LETTERS

Write to: John Ward (jward@cricinfo.com)

I am a 24-year-old Aussie and have been a huge fan and admirer of the Zimbabwe national team ever since they toured Australia in 1992. They played NSW Country in my home town of Dubbo on Boxing Day that year and it was a big event for Dubbo with a huge crowd turning up to see Zimbabwe win easily. The players were very friendly and really enjoyed Dubbo.

I also had the pleasure of watching Zimbabwe play Australia in a one-day international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Australia Day 2001. Since 1992 I have followed Zimbabwe very closely and they are without doubt my favourite team. In my opinion Andy Flower is the finest batsmen in the world and is one of the most naturally gifted players I have ever seen. The current team looks to be unearthing some good young players in Dion Ebrahim and Mluleki Nkala and, as everyone knows, Zimbabwe can beat anyone on their day.

I love watching any game we get of Zimbabwe on Pay television over here in Australia and my dream is one day to tour Zimbabwe while Australia are touring there and visit Harare, Bulawayo and maybe even Mutare and Kwekwe, which may have international standard grounds by then. Hopefully when the current political situation settles down a little I will be able to do that.

The Logan Cup seems to be doing very well this year and the spreading of players around the teams is a great initiative. Good to see Midlands do so well against Mashonaland on the weekend. Manicaland are also putting in good performances so far. Mashonaland seem to be similar to NSW over here. So many good players leave or are put in other teams (in Mashonaland's case) because they cannot get a start and then they go on to perform very well with the states or sides they go to. I guess it is good because our Pura Cup is a very strong and even competition. My best mate opens the bowling for NSW, Don Nash, and he also opened the bowling with Brett Lee for the Australian Under-19 team that toured Pakistan six years ago.

Have just read your story on the first Test squad. Looks very strong and good to see so many youngsters in the team, looking to the future. I am especially glad to see Sean Ervine in the squad; I have followed him for a while now and he really does look to be a very classy player. Good decision I think to make Campbell captain; the extra responsibility will be good for him and take a bit off the shoulders of the great Andy Flower. I often wonder if Andy was Australian, he truly would be EVEN greater than he is now with all the extra exposure cricket players receive here in Oz, I still do not think people realize how good he is. A player I would really love to see back for Zimbabwe is Pommie Mbangwa. I believe he is a fine bowler but has fallen away in recent seasons in the selectors' eyes.

I think Zimbabwe have a real chance of beating Pakistan in the Test and one-day series and it would give Zimbabwe cricket a real boost. Would love to see Zimbabwe get to the final six in the World Cup like they did four years ago. Another famous victory over South Africa again would also come in very handy.

Keep up all your good work with the official Zimbabwe Web Site and Zimbabwe On-Line. You really are delivering a great service to all the loyal Zimbabwe cricket fans throughout the world.

Michael Shepherd (Australia)

I was wondering, who would you tip as being a part of the Zimbabwe Test and One Day series coming up against Pakistan next month? Do you think any players will make their first appearances for Zimbabwe or if anyone will be recalled to the national sides at all? Surely Evans will be looked at for the Test squad and also Blignaut.

Adam Pfeiffer (Australia)

Reply: The squad for the First Test has just been announced, and Blignaut is back, and several players are in with a chance of a first appearance, although perhaps only one or two will actually play. Evans may well be in the one-day squad, though.

Andy has grown from a seed to a very pretty Flower in the game over the decade. I wear that A.Flower 33 shirt in the Isle Of Man the same way a kid in New York wears a Patrick Ewing 33 Nicks shirt or the way people wear the popular number 7 David Beckham shirt.

Anele Bango (Zimbabwe)

It could have been a script for a best seller. A young nation registering its first ever Test win and that too by the biggest victory margin by any nation whilst recording its maiden triumph, a debutant no-balled for throwing, a world-class team rocked by controversies, bribery charges on their skipper, the latter charging a local umpire for ball-tampering and a series balanced on a knife's edge.

Pakistan held their nerve and became only the third team to come back from 0-1 down to win a three-Test series. And it was all happening in the most unlikely of places - Zimbabwe. It was Pakistan's first-ever Test tour of Zimbabwe and it produced bowlers like Streak and Nazir.

In their second tour Pakistan just managed to win the series. In the First Test Streak and P. Strang could not close things out and in the Second Test the ninth-wicket partnership of 147 by Mohammad Waseem and Mushtaq was the turning point.

This time the series produced batsmen - Goodwin and Youhana. Now it's their third tour and that's why I'm very excited. I'll be on the edge of my seat to watch the battle between Andy Flower and Saqlain, Waqar and Campbell, Price and Inzamam. I can't wait and longer.

Dr Situ Phalswal (India)

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