The script was quite predictable – four straight losses to Zimbabwe in Sharjah. The way the team was playing, it was clear that any victory would probably only come as the result of either a monumental individual performance by a Zimbabwean or a suicidal team performance by the opposition. Neither happened, so we got rolled.

But the team did have its moments. The bowling, on the whole, was better than it had been against South Africa or England, and this was the main improvement. The batting was again just not up to the task. One of the commentators mentioned how the fielding was patchy, in contrast to the proud reputation Zimbabwe had in the past. This has been a problem for some time, and perhaps it is in this area that rehabilitation of the national side should start.

The attitude before the 1983 World Cup, Zimbabwe's first appearance in official international cricket, was, "We may not be able to match the opposition in our batting or our bowling, but we can certainly match them in the field." So they did. But that is the case no longer. Zimbabwe is no longer challenging for the unofficial title of the best fielding side in the world. That we can do – if the will is there.

We did have our moments in the final one-day international against Pakistan. Superb batting by Andy and Grant Flower took Zimbabwe to a position where at one stage just over 100 runs were needed at less than six an over with eight wickets in hand. Then Wasim Akram, as he has done so often, swung the match for Pakistan. Andy got out, immediately followed by Dion Ebrahim.

Zimbabwe were still in with a chance as long as Grant Flower, with 91, was still there. Then he fell victim to what I have for years considered to be the most unfair law in cricket. His partner drove a ball back down the pitch and it flicked the bowler's finger before crashing into the stumps the far end with Grant out of his crease. He was tragically and unfairly run out, and that was the end of Zimbabwe's hopes. The remaining batsmen lacked the experience to finish the job.

I can see no justification for this mode of dismissal whatever. There is no direct skill involved on the part of the bowler; quite the reverse, in fact, as he is trying to stop the ball and fails to do so cleanly. There is no error on the part of the batsman; quite the reverse, in that he is doing his job by backing up properly. It is a matter of sheer bad luck, and as far as possible that should give way to skill in cricket. The balance of many a match has been altered by such a misfortune.

The solution to my mind is simple: the batsman should be given not out unless the umpire is certain that the bowler was deliberately effecting a run-out. I cannot remember an instance where this was not clear, so it should not be an additional burden on the umpires. Other laws have been amended, so why not this one? It happens fairly regularly, so it is not a case of a freak dismissal that is so rare as to be not worth considering. It is an unfair law that should be altered.

This week we welcome on board Mike Hudgson, Midlands' scorer and our new correspondent from that area. We also include an interview with Trevor Penney as the Board XI take off for the renowned metropolis of Fochville in South Africa to play North West, beginning their quest for inclusion in the SuperSport series next year.

NEWS ITEMS

The Zimbabwe side was expected to fly from Sharjah to Bangladesh on the morning of Thursday 1 November, to begin their tour there, which includes series of two Test matches and three one-day internationals. Coach Geoff Marsh was keen to have his team arriving there as quickly as possible to give them the best chance of acclimatizing.

Congratulations to left-arm spinner Raymond Price who, immediately after the three-day match for the Board XI against North West, will fly to Bangladesh to join the team. He has also recently announced his engagement to Julie, daughter of international umpire Kevan Barbour.

It appears that the Bangladesh Tests will be the first ones that Alistair Campbell will miss for Zimbabwe, as there is at present no sign that the selectors want him there, although it will probably be a different story for Sri Lanka and India. This means that, yet again, Zimbabwe will need to find another opening pair. No doubt Dion Ebrahim will continue to open, with presumably Trevor Gripper, or perhaps Grant Flower or Doug Marillier, promoted to open with him.

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