ZIMBABWE FIRST-CLASS CRICKET IN 1995/96

John Ward

INTERNATIONAL RECORD

     Test cricket:
v South Africa (Home):   Played 1, Won 0, Lost 1, Drawn 0
v New Zealand (Away):    Played 2, Won 0, Lost 0, Drawn 2
     Total:              Played 3, Won 0, Lost 1, Drawn 2

     One-day international cricket:
v South Africa (Home):        Played 2, Won 0, Lost 2
v New Zealand (Away):         Played 3, Won 1, Lost 2
World Cup (India/Sri Lanka)   Played 6, Won 1, Lost 4, Drawn 1
     Total:                   Played 11, Won 2, Lost 8, Drawn 1

Only two series were possible, if the brief South African visit could be called a series. In the New Year the team visited New Zealand for the first time before going to the World Cup. Better things were anticipated in view of the country's greater experience gained in four seasons as a full ICC member since the last World Cup, and in view of that it was probably Zimbabwe's most disappointing World Cup campaign of all.

The South African visit aroused great public interest in Zimbabwe and for the first time a tour to Zimbabwe raised a handsome profit. It had taken three years for South Africa to acknowledge their northern neighbours on the international field, and unfortunately it was to be longer still before a second visit or another Test match.

As expected, Zimbabwe were defeated, but they came out of the Test match at least with credit. After a poor first innings in difficult batting conditions, they had South Africa in some difficulty at 145 for five before a late revival, and then put up a much better show second time round, despite superb bowling by Allan Donald. They were beaten but not overwhelmed.

An interesting and unexpected debutant was the 33-year-old seamer Charlie Lock, who had last played first-class cricket in 1989/90. Since then he had been working in England, but some notable performances on his return catapulted him into the Test team ahead of Henry Olonga or David Brain. After initial nervousness, he settled down and bowled well. He was to turn in a remarkable performance in a one-day match in New Zealand, but after this season was never again to appear on the international field.

The one-day internationals were more disappointing. South Africa turned on full power to overwhelm Zimbabwe in the first match, but in the second Zimbabwe put up a very feeble batting display against a weakened South African team.

No further international cricket was possible until the team visited New Zealand in the New Year. With the latter team in a state of transition and without Martin Crowe, who had recently retired through injury, there were strong hopes that Zimbabwe would gain their first Test victory overseas. However they had to be content with two well-fought draws.

In the First Test they were set a reasonable target of 257 at just over four runs and over, and were well placed at one stage, only for three controversial umpiring decisions to destroy their momentum and force them to play for a draw. In the Second Test they gained a useful first-innings lead, only for New Zealand to stage a fine fightback and secure a draw comfortably.

In the three-match one-day series, Zimbabwe began badly and lost the first two by clear margins, outclassed in batting and bowling alike. In the final match they set a much better target, but New Zealand were well on course for victory when in fifteen minutes Lock broke through the later batting to take the last five wickets for five runs in 11 balls.

Both teams then departed for the World Cup. Zimbabwe's one-day performances during the season to date did not inspire great confidence and worse was to come. The Zimbabwean tactics were shown to be outdated and ineffective; the two which came in for the most criticism was that the team was overburdened with specialist bowlers and they failed to make good use of their all-rounders, and their inability to keep the score moving through skilful placement and quick singles, in their vain attempts to hit too many balls for four. The absence of their most experienced player Dave Houghton, who broke a bone in his foot while scoring a century in the Second Test in New Zealand, was also a serious blow.

There were comprehensive defeats by West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia, although they put up a much better fight in their 40-run defeat by India. But they allowed India to recover after taking three wickets, including those of Tendulkar and Azharuddin, for 32, and then when their batting appeared to be on target the dismissals of six batsmen, mostly to the spinners, between 22 and 30 destroyed their chances.

Their one victory came against associate members Kenya, after having the first day washed out after they found themselves in a degree of difficulty. Second time round they made no mistake, but it did not compensate for the other defeats.

As far as individuals were concerned, during this tournament Paul Strang earned worldwide recognition as a leg-spinner of true world class, along with Australia's Shane Warne, India's Anil Kumble and Pakistan's Mushtaq Ahmed. Strang may not at this stage have been quite in the same class as a bowler, but he was certainly the best batsman and fielder of the four. In the tournament he finsihed second in the overall bowling averages with 12 wickets at 16.00; only Allan Donald of South Africa had a slightly better average and only Kumble and Waqar Younis of Pakistan took more wickets. His best performances were 4/40 against West Indies and 5/21 against Kenya.

After the World Cup there were two significant changes in leadership. Firstly Andy Flower, who had gallantly borne the triple burden of captain, wicket-keeper and leading batsman, decided to resign the captaincy. He was no longer enjoying his cricket and his form had finally begun to suffer.

Secondly, coach John Hampshire's contract was not renewed. He had done a magnificent job guiding Zimbabwe through their early years in Test cricket, but their one-day record had been disappointing and there was a feeling that his energy had diminished somewhat after Zimbabwe had gained their first Test victory. He was eventually to be replaced by Dave Houghton, who was to take on the joint responsibility of player-coach to good effect.

Both Houghton and Flower passed 1000 Test runs during the season, the first Zimbabweans to do so, and both were maintaining an average of almost 50. Heath Streak also passed 50 Test wickets at an average of 21, which meant that Zimbabwe had three players among the very top performers in the world statistically.

Two other first-class teams visited Zimbabwe during the season. Tasmania were led by the veteran Australian Test batsman David Boon, and drew both their first-class games. They did not appear to show quite the usual fierce competitiveness expected from Australian teams, but they fought back well to force a draw in their match against the ZCU President's XI in Bulawayo.

At the end of the season Yorkshire toured under their new captain David Byas. They played competitive and aggressive cricket, in the manner of the traditional Yorkshire teams of the past, giving supporters hope of a return to the county's former glories. They won both their matches, when under pressure in Harare and overwhelmingly in Bulawayo.

The Logan Cup was won by Matabeleland, for the first time since 1967/68. They defeated Mashonaland Country Districts, who had topped the table, in a remarkable final, despite missing several regular players. They included in their ranks Denis Streak, 46-year-old father of Heath, the first instance of father and son playing together in a first-class match in Zimbabwe. The elder Streak, still turning in good all-round performances in club cricket, was by no means a passenger.

The match was most notable for the unparalleled performance of the Matabele captain and wicket-keeper Wayne James. His nine dismissals (two caught, two stumped) in the Districts' first innings equalled the world first-class record, while four more catches in the second innings beat the record for a match. Not content with that, he compiled scores of 99 and 99 not out, being stranded one short of his century second time round when Matabeleland completed victory by six wickets.

The result of the Logan Cup was a complete reversal of the previous season's form, when the two Mashonaland (Harare) teams had topped the table and contested the final. But all teams again suffered from the lack of availability and commitment of many leading players just below international level, and all were forced to call upon players well below first-class standard. The Zimbabwe Cricket Union, concerned at this mockery of first-class status, decided that the following season the Logan Cup would be contested by only two first-class teams, Matabeleland and Mashonaland (which would draw from the existing Mashonaland, Young Mashonaland and Mashonaland Country Districts teams).

Again the Zimbabwe Board XI failed to do itself justice in the UCBSA Bowl competition mainly against the B teams of South African provinces, drawing all five matches and finishing bottom of their section. Despite this, captain Andy Waller was commended for the way he nurtured the promising young players. Rain did seriously interfere with the final two matches, but the only really notable performance by a Zimbabwean in this competition was Stephen Peall's nine-wicket haul against Boland B. He was only the second bowler to take nine wickets in an innings for a Zimbabwean team, after Mike Procter.

Dave Houghton, at the age of 38, continued to be a dominant player in Zimbabwe cricket. Besides his Test century in New Zealand, he topped the domestic averages with 599 runs, average 85.57, with three centuries in only five matches. Only Alistair Campbell, 708 runs in 10 matches (average 39.33) scored more runs. Heath Streak (426 runs at 53.25) hit two centuries for Matabeleland and gave notice of his potential as a genuine all-rounder, and also with more than 400 runs were Grant Flower (499 at 49.90), Sean Davies (491 at 37.76), Craig Wishart (480 at 26.66) and Guy Whittall (470 at 42.72).

Bryan Strang again took the most wickets in domestic cricket, 43 at 22.00. Also with 20 or more wickets were Charlie Lock (24 at 18.58), Steve Peall (23 at 22.73) and Heath Streak 920 at 25.55).

SOUTH AFRICA TOUR

(1ST ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 21 October. SOUTH AFRICA 303/5 (A C Hudson 36, B M McMillan 127, W J Cronje 33, G Kirsten 36*). ZIMBABWE 169/7 (A D R Campbell 68*). South Africa won by 134 runs.

(2ND ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 22 October. SOUTH AFRICA 239 (A P Kuiper 50, G Kirsten 38, J N Rhodes 53, P L Symcox 35; H H Streak 4/25). ZIMBABWE 127 (W J Cronje 4/33). South Africa won by 112 runs.

TOUR TO NEW ZEALAND

At Whangarei; 6, 7, 8 January. ZIMBABWEANS 274/7 dec (D L Houghton 86, A Flower 73, A D R Campbell 38*, G J Whittall 40; G I Allott 4/32) and 207/4 dec (G W Flower 53, A D R Campbell 59*, D L Houghton 34*). NEW ZEALAND ACADEMY XI 213/1 dec (R A Lawson 113*, M D Bell 83) and 109/1 (J M Aiken 51, L G Howell 39*). Match drawn.

(1ST TEST) At Hamilton; 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 January. NEW ZEALAND 230/8 dec (R G Twose 42, S P Fleming 49, D N Patel 31; H H Streak 4/52) and 222/5 dec (A C Parore 84*, N J Astle 32). ZIMBABWE 196 (D L Houghton 31, G J Whittall 54, P A Strang 49; C L Cairns 4/56, R J Kennedy 3/28) and 208/6 (G W Flower 59, D L Houghton 31, A Flower 58*). Match drawn.

(2ND TEST) At Auckland; 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 January. NEW ZEALAND 251 (C M Spearman 42, S P Fleming 84, C L Cairns 57; H H Streak 3/50, B C Strang 3/64) and 441/5 dec (C M Spearman 112, R G Twose 94, A C Parore 76*, C L Cairns 120; H H Streak 4/110). ZIMBABWE 326 (D L Houghton 104 retired hurt, A Flower 35, P A Strang 44, E A Brandes 39; G I Allott 3/56) and 246/4 (G W Flower 71, S V Carlisle 58, A Flower 45*, A D R Campbell 34). Match drawn.

(1ST ODI) At Auckland; 28 January. NEW ZEALAND 278/5 (N J Astle 120, R G Twose 53). ZIMBABWE 204 (G W Flower 46, G J Whittall 70; D K Morrison 3/34, G R Larsen 3/42, S A Thomson 3/32). New Zealand won by 74 runs.

(2ND ODI) At Wellington; 31 January. ZIMBABWE 181/9 (G W Flower 48; D J Nash 3/30). NEW ZEALAND 184/4 (S P Fleming 70, R G Twose 41). New Zealand won by six wickets.

(3RD ODI) At Napier; 3 February. ZIMBABWE 267/7 (A Flower 57, S G Davies 45, H H Streak 36*; D K Morrison 3/39). NEW ZEALAND 246 (N J Astle 30, S P Fleming 50, R G Twose 60; A C I Lock 5/44). Zimbabwe won by 21 runs.

WORLD CUP IN INDIA AND SRI LANKA

At Colombo (SSC); 21 February. ZIMBABWE 228/6 (G J Whittall 35, A D R Campbell 75, C N Evans 39*). SRI LANKA 229/4 (A P Gurusinha 87, P A de Silva 91; H H Streak 3/60). Sri Lanka won by six wickets.

At Patna; 26 February. ZIMBABWE 45/3 v KENYA. No result -- rain.

(Replay) At Patna; 27 February. KENYA 134 (D Chadusama 34, M Odumbe 30; P A Strang 5/21). ZIMBABWE 137/5 (A C Waller 30, G W Flower 45; Rajab Ali 3/22). Zimbabwe won by five wickets.

At Nagpur; 1 March. ZIMBABWE 154 (A C Waller 67; S K Warne 4/34). AUSTRALIA 158/2 (M A Taylor 34, M A Waugh 76*, R T Ponting 33). Australia won by eight wickets.

At Kanpur; 6 March. INDIA 247/5 (N S Sidhu 80, V G Kambli 106, A D Jadeja 44*). ZIMBABWE 207 (G W Flower 30, H H Streak 30; S L V Raju 3/30). India won by 40 runs.

TASMANIA TOUR (first-class matches)

At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 9, 10, 11 October. TASMANIA 196 (J Cox 47, R T Ponting 30, M N Atkinson 42; A C I Lock 6/59) and 309/4 (D F Hills 94, J Cox 130, D C Boon 40*). ZCU PRESIDENT'S XI 403/9 dec (G W Flower 79, A Flower 82, A D R Campbell 68, D L Houghton 112; G J Denton 4/39, M A Hatton 5/113). Match drawn.

YORKSHIRE TOUR (first-class matches)

At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 11, 12 April. YORKSHIRE 329/5 dec (M D Moxon 134, M P Vaughan 106). MATABELELAND SELECT XI 84 (G M Hamilton 3/13, P J Hartley 3/13) and 234 (H H Streak 101, J A Rennie 52; P M Hutchison 3/44, P J Hartley 4/54). Yorkshire won by an innings and 11 runs.

ZIMBABWE BOARD XI

At Centurion; 24, 25, 26 November. NORTHERN TRANSVAAL B 339 (M van Jaarsveld 81, L P Vorster 66, G Dros 83*; B C Strang 5/69) and 244/8 dec (M van Jaarsveld 93, D J J de Vos 77, J J Strydom 33*; E A Brandes 4/46). ZIMBABWE BOARD XI 334/9 dec (S V Carlisle 31, A C Waller 39, C B Wishart 39, A D R Campbell 53, G J Whittall 85, E A Brandes 41; P Joubert 3/73) and 131/7 (C B Wishart 33; D J J de Vos 4/34). Match drawn.

At Harare South Country Club; 15, 16, 17 December. GRIQUALAND WEST 290/9 dec (M I Gidley 105, W M Dry 93; H K Olonga 4/94, B C Strang 3/63) and 183/9 dec (W M Dry 43, F C Brooker 53, B N Benkenstein 35*; B C Strang 3/65, S G Peall 3/25). ZIMBABWE BOARD XI 153 (A C Waller 43; V A Walsh 4/37, C V English 4/47) and 258/9 (S V Carlisle 54, A C Waller 74, B C Strang 44; B N Benkenstein 3/59). Match drawn.

At Alexandra Sports Club, Harare; 25, 26, 27 January. EASTERN PROVINCE B 297/6 dec (G C Victor 100, A G Lawson 49, A G Prince 35, C C Wait 36*, G K Miller 41) v ZIMBABWE BOARD XI. Match drawn.

At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 8, 9, 10 February. TRANSVAAL B 119/4 dec (Z de Bruyn 60*) and 67/2. ZIMBABWE BOARD XI 0/0 dec. Match drawn.

LOGAN CUP COMPETITION

At Alexandra Sports Club, Harare; 15, 16, 17 September. MASHONALAND COUNTRY DISTRICTS 309 (A D R Campbell 31, P A Strang 63, E A Brandes 65, S G Peall 38; S D Bean 3/50) and 264/2 dec (T G Bartlett 52, A D R Campbell 114*, C N Evans 66*). YOUNG MASHONALAND 182 (G J Rennie 41, A J Erasmus 39*, G B Brent 37; B C Strang 3/61, P A Strang 3/53) and 168 (D N Erasmus 42; A C I Lock 4/23). Mashonaland Country Districts won by 223 runs.

At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 3, 4, 5 November. MATABELELAND 221 (M H Dekker 56, H H Streak 70, G Peck 41*; G B Brent 4/51, A J Erasmus 3/31) and 370/5 dec (J S Laney 67, K Newell 52, G J Whittall 139*, W R James 61; D R Matambanadzo 3/57). YOUNG MASHONALAND 203 (G W Flower 42, G J Rennie 63; G J Whittall 4/63) and 202/2 (G W Flower 103*, C B Wishart 55*). Match drawn.

At Harare Sports Club; 17, 18, 19 November. YOUNG MASHONALAND 262 (G W Flower 66, C B Wishart 39, S Cloete 34, A J Erasmus 41; D H Brain 6/61) and 250 (G W Flower 92, S Vloete 41). MASHONALAND 457/6 dec (S V Carlisle 147, S G Davies 117, D L Houghton 127; E Z Matambanadzo 3/71, C B Wishart 3/86) and 59/0 (S V Carlisle 31*). Mashonaland won by ten wickets.

At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 17, 18, 19 November. MATABELELAND 152 (M H Dekker 50; B C Strang 5/41, E A Brandes 4/45) and 344 (M H Dekker 73, H H Streak 131, J A Rennie 35, M J Hammett 37; E A Brandes 6/98). MASHONALAND COUNTRY DISTRICTS 209 (G K Bruk-Jackson 45, A C Waller 43; H K Olonga 5/80, G J Whittall 4/39) and 283 (R G Maggs 48, C N Evans 73, A D R Campbell 78; H H Streak 7/69), Matabeleland won by 4 runs.

At Harare South Country Club; 8, 9, 10 December (postponed from 3, 4, 5 November because of the weather). MASHONALAND 133 (D L Houghton 61; B C Strang 3/45, A C I Lock 3/38, A D R Campbell 3/0) and 352 (D L Houghton 160, G C Martin 113; B C Strang 6/96). MASHONALAND COUNTRY DISTRICTS 279 (R D Brown 53, A D R Campbell 47, P A Strang 61; B W S Pswarayi 3/75, G C Martin 3/65, A A Brookes 3/37) and 207/8 (R D Brown 37, P A Strang 56*; B W S Pswarayi 5/72). Mashonaland Country Districts won by two wickets.

(Final) At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 19, 20, 21 April. MASHONALAND COUNTRY DISTRICTS 265 (J M Oakes 115, B C Strang 66; D Vaghmaria 4/108) and 128 (D J R Campbell 35*; J A Rennie 6/42), MATABELELAND 220 (W R James 99, H H Streak 30, M Ranchod 40; B C Strang 4/69) and 176/4 (M H Dekker 57*, W R James 99*). Matabeleland won by six wickets.

Wayne James dismissed 9 batsmen (7 ct, 2 st) in the first innings and took four more catches in the second to set up a new world record. Jason Oates scored a century on his first-class debut.

TEST MATCH RECORDS DURING 1995/96

BATTING AND FIELDING
                    M   I  NO   Runs   HS     Av.   100  50   Ct/St
A Flower            3   6   2   214    63    53.50    -   2   10/0
D L Houghton        3   5   1   201   104+   50.25    1   -    2
E A Brandes         2   2   1    42    39    42.00    -   -    1
P A Strang          3   5   1   130    49    32.50    -   -    1
G J Whittall        3   6   0   178    54    29.66    -   1    1
G W Flower          3   6   0   169    71    28.16    -   2    2
S V Carlisle        2   4   0    93    58    23.25    -   1    3
B C Strang          3   4   2    43    25*   21.50    -   -    3
*C B Wishart        2   4   1    56    24    18.66    -   -    1
H H Streak          3   5   0    85    53    17.00    -   1    1
A D R Campbell      3   6   0    87    34    14.50    -   -    1
M H Dekker          1   2   0    25    24    12.50    -   -    -
*+A C I Lock        1   2   1     8     8*    8.00    -   -    -
H K Olonga          1   1   0     0     0     0.00    -   -    3


BOWLING
                    Overs  Mdns  Runs  Wkts   Av.     Best  5wI  10wM
A C I Lock           30      5   105    5    21.00    3/68    -   -
H H Streak          134     35   371   15    24.73    4/52    -   -
B C Strang          131.3   38   317    9    35.22    5/101   1   -
E A Brandes          64     13   208    5    41.60    2/69    -   -
H K Olonga           17      3    85    1    85.00    1/65    -   -
G J Whittall         27      8    87    1    87.00    1/36    -   -
P A Strang          108     19   314    3   104.66    1/1     -   -
G W Flower           11      2    41    0      --      --     -   -
A D R Campbell        2      0     3    0      --      --     -   -



CONSOLIDATED ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL RECORDS DURING 1995/96
     (* = ODI debuts; + = final matches of career)

                    M   I  NO   Runs   HS     Av.   100  50   Ct/St
P A Strang         11   9   5   154    28*   38.50    -   -    1
G W Flower         11  11   1   291    48    29.10    -   -    5
S V Carlisle        2   2   0    53    28    26.50    -   -    -
H H Streak         11  10   3   184    36*   26.28    -   -    2
A D R Campbell     11  11   1   238    75    23.80    -   2    7
A C Waller          8   8   0   177    67    22.12    -   1    -
D L Houghton        2   2   0    34    25    17.00    -   -    2
*+S G Davies        4   4   0    67    45    16.75    -   -    -
G J Whittall       11  11   0   180    70    16.36    -   1    1
C N Evans          10   9   2   103    39*   14.71    -   -    -
A Flower           11  11   1   143    57    14.30    -   1   10/1
*+A C I Lock        8   3   2     8     5     8.00    -   -    1
H K Olonga          2   1   0     6     6     6.00    -   -    -
E A Brandes         5   3   0    13     7     4.33    -   -    1
+S G Peall          6   3   0     9     9     3.00    -   -    1
B C Strang          7   4   1     6     3     2.00    -   -    2
+D H Brain          1   1   1    12    12*     --     -   -    -


BOWLING
                    Overs  Mdns  Runs  Wkts   Av.     Best  4wI
C N Evans             2      1     6    1     6.00    1/6     -
A D R Campbell        9      1    35    2    17.50    2/22    -
P A Strang           82.1    4   379   16    23.68    5/21    2
A C I Lock           48.1    4   219    8    27.37    5/44    1
H H Streak           93     12   375   13    28.84    4/25    -
E A Brandes          33.2    1   195    3    65.00    2/37    -
B C Strang           43.3    1   201    3    67.00    2/24    -
S G Peall            30      1   149    2    74.50    1/23    -
H K Olonga           14      1    91    1    91.00    1/59    -
G J Whittall         55      0   303    3   101.00    2/47    -
G W Flower           24      2   116    1   116.00    1/16    -
D H Brain             5      1    28    0      --      --     -