Whilst all eyes were on the action in the First Test in Harare a fortnight ago, Manicaland's own season got under way at Mutare Sports Club with the annual Casuals Junior Cricket festival. The event has been staged for over 30 years and draws young cricketers from around Zimbabwe. Participants are aged between 9 and 14 years and are graded into five balanced sides that play short matches in a weekend of intense rivalry. Originally named the Wilkenson Festival after its founder and long-time organiser Buddy Wilkenson, the festival has given an early stage to most of the big names in modern Zimbabwe cricket.

This year's festival was organized by local lawyer George Locke with support from members of Casuals Cricket Club. Bill Flower made a welcome return to Mutare, bringing a Harare junior Stragglers team to participate. His own kids Andy and Grant played in the festival 20 years ago.

This year's Cricketer of the Festival trophy was awarded to 14-year-old Kudakwashe Samunderu – another in the seemingly endless supply of talented black cricketers produced by Churchill school. Runner-up was local Hillcrest pupil Kuan Raath, a left-arm spinner/batsman of great potential. Cuan Taylor (son of current Casuals captain Billy) was named best junior schools player – a youngster with big leg-spinning potential. A special prize was awarded to Baring pupil John Hassan – a 10-year-old black orphan -- who gave the most energetic and spirited performance of the weekend.

Test umpire Kevan Barbour gave an entertaining final address in his capacity as guest of honour. Stressing the importance of fair play and team spirit in their future endeavours, he warned the children not to emulate the head-shakers and pouters of the game. Overly competitive parents, teachers and coaches were also singled out for diminishing the spirit of the game. In his umpiring experiences he cited Waqar Younis and Sachin Tendulkar as examples of the game's gentlemen. Far from being cowed by the magisterial tone, some parents were taking out a book on where the finger of blame might be pointing.

Turning to the Test series that finished last Tuesday against South Africa, many Zimbabweans must be wondering how the world's highest-rated batsman can be allowed to continue with the additional burden of wicket-keeping. Even if he wants to continue, Andy Flower should be stood down from the dual role forthwith. His batting talents cannot be further risked merely to allow the selectors to pick another (non-performing) batsman. A worthy successor in Tatenda Taibu can be chosen for all the right reasons now. The selection would free up the master batter and take some heat out of the politics. We shouldn't be guided by England's selection policies where players are considered immature until they have had their county benefit year.

Paul Strang's impish 37 not out in the Bulawayo Test was greatly enjoyed by his former Manicaland team-mates watching the box in Mutare. Tweaking the lion's tail has always been his pleasure and the contorted vein-popping anguish of Andre Nel watching his death balls flicked to the boundary was high theatre.

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