The Currie Cup tournament was not held during this season due to the M.C.C. touring team under the captaincy of Mike Smith. This was the last occasion on which the South African authorities would abandon the Currie Cup.

Rhodesia, preparing to return to the A Section of the Currie Cup in 1965/66, had an encouraging, although limited, season. They put up a sound performance against the M.C.C., but in the end a fine century by Bob Barber swung a fairly even match. The Englishmen were unspectacular but highly efficient, in contrast to the modern English teams. A friendly match against Natal followed; Rhodesia, confidence faltering, were completely outclassed on first innings, but some fine batting, especially by Ray Gripper, enabled them to escape with a creditable draw.

The season ended with two matches against the English county champions Worcestershire. In the first match, the Rhodesians were without Tony Pithey and Colin Bland, playing for South Africa in the Fifth Test against England, and batted dismally, slumping to a heavy defeat. Both were available for the second match, which showed a considerable change. Rhodesia's best batting came in the second innings, though, but they were able to bowl out Worcestershire cheaply and win the match.

Tony Pithey, in the course of the best season of his career, scored 385 runs in the three matches for which he was available for Rhodesia, averaging 96.25. Ray Gripper, with two centuries, scored 358 runs at an average of 51.14 in the four first-class matches. Colin Bland, although the first home batsman to score more than 1000 runs in a South African season, scored only 142 of these for Rhodesia.

Godfrey Lawrence was again the leading bowler, with 17 wickets at 21.11, followed by Joe Partridge, 14 at 28.07.

At Police Ground, Salisbury; 28, 29, 30 December. NATAL 537 (D Gamsy 129, G D Varnals 105, R A McLean 31, P R Carlstein 61, N S Crookes 68, C G Halse 35*; J H du Preez 4/129). RHODESIA 174 (R B Ullyett 46, D B Pithey 30, J H du Preez 53; J M Cole 5/48) and 311/2 (R A Gripper 153*, J D McPhun 43, R B Ullyett 34, A J Pithey 75*). Match drawn.

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 20, 21, 22 February. WORCESTERSHIRE 277 (M J Horton 41, T W Graveney 30, B L D'Oliveira 73, D N F Slade 64*; J T Partridge 3/74, G B Lawrence 6/61) and 161/5 dec (D Kenyon 63, R Booth 36*; J T Partridge 4/53). RHODESIA 82 (J A Flavell 3/38, L J Coldwell 5/18) and 160 (G B Lawrence 60*; J A Flavell 3/27, L J Coldwell 5/26). Worcestershire won by 196 runs.

At Police Ground, Salisbury; 27, 28 February, 1, 2 March. RHODESIA 235 (A J Pithey 98, E F Parker 45; J A Flavell 3/42) and 344/4 dec (R A Gripper 116, J D McPhun 61, A J Pithey 68*, K C Bland 62). WORCESTERSHIRE 308/6 dec (T W Graveney 136*, D N F Slade 58; G B Lawrence 3/44) and 115 (D Kenyon 37; V E J Dickinson 5/44, J H du Preez 5/36). Rhodesia won by 156 runs.

It is intended in the future to produce full scorecards, and also much more information about all cricket in Rhodesia during this season. At present, the next entry in this section is for 1965/66