Monday 28th May sees the start of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union's great winter experiment when India play Zimbabwe A at Mutare Sports Club. Never before has Zimbabwe seen first-class cricket in the off-season. Mutare's pipe opener precedes Test and one-day series with both India and the West Indies in the next few weeks.

The Indians have never played at this end of the country and will need their wits about them, particularly when fielding on Mutare Sports Club's hard, bumpy outfield. The local administrators are holding their breath that no late-season rain interferes, as the new covers planned for the pitch have not yet been purchased.

Despite this, regular visitors to the ground will notice plenty of new developments. The old timber shack score-box that suffered at the hands of Cyclone Eline last year has been pulled down and replaced by a grander, timber "media center". Care has been taken to ensure that this new edifice is not in the path of any falling trees. The men's changing rooms have been renovated, the toilets given smart new pine seats and the basement showers upgraded. The dining room has been partitioned and a new mobile metal scoreboard has been built.

New full-time groundsman Joel Muzeya and his small work force have been working feverishly for the last few weeks getting the field prepared. Joel was formerly the high-density schools coach and this game will be his first major test. It's envisaged that he will divide his time between the ground and coaching next season. It is hoped to send him to local Test venues to understudy professional groundsmen as they prepare for Test matches later this year.

The farmers' league got under way last Sunday with Makoni hosting Ruzawi River at Rusape Sports Club. Having unilaterally withdrawn from the competition last year, they re-entered this year after realizing how much they missed it. Nigel Hough in his third season as captain has at his disposal no fewer than four golden oldies with first-class experience. As well as himself, there is batting to follow in Kenyon Ziehl and Kevin Curran with Terry Coughlan to bowl leg-spin. Northamptonshire's ex-skipper Curran has been managing the family farm recently, but hasn't played cricket for over two years.

In a competitive but mostly friendly league, each side bats for 50 overs whilst bowlers are limited to 10 overs per man. That's where the similarity with one-day internationals ends as field placements, wides and bouncers are played to normal cricket rules. Official umpires are rarely seen, wives keep the score and tea and lunch breaks follow timeworn traditions.

Batting first, Ruzawi River only managed 178/9 with Ian Duvenage hitting 67. Zeihl mopped up the tail with 3/17. In reply Makoni coasted home to 180/5 with two overs to spare. Young Richie Blyth-Wood hit 30 at the top of the order; Curran added 56 not out whilst Hough in his normal restrained fashion whipped 38 not out off 20 balls.

© ZCU