The 1983/84 season was played in an atmosphere of expectation after Zimbabwe's participation in the World Cup for the first time, and especially their victory over Australia. Thoughts now began to turn towards eventual Test status, although in retrospect this should have been the time to strike in Zimbabwe's bid for promotion, as never again was the national team to be as strong until after Test status was eventually

granted, almost a decade later. The team now possessed a strong all-round bowling attack, with several quality all-rounders, and a powerful batting middle order. The main weakness was in the lack of a consistently good pair of opening batsman. Duncan Fletcher resigned the captaincy after the World Cup and the off-spinner John Traicos, the last player to be capped by South Africa before its isolation, was appointed in his place. There were mixed feelings about this: many thought a younger captain should be appointed to look to the future, while others thought the appointment was overdue as

Traicos' tactical knowledge and acumen were second to none. Unfortunately, in the aftermath of the World Cup and with Test status still very distant, this was the time when the one-day syndrome began to affect Zimbabwe cricket. Crowds at first-class matches shrank, and the team's performances in these matches also began to decline, mainly through the inability of the leading batsmen to adjust to the longer version of the game and learn how to build big innings. Andy Pycroft and Dave Houghton were virtually to carry the Zimbabwean batting between them; if they failed, the result was usually disastrous. Even Pycroft became less consistent in future seasons in first-class cricket, while becoming more

effective in the one-day game. This season began by a visit from another Young West Indies team, captained by Timur Mohamed, who had been on the previous tour two years earlier. This was not such a strong combination as the earlier team, and only Courtney Walsh was destined to leave much of a mark on Test cricket. The two teams were quite evenly matched, but the fighting spirit and determination of the Zimbabweans gave them the edge. Both first-class matches were won by the narrow margin of three wickets, and in both cases the contribution of Pycroft was critical. Four one-day matches were played: Zimbabwe won the first three before the tourists won a consolation victory in the last. This last was also the only match in which Pycroft failed.

Then followed Zimbabwe's first overseas tour apart from those to England which revolved around one-day competitions. A three-week tour of Sri Lanka took place in December, and nobody had any illusions about how much more difficult it would be to play the Sri Lankans on their home soil. The weather and the umpiring added to their problems. Zimbabwe were most disappointed that Sri Lanka did not put their Test team into the field against them in a first-class match, but they played two draws against non-representative sides instead. A three-match one-day series was played at the end of the tour; the first two were washed out by rain, while a brilliant innings by Roy Dias enabled Sri Lanka to win the third. Zimbabwe struggled for runs throughout the tour, often in difficult conditions, but neither were the opposition able to score freely. Top scorers in two first-class matches were Houghton (132), Curran (126) and Pycroft (122), while Traicos took most wickets in limited opportunities, with 8.

After their success against the Young West Indies, Zimbabwe did not expect the Young India team under the captaincy of Ravi Shastri to give them much trouble. Yet in the two first-class matches they found them-selves in considerable trouble due to weak batting. The first of these was lost by eight wickets, while only a superb and typically fighting innings from Iain Butchart enabled them to win the second, by the narrow margin of two wickets. The batsmen encountered great problems against the medium-fast cutters of Manoj Prabhakar and the left-arm spin of Maninder Singh. The one-day series, increased from four matches to five due to the early finish of the second first-class contest, was won five-nil by Zimbabwe, increasing their one-day skills even as they struggled more in the longer matches. The Young Indian team also contained Krishna Srikkanth and the young Mohammad Azharuddin, but neither enjoyed much success; Srikkanth in fact gained a reputation as Rawson's 'bunny'.

Andy Pycroft was again the outstanding batsman of the season: in the home four matches, he scored 341 runs (average 48.71). However, this was the first season since Independence in which he averaged below 50. Dave Houghton (215 runs at 26.87) was the only other batsman to exceed 200 runs, and Zimbabwe's frailty in batting was becoming evident.

The bowling, backed up by brilliant fielding, was much stronger. Peter Rawson was at the peak of his powers and was irresistible, taking 33 wickets at an average of 15.24. The other bowlers took 38 wickets between them; Kevin Curran gave Rawson fine support with 14 wickets at 19.21, while John Traicos took 11 at 27.27.

Graeme Hick, after a fifty in Sri Lanka, took over the number three spot against the Indians; he was not really quite ready for it, but the weakness of the top order thrust him into this place of greater responsibility. In six matches, the highest score by a batsman in the top three was 42 by Robin Brown. Vince Hogg, troubled by injury, lost his place rather abruptly, despite a good first match against the Young West Indians, as Curran took over as Rawson's opening partner. Gerald Peckover, a talented wicketkeeper-batsman and also a hockey inter-national, finally seemed to cement his place in the national side with a superb century in the final one-day match against the Young West Indies, but then decided to emigrate to South Africa, where he played no more cricket of note.

YOUNG WEST INDIES TOUR

(60 overs) At Harare South Country Club; 5 October. YOUNG WEST INDIANS 241/3 (P V Simmonds 57, O W Peters 65, T R O Payne 95). ZIMBABWE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 222/9 (R D Brown 76, A C Waller 51). Young West Indies won by 19 runs.

At Harare Sports Club; 7, 8, 10 October. ZIMBABWE 322/8 dec (G A Paterson 39, R D Brown 42, A J Pycroft 38, D L Houghton 82, K M Curran 48; G J F Ferris 4/75, C G Butts 3/107) and 143/7 (A J Pycroft 49*; C G Butts 3/58). YOUNG WEST INDIES 140 (T Mohamed 45; V R Hogg 3/6, P W E Rawson 4/45, A J Traicos 3/35) and 324 (A A Lyght 40, O W Peters 40, V A Eddy 56, D I Kallicharran 30, C G Butts 37; P W E Rawson 5/97, A J Traicos 3/72). Zimbabwe won by three wickets.

(1st ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 9 October. YOUNG WEST INDIES 239/9 (T Mohamed 48, D I Kallicharran 60, R O Estwick 30; K M Curran 3/49, I P Butchart 4/58). ZIMBABWE 241/7 (G A Paterson 66, A J Pycroft 68*). Zimbabwe won by three wickets.

(50 overs) At Harare Sports Club; 12 October. YOUNG WEST INDIANS 202 (A A Lyght 91; J P Brent 4/41). YOUNG ZIMBABWE 206/6 (C D Robertson 72). Young Zimbabwe won by four wickets.

(2nd ODI) At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 15 October. ZIMBABWE 225/7 (R D Brown 32, A J Pycroft 66, D L Houghton 32; C A Walsh 3/45). YOUNG WEST INDIES 187/7 (44 overs) (P V Simmonds 34, V A Eddy 46, S W Julien 42; P W E Rawson 3/29). Zimbabwe won on faster scoring rate.

(3rd ODI) At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 16 October. ZIMBABWE 274/7 (D L Houghton 66, A J Pycroft 83; C A Walsh 3/44). YOUNG WEST INDIES 143 (T Mohamed 74; P W E Rawson 3/13, I P Butchart 4/45). Zimbabwe won by 131 runs.

(Not first-class) At Mutare Sports Club; 18, 19 October. YOUNG ZIMBABWE 200 (G C Wallace 74; C A Walsh 5/32) and 172 (C G Butts 5/46). YOUNG WEST INDIANS 215 (S W Julien 67) and 163/5 (S W Julien 72). Young West Indians won by five wickets.

At Harare Sports Club; 21, 22, 24 October. YOUNG WEST INDIES 289 (A A Lyght 114, D I Kallicharran 64, C G Butts 51; P W E Rawson 6/77) and 186 (S W Julien 43, D I Kallicharran 72; P W E Rawson 3/73, K M Curran 3/46). ZIMBABWE 264/8 dec (A J Pycroft 90, D L Houghton 35, K M Curran 33; C G Walsh 5/40) and 215/7 (A J Pycroft 75, D L Houghton 48; G J F Ferris 3/46, C A Walsh 3/82). Zimbabwe won by three wickets.

(3rd ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 23 October. YOUNG WEST INDIES 298/5 (T Mohamed 102, S W Julien 142). ZIMBABWE 282/9 (G E Peckover 102, D L Houghton 35; G J F Ferris 3/28). Young West Indies won by 16 runs.

TOUR OF SRI LANKA

(Not first-class) At Nondescripts CC, Colombo; 3, 4 December. ZIMBABWEANS 217 (C M Robertson 45, R D Brown 43; R Jayawardena 4/83). SRI LANKA COLTS 162/6 (A J Traicos 3/22). Match drawn.

At Moratuwa; 6, 7, 8 December. ZIMBABWEANS 210 (R D Brown 39, K M Curran 63; A M J G Amerasinghe 7/82) and 133/5 (A J Pycroft 48*; A M J G Amerasinghe 3/48). SRI LANKA BOARD PRESIDENT'S XI 146 (E R N S Fernando 48; A J Traicos 3/34, G A Hick 3/39). Match drawn.

At P Saravanamuttu Oval, Colombo; 10, 11, 12, 13 December. ZIMBABWEANS 201 (D L Houghton 52; A L F de Mel 3/73, R J Ratnayake 4/48) and 228 (A J Pycroft 31, K M Curran 32, D L Houghton 77, G A Hick 57; (A M J G Amerasinghe 4/59). SRI LANKAN XI 231 (S Warnakulasuriya 65, A Ranatunga 43; P W E Rawson 3/81, A J Traicos 5/30) and 16/1. Match drawn.

(1st ODI) At Radella; 15 December. ZIMBABWE 90/6 (20 overs) (D L Houghton 42*) v SRI LANKA. No result (rain).

(2nd ODI) At Colombo CC; 17 December. ZIMBABWE 170/7 (45 overs) (D L Houghton 43*, P W E Rawson 31*) v SRI LANKA. No result (rain).

(3rd ODI, 30 overs) At Sinhalese SC, Colombo; 18 December. SRI LANKA 143/8 (R L Dias 68*; K M Curran 3/30). ZIMBABWE 112 (28.5 overs). Sri Lanka won by 31 runs.

YOUNG INDIA TOUR

(50 overs) At Harare South Country Club; 29 February. YOUNG INDIANS 241/3 (R J Shastri 103*, M Azharuddin 71*). ZIMBABWE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 205 (G A Paterson 62). Young Indians won by 36 runs. At Harare Sports Club; 2, 3, 5 March. ZIMBABWE 222 (A J Pycroft 54, D L Houghton 30, I P Butchart 32; Maninder Singh 5/95) and 118 (D A G Fletcher 35*; M Prabhakar 3/22, Maninder Singh 6/43). YOUNG INDIA 292 (R J Shastri 101, M Prabhakar 51*, R R Kulkarni 32; P W E Rawson 3/73, A J Traicos 3/80) and 49/2. Young Indians won by eight wickets.

(1st ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 4 March. YOUNG INDIA 176/8 (M Azharuddin 50). ZIMBABWE 179/4 (R D Brown 38, A J Pycroft 38*; L S Rajput 3/46). Zimbabwe won by six wickets.

(2nd ODI) At Mutare Sports Club; 7 March. YOUNG INDIA 184 (L S Rajput 65, M Azharuddin 47; P W E Rawson 3/27). ZIMBABWE 187/3 (G A Paterson 44, D A G Fletcher 36, G A Hick 62*; L Sivaramakrishnan 3/34). Zimbabwe won by seven wickets.

(50 overs) At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 10 March. YOUNG ZIMBABWE 204/6 (G A Paterson 64, I P Butchart 51*). YOUNG INDIANS 208/6 (K Srikkanth 42). Young Indians won by four wickets.

(3rd ODI) At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 11 March. YOUNG INDIA 181 (M Azharuddin 43, R J Shastri 53; D A G Fletcher 4/41). ZIMBABWE 185/9 (G A Paterson 62, R D Brown 43*; Maninder Singh 3/20, R J Shastri 3/40). Zimbabwe won by one wicket.

At Hwange Country Club; 14 March. YOUNG INDIANS 208. YOUNG ZIMBABWE 178 (K G Walton 67*; L Sivaramakrishnan 4/17). Young Indians won by 30 runs.

At Harare Sports Club; March 16, 17, 20. YOUNG INDIA 112 (R J Shastri 42*; P W E Rawson 4/70) and 106 (M D Gunjal 43; P W E Rawson 7/49, K M Curran 3/36). ZIMBABWE 114 (A J Pycroft 34; M Prabhakar 5/40, Maninder Singh 5/41) and 105/8 (I P Butchart 29*; M Prabhakar 3/48, Maninder Singh 3/49). Zimbabwe won by two wickets.

(4th ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 18 March. YOUNG INDIA 78 (L S Rajput 38; K M Curran 3/20, D A G Fletcher 3/10, I P Butchart 3/22). ZIMBABWE 81/3 (R D Brown 38*). Zimbabwe won by seven wickets.

(5th ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 21 March. ZIMBABWE 210 (K G Walton 81, G A Paterson 40; G D'Monte 3/45, L Sivaramakrishnan 3/41). YOUNG INDIA 191 (K Srikkanth 38, S Viswanath 53). Zimbabwe won by 19 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 1984/85