What can be said after a week during which Zimbabwe suffered the greatest humiliation in their international history? 38 all out against Sri Lanka! In certain countries the players would be liable to stonings on their return or public effigy-hanging - or enquiries into match-fixing. Zimbabwean cricket-followers merely content themselves with sarcasm and verbal contempt.

Lowest ever ODI team total; fastest ever ODI defeat; best-ever ODI bowling figures. Since we do not have a reporter on the spot and no easy method of communication with the team, we know no more about the situation than any other reader who has read the match reports. But there seems to be no excuse adequate to cover this situation. The pitch does not seem to be a minefield; however well Chaminda Vaas bowled, it is totally unacceptable for the national side to be dismissed for just 38 runs.

At least the team redeemed themselves, in the eyes of many cricket-followers, by defeating West Indies in the following match. It is perhaps a comfort to know there is another international team capable of playing as appallingly as Zimbabwe. Match reports, however, spoke more of how badly West Indies played in that match rather than how well Zimbabwe played, so that 38 was evidently not quite the kick up the backside the team needed, as some thought. They played better than West Indies, but apparently still not particularly well.

Another predictable defeat to Sri Lanka followed, though this one was at least somewhat less humiliating. Nobody who knows the talents of the team can believe that this is the best they can do, even in the absence of several top players who are either injured or out of form. Why, then, do they so often under-perform, and so badly?

There are several possible factors. Ongoing hostilities between players, selectors and administrators; too much cricket in too many different countries without a break; a degree of inferiority complex against senior Test teams; lack of mental toughness (with the honourable exception of Andy Flower); low morale among Zimbabweans, especially the whites, in the current political situation in Zimbabwe, which includes fear for the future. These may all contribute, but if Andy Flower can overcome these distractions, why cannot the others?

ZIMBABWE A IN KENYA

Congratulations to Kenya for gaining their initial first-class victory, over Zimbabwe A, and then going on to win all three matches of the one-day series. Again, though, one suspects that this is not just to the credit of the opposition, but also to the detriment of the Zimbabwean team.

Zimbabwe A regularly play several Test and ODI players, yet they fail to overwhelm the B teams of South African provinces as they should in the UCBSA Bowl competition. They do win more often than not, but a team with that sort of talent and experience should be able to hammer South African provincial B teams out of sight - in fact, the opposing provincial teams are often without the 15 to 20 best players of their province, with 11 in their A team and in some cases several more on international duty. We should be seeing innings victories from our Board XI in that competition.

So perhaps it was not unexpected that they should struggle in Kenya, who are used to their home conditions. It would be a mistake to assume that Kenya are rapidly approaching Test quality on the basis of their victories, although that will be nice if it is the case. Undoubtedly they are progressing, and their wins over Zimbabwe A will give them extra confidence. But they will need to keep on winning against teams with more power than a disappointing Zimbabwe A.

Also in the past week, CricInfo has carried reports of Zimbabwe Under-19's convincing defeat at the hands of Natal Under-19 in a three-day match in Bulawayo. South African provincial teams at age-group level are generally able to pick up more experience of top-class cricket than their Zimbabwean counterparts, but it just adds to the depressed air that lies over Zimbabwe cricket at the moment.

THE MANCHESTER OF ZIMBABWE

I read an article on CricInfo by the controversial English writer Michael Henderson, who wrote about his visits to cities whose industrial prowess laid claim to titles of `the Manchester of India' and `the Manchester of Pakistan'.

I immediately wondered what centre could be labelled `the Manchester of Zimbabwe'. Mutare! Not because of industrial prowess, but because whenever a cricket match is staged for that beautiful little Eastern highlands city, it seems to rain. Remarkable to learn, then, that last Sunday only one national league club match was possible in the entire country - and that was in Mutare! One for the record books!

© Cricinfo