I was unaware until last week's ZCO had gone for publication of the date changes in matches that had affected the Zimbabwe fixture list. Not only has the venue for the match against Border B been changed, but it has also been put back a week (starting Friday 15 February) so the team can stay down south to fulfill their match against KwaZulu-Natal B a week later.

This of course messes up the Logan Cup programme, as provincial teams are not only bereft of their national players, in India, but also have to find replacements for those in the Board XI. Mashonaland in particular, with two teams to select, both of which must be mutually exclusive, are having selection problems.

At Midlands' request, their home match against Mashonaland A has been put back a week; the others will start this Friday, 15 February. Unfortunately CricInfo live coverage will not be possible, as the security situation in Zimbabwe is now such that it is unsafe even to travel by road, and CricInfo decided in these circumstances not to send their correspondents.

Below are the latest UCBSA Bowl tables. The Zimbabwe Board XI is in Pool B. They are under quite a bit of pressure if they are to finish top of the three-day log in particular, and their bowling bonus point figure hints at the reason for this. They have won two run chases, but they need to be able to bowl sides out if they are to win competitions played over a period of time.

UCB Bowl Tables 2001/02

Pool A

Three-day              P     W     L     D    Bat  Bowl    Pts
Western Province B     5     2     1     2  18.80    18  56.80
Boland B               6     2     0     4  16.60    18  54.60
Namibia                5     2     2     1  17.36    17  54.36
Griqualand West B      5     1     2     2  17.04    18  45.04
Free State B           5     1     0     4  18.62    16  44.62
Eastern Province B     5     1     1     3  16.82    17  43.82
KZN Inland             5     0     3     2  11.02    12  23.02

Points deducted for slow over-rates: None

                                                   Bonus
One-day                P     W     L  Tied    NR    Pts   Pts   NRR
Western Province B     5     4     0     0     1      0    18  0.33
Free State B           5     3     1     0     1      3    17  1.96
Boland B               6     4     2     0     0      0    16  0.19
Namibia                5     3     2     0     0      1    13  0.61
Eastern Province B     5     2     3     0     0      0     8 -0.67
Griqualand West B      5     1     4     0     0      0     4 -0.44
KZN Inland             5     0     5     0     0      0     0 -1.32

Pool B

Three-day              P     W     L     D    Bat  Bowl    Pts
KwaZulu-Natal B        5     2     0     3  16.36    17  53.36
Northerns B            5     2     0     3  17.70    11  48.70
Zimbabwe Board XI      4     2     0     2  13.40     8  41.40
Easterns B             5     1     1     3  13.08    13  36.08
North West B           5     0     1     4  15.28    12  27.28
Gauteng B              5     0     3     2  13.68    13  26.68
Border B               5     0     2     3   8.10    15  23.10

Points deducted for slow over-rates: None

                                                   Bonus
One-day                P     W     L  Tied    NR    Pts   Pts   NRR
Border B               5     3     1     0     1      2    16  0.18
Zimbabwe Board XI      4     3     0     0     1      0    14  0.38
Northerns B            5     2     1     0     2      1    13  0.77
North West B           5     2     2     0     1      0    10 -0.07
Easterns B             5     2     3     0     0      1     9  0.08
Gauteng B              5     2     3     0     0      1     9 -0.13
KwaZulu-Natal B        5     0     4     0     1      0     2 -0.92


Supplied by Andrew Samson
Official Statistician of the United Cricket Board of South Africa

Probably the main talking point of the Zimbabwe team to India was the omission of Hamilton Masakadza, debut Test centurion against West Indies a few months ago. Masakadza has actually suffered a severe loss of form and confidence recently; he found it hard to adjust in Sri Lanka and scored few runs in the Under-19 World Cup. The selectors therefore decided he would benefit more from staying at home to play for the Board XI and in the Logan Cup.

Otherwise the return of Alistair Campbell, obvious on grounds of form, has been most noted, but Guy Whittall, now Board XI captain, remains on the bench. Former Board XI captain Pommie Mbangwa has finally been remembered and returns to the side after being omitted for over a year, a straight replacement for the unlucky Gary Brent. Bryan Strang might well have got the nod again had he not grown disenchanted and retired from Zimbabwe cricket – not a great man-management coup from those responsible. As Mbangwa and others will agree, players left out need to be encouraged, not ignored.

Tatenda Taibu, who did so well at the Under-19 World Cup after a dismal time in Sri Lanka, returns, but as understudy to Andy Flower his role will be limited, unless he does well enough to earn selection as a specialist batsman. That did not work in Sri Lanka.

Brighton Watambwa returns, a straight replacement for Henry Olonga, who has not had one of his glory days for many a moon now. Raymond Price comes into the team, so at last we have a specialist spinner, but only one. Doug Marillier was rather surprisingly dropped, so Price will have only Grant Flower to back him up regularly in the spin department.

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