, as happens very readily in both Zimbabwe and England. Perhaps it is better simply to ignore defeat and virtually pretend it didn't happen, as the Australians tend to do. Dwelling on defeat leads to expectations of further defeats, by players and public alike. Zimbabweans at times cannot seem to get over the fact that they live in a small country with a small population base, which leads to unjustified feelings of inferiority when facing major opponents. On the other hand, when the team loses to these opponents, many supporters condemn the team for supposed lack of quality. The truth is that we have a remarkably capable side considering our small resources, and can at times defeat the best in the world, as was shown against South Africa in the World Cup.

That World Cup victory should have been a watershed, an

inspiration to the team that would have enabled it to play with enough self-confidence to win matches and series more regularly. Instead, unaccountably, the team has never played remotely as well again. Even before facing Australia and South Africa indifficult conditions, they played well below their potential in the Super Six and the tournaments in Singapore and Kenya. There has been much speculation as to the reasons for this, but no definitive answers. The fact just remains that confidence is the key, and when our players are thinking sufficiently positively, when they have convinced themselves that they are good enough to beat anybody, that is when they will start doing it.

Last time they visited South Africa, Zimbabwe more than once

gave the hosts 'a hell of a fright', but were beaten in the end each time after a hard tussle. There was enough confidence to do well, but not enough to win. Realistically, after recent experiences, that is perhaps the best we can hope for, maybe even against England, this time. Doing consistently well, fighting consistently hard, can eventually be a platform for more tangible success.

Andy Flower's views on the Sri Lankans, published here in issue

3, were popular among our readers, so in this issue we include his views on playing South Africa. In our next issue he will discuss England. Andy is one player who has his mind right and has an adequate estimation of his own ability, in any situation and against any opponent. The oldest regular player in the side, he expects to be around for some time yet. He may not have the personal charisma of Eddie Barlow, which is rare indeed, but his total professionalism and quiet self-confidence make him the ideal role model, and not only for the young.

Our other player interview is with pace bowler Dan Rowett, who

played for the national side as long as 1993 but, due largely to circumstances beyond his control, has yet to play full international cricket. He still hopes to, quite realistically. He has been turning in good club performances this season, although he will not play again before April, and this was what prompted us to find out more about the man.