With the country in a state of political transition and Bishop Abel Muzorewa as prime minister, this was to be Rhodesia's final season in the Currie Cup. The official name of the country was now Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, but for the sake of simplicity it will be referred to in this article simply as Rhodesia. The bush war was still raging and the cricketers had to play under the same conditions of uncertainty and frequent army call-ups as before. Consequently the cricket team suffered another unsuccessful season and only avoided bottom place in the Currie Cup due to the promotion to the A Section, at long last, of Northern Transvaal.

The richly talented team of the early seventies continued to disintegrate. This was the final first-class season of Stuart Robertson and Jackie du Preez, and Paddy Clift and Robin Jackman were not to return after independence, in April 1980. Brian Davison had already emigrated to Australia, having set up a record for the most runs scored for Rhodesia in first-class cricket, but with an average markedly inferior to his record for Leicestershire. The only survivors from the early seventies were to be Duncan Fletcher and Richie Kaschula, who made another comeback to the team. Fletcher was appointed captain for the season, replacing Jack Heron, for reasons that were never properly explained.

The season began with a friendly match at home against Border, which was subsequently and belatedly denied first-class status by the SACU. This was particularly unfortunate for two players: Tommy Dunk, who was deprived of his maiden first-class century, and Richie Kaschula, who was deprived of the honour of becoming the first Rhodesian to take a first-class hat-trick. It also deprived the brilliant Prince Edward schoolboy batsman Kevin Arnott from making an excellent first-class debut.

Rhodesia began their Currie Cup game with a victory at home against Northern Transvaal, but they had to fight for it, after being behind on first innings. Then came defeat by Transvaal. Their southern tour came in two parts, bringing heavy defeat by Transvaal, a narrow escape in Natal, and two encouragingly well-fought draws, against Eastern Province and Northern Transvaal. But the team closed this particular era in history at home with two feeble performances and humiliating defeats at the hands of Natal and Eastern Province.

Once again the batting frequently let the team down. It was more often than not held together by the young left-hander Rob Bentley, who was sadly to be lost to the country shortly after independence; he scored 578 runs at an average of 36.12. Tommy Dunk at last broke through with some significant performances in the A Section, his 446 runs averaging 34.30. Duncan Fletcher had a fine all-round season and, despite putting himself in the lower middle order, scored 416 runs at 27.73. No other batsman made much impact, Jack Heron having a particularly poor season, and Stuart Robertson missed most of his final season with injury.

The bowling rested mainly on two performers. Richie Kaschula, sometimes used as a spinner with the new ball by Fletcher in the absence of a strong pace-bowling attack, returned to the side to take 32 wickets at an average of 26.62. Paddy Clift, although handicapped by being forced to take the new ball in early matches, took 29 at 29.72. They both bowled more than twice as many overs as any other bowler, although Fletcher also had a good return of 18 wickets at 25.83. James Carse by the end of the season was developing into a promising pace bowler, despite being very erratic. Unfortunately, he emigrated to South Africa at Independence.

Dave Houghton kept wicket well for most of the season, but was still struggling for runs at this stage of his career. A newcomer to the team was Andy Pycroft, returning to the country after completing his degree at the University of Cape Town, but his first season was a nightmare. Barry Dudleston played in two matches as the overseas professional, but failed to regain his form; he was replaced by Robin Jackman for two matches, who in turn was replaced by Grahame Clinton of Surrey in an unsuccessful attempt to strengthen the batting.

Rhodesia also suffered a humiliating exit from the Datsun Shield, beaten by Transvaal B, although they did suffer the worst of a poor pitch. The B team in the Castle Bowl fared poorly until they came back in the final match, after being behind on first innings, to beat Griqualand West and so managed to escape bottom place on the table.

Overall it was a disappointing, but perhaps predictable, departure from the South African cricket; as Zimbabwe, the country would now be open to cricket and cricketers from all over the world, but the future was completely unpredictable.

CURRIE CUP TABLE, 1979/80
           Bonus Points
                           P     W    L    D    Bat  Bowl Penalty Points
                               (10)
Transvaal                  8     6    -    2     38    33     -     131
Western Province           8     4    1    3     34    32     3     103
Natal                      8     3    3    2     24    33     6      81
Eastern Province           8     3    3    2     19    30     3      76
RHODESIA                   8     1    3    4     11    35     -      56
Northern Transvaal         8     -    6    2      7    30     3      34

(Friendly; not first-class) At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 29, 30 September, 1 October. RHODESIA 352/4 dec (T W Dunk 114*, K J Arnott 73, J G Heron 52, P J Allan 36, P B Clift 35, R M Bentley 35*) and 210/8 dec (P J Allan 50, D A G Fletcher 50, D L Houghton 31). BORDER 173 (R D Jackman 3/48, R H Kaschula 4/28 including hat-trick) and 157 (R D Jackman 5/58, R H Kaschula 3/8). Rhodesia won by 232 runs.

At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 26, 27, 28 October. NORTHERN TRANSVAAL 267 (R C Ontong 60, G Jones 31, H Raath 51*) and 239 (H Raath 36, G Jones 30; R H Kaschula 3/74, B Dudleston 3/57). RHODESIA 224 (T W Dunk 51, B Dudleston 36, R D Brown 38; P H L Wilson 3/79, H Raath 4/34) and 283/7 (R D Brown 89, R M Bentley 30, D A G Fletcher 68; P H L Wilson 3/28). Rhodesia won by three wickets.

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 3, 4, 5 November. TRANSVAAL 291/9 dec (R V Jennings 31, R G Pollock 40, K A McKenzie 79, A J Kourie 53; R H Kaschula 4/74, D A G Fletcher 4/82) and 209/5 dec (D D Dyer 58, R V Jennings 70, R G Pollock 41*; P B Clift 3/83). RHODESIA 226 (T W Dunk 35, R D Brown 68, D L Houghton 38; D R Neilson 3/12) and 192 (J G Heron 59, D A G Fletcher 39; R W Hanley 6/52). Transvaal won by 83 runs.

At Johannesburg; 26, 27, 28 December. RHODESIA 121 (C E B Rice 3/25) and 183 (R M Bentley 51, D A G Fletcher 36; A J Kourie 3/79). TRANSVAAL 338/7 dec (D D Dyer 50, H R Fotheringham 127, R G Pollock 47, R V Jennings 39*, G E McMillan 40*). Transvaal won by an innings and 34 runs.

At Durban; 1, 2, 3 January. NATAL 332 (C P Wilkins 31, A J S Smith 60, P H Williams 46, V A P van der Bijl 87; R D Jackman 4/62, J A Carse 3/77) and 161/6 dec (A Barrow 30, P H Williams 30). RHODESIA 234 (R M Bentley 79, P B Clift 51; M J Procter 5/65) and 198/8 (R M Bentley 74, D L Houghton 38*; M J Procter 3/68). Match drawn.

At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 26, 27, 28 January. RHODESIA 186 (G S Clinton 38, R M Bentley 60; R A le Roux 4/49) and 177 (R M Bentley 34; D L Hobson 3/68, E J Barlow 4/25). WESTERN PROVINCE 330 (L L Seeff 71, P N Kirsten 35, A J Lamb 54, P D Swart 52) and 34/1. Western Province won by nine wickets.

At Port Elizabeth; 1, 2, 4 February. RHODESIA 254 (R M Bentley 122, D A G Fletcher 79*; D J Brickett 4/38, J D Ogilvie 3/71) and 206 (T W Dunk 40, J G Heron 37, D A G Fletcher 36; W K Watson 3/45, J D Ogilvie 3/39). EASTERN PROVINCE 219 (R L S Armitage 82, I Foulkes 49; R H Kaschula 3/55, P B Clift 3/25) and 183/8 (A L Wilmot 40, D J Brickett 36; R H Kaschula 3/32). Match drawn.

At Pretoria; 8, 9, 11 February. RHODESIA 277/8 dec (T W Dunk 90, D A G Fletcher 54; P H L Wilson 4/36, W F Morris 3/56) and 264/8 dec (J A Carse 44, T W Dunk 43, A J Pycroft 32, S D Robertson 55*; W F Morris 6/105). NORTHERN TRANSVAAL 320/7 dec (P D de Vaal 64, A H Jordaan 70, A M Ferreira 68, K G Motley 33; P B Clift 3/128) and 86/8 (R H Kaschula 4/24, P B Clift 4/56). Match drawn.

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 15, 16, 17 March. RHODESIA 261 (T W Dunk 98*, D A G Fletcher 41; R L S Armitage 5/71, J D Ogilvie 3/73) and 76 (R L S Armitage 5/25, J D Ogilvie 4/28). EASTERN PROVINCE 201 (A L Wilmot 32, D H Howell 39, D J Brickett 58*; P B Clift 4/75) and 137/3 (K P Reid 52*, A L Wilmot 47*). Eastern Province won by seven wickets.

DATSUN SHIELD (60 overs)

At Johannesburg; 20 October. TRANSVAAL B 201/8 (R F Pienaar 30, G E McMillan 32; P B Clift 3/36). RHODESIA 159 (B Dudleston 46, P B Clift 42; D S Thompson 3/51, G E McMillan 3/43). Transvaal B won by 42 runs.

RHODESIA B MATCHES (first-class)

CASTLE BOWL TABLE, 1979/80
               Bonus Points
                           P      W     L     D     Bat    Bowl   Points
                                (10)
Natal B                    6      5     -     1      20     27      97
Western Province B         6      5     1     -       6     29      85
Border                     6      3     2     1       7     25      62
Orange Free State          6      2     3     1      11     29      60
Transvaal B                6      2     2     2      17     22      59
RHODESIA B                 6      1     2     3      11     20      41
Eastern Province B         6      -     4     2      16     21      37
Griqualand West            6      -     4     2       9     25      34

At Triangle; 17, 18, 19 November. RHODESIA B 259 (G E Peckover 51, M M Benkenstein 47, E F Parker 82; G D Boucher 3/78, G L Hayes 3/90) and 182/7 dec (A J McCallum 40, G C Wallace 47, L L de Grandhomme 31; G W Nelson 3/57, I D Harty 3/31). BORDER 282 (I D Harty 42, D C McKenna 51, M J McGill 59; L L de Grandhomme 3/61) and 78/9 (T D Coughlan 5/16). Match drawn.

At Pietermaritzburg; 14, 15, 16 January. RHODESIA 194 (A J McCallum 106*; I R Ault 3/57, I R Tayfield 3/49) and 201 (M M Benken-stein 44, E F Parker 76*; I R Ault 7/52). NATAL B 282 (D R Turner 69, C L Smith 57; C B Jonker 4/55) and 116/4 (V R Hogg 3/35). Natal B won by six wickets.

At Port Elizabeth; 22, 23, 24 January. EASTERN PROVINCE B 357 (T B Reid 92, D Elliott 35, J W Stephenson 84, B D Robey 40; V R Hogg 4/98, L L de Grandhomme 3/75) and 222/6 dec (D H Howell 74, R J D Whyte 71; C B Jonker 3/63). RHODESIA 242/7 dec (D B E Bawden 64, A J McCallum 53, J A Meyer 69; G S Cowley 3/36) and 227/6 (G C Wallace 40, E F Parker 53*, L L de Grandhomme 57*; M E Collins 3/70). Match drawn.

At Bloemfontein; 26, 28, 29 January. ORANGE FREE STATE 227/8 dec (R A le Roux 57, T A Lloyd 68; L L de Grandhomme 3/56) and 285/4 dec (R A le Roux 80, R J East 108, E Schmidt 60*; V R Hogg 3/109). RHODESIA 225/8 dec (G C Wallace 111, J A Meyer 30; R A le Roux 4/52) and 155 (D B E Bawden 32, G C Wallace 33; E Schmidt 4/38, W T Strydom 3/30). Orange Free State won by 132 runs.

At Salisbury Sports Club; 15, 16, 17 March. RHODESIA B 314 (J G Heron 77, K J Arnott 35, E F Parker 35, L L de Grandhomme 60, C B Jonker 37; K J Kerr 4/65) and 230/5 dec (G C Wallace 79*, J A Meyer 48, E F Parker 46). TRANSVAAL B 259/5 dec (R F Pienaar 52, N T Day 111*) and 71/1 (R F Pienaar 39). Match drawn.

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 22, 23, 24 March. GRIQUALAND WEST 226 (M J D Doherty 101, K McLaren 46; V R Hogg 4/32, C B Jonker 3/36) and 205 (D H Moore 35, B B Deysel 34; M P Jarvis 3/49, E F Parker 3/32) and 224/6 (D L Houghton 41, J A Meyer 55, E F Parker 58*; A P Beukes 3/69). Rhodesia won by four wickets.

It is intended in the future to produce full scorecards, and also much more information about all cricket in Rhodesia during this season.