By John Ward

First of all, we need to apologise to our readers for missing an issue last week. We had a computer problem and those responsible for fixing it took six days to get around to doing the job, making it impossible to produce the magazine on time. However, we are now back to normal for the rest of the season - or until the next breakdown.

With two weeks since our last issue, we have been able to produce some extra articles, some of which have been inspired by some of our readers. A mention of Don Campbell led us to interview this wicket-keeping brother of former captain Alistair, as did an inquiry about Gus Mackay. We also include biographies of Neil Ferreira and Dion Ebrahim, two of last year's academy players who are making good in league cricket and hoping for greater achievements in the future. We are embarrassed at our inability to include in this issue anything on the national side's performances in the triangular tournament in South Africa.
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INTERVIEW

Andy Flower on playing England

Andy Flower has played in both of Zimbabwe's Tests and all seven of their one-day internationals against England. He talks to John Ward about what it is like to play England.

"I think Gough is a key player, obviously as a strike bowler, someone who affects the atmosphere of the game. I think Caddick is a key player; I think he's a top-quality bowler and he's going to be difficult to face. On the batting side, I think at the moment Hussain is their key batsman; he's batting beautifully and he's leading from the front. He's going to be a man to watch, and important not to let him dominate. I think Hick might come out with something to prove on this tour and he will be a very dangerous player. I think he's unlucky not to be a more permanent fixture in their side."
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BIOGRAPHY

Neil Ferreira

Many promising young cricketers in Zimbabwe enjoy the blessing of coming from strong cricketing families, and former Zimbabwe Cricket Academy student Neil Ferreira is one of those. Given every encouragement without undue pushing by his family, he enjoys an enviable background, but players such as he still have to make the decision themselves to strive for the heights. This is what Neil is doing.

"Neil prefers to open the batting when he can, although he realises that for a wicket-keeper this rarely works in the longer version of the game, although he finds it an advantage in one-day cricket to go in to bat after a spell behind the stumps with his eye still in and his concentration still strong. He finds it much easier to pick up the line of the ball in this situation. He realises his limitations, as he is not a dashing strokemaker, but looks to work the ball away for singles, especially to leg."
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Gus Mackay

There was mild surprise in both local English and Zimbabwean cricket circles in 1998 when it was learned that the prominent Midlands cricketer Gus Mackay, after eight years in that area, was returning home to Zimbabwe and hoped to win a place in that country's team for the World Cup. Unfortunately Gus perhaps left the return a little too late in his career, as the Zimbabwean selectors were looking more at younger players, but he has re-established himself as a leading player in Zimbabwean cricket outside the international arena and has still not given up hope of a call-up for one-day cricket, at least.
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Dion Ebrahim

As the first intake of students from the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy, that of 1999, has been unleashed on the cricketing world, it has been interesting to see how they have coped and developed in the next stage for them, that of Zimbabwean domestic cricket. One who has made an immediate impact has been the cheerful Universals batsman Dion Ebrahim.

Dion, according to Academy director Gwynne Jones, was one of the most impressive of his students, both as a cricketer and as a man. He arrived very much a rough diamond, but through his own hard work and enthusiasm made tremendous progress and is now reaping the rewards. Dion has quickly become a member of the Zimbabwe Board XI, although often sent in to bat too low in the order to give him the best possible chance of performing, and has recently run up a string of good scores for his club side in league cricket.
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Don Campbell

It can be a serious handicap in cricket, or any other activity, to have to live in the shadow of a relative who is an outstanding player and whose ability or deeds it is next to impossible to emulate. Don Campbell, younger brother of Zimbabwean batsman and former captain Alistair, does not feel he suffers from this syndrome, though.

"I've never really considered him as someone to compete against or lived under his shadow," says Don. "He's a far better cricketer than I am, but I'm an all-rounder as I keep wicket, and that's where I shine through. He's a genius, really, and he bats totally differently from the way I do, so I don't even try to compete with him. I do get a lot of that about being Alistair's brother, but it doesn't affect me."
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