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ZIMBABWE CRICKET ONLINE
Editor: John Ward
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Issue 5, December 17 1999
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Editorial
By John Ward
Welcome to the fifth issue of Zimbabwe cricket's weekly on-line
magazine. In this issue:-
- John Ward, Henry Olonga and Guy Whittall on the one day series with Sri Lanka
- An interview with match referee Jackie Hendriks
- Domestic reports from Maincaland, club cricket news and a history of the Partridges.
- Updates on the under-19 and UCB Bowl squads
- An interview with Andy Pycroft, convenor of the selectors
This week the editor comments on pitches and press facilities in Zimbabwe
"In Harare, since the sad death of the head groundsman in a road
accident during the Australian tour, things seem to have gone
into decline. The batsmen in particular are very wary of the
pitch, especially if they are required to bat first on it, and
although they do not generally try to use it as an excuse,
obviously if they feel that way they are at a psychological
disadvantage."
"For the press, the opposite is true. Press facilities in Harare
have improved immeasurably since Dave Ellman-Brown took over as
chief executive of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union just over a year
ago, for he has brought all this to pass. Before then, the press
were placed in a tent almost at ground level about ten metres
beyond the long-leg boundary, where it was impossible to see what
the bowlers were doing with the ball and with the public
persistently wandering across their already inadequate line of
vision. They also had to find their own lunches, although
telephone lines were usually in place."
[More]
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News
Neil Johnson - Photograph Copright AFP
The recurrence of Craig Wishart's knee injury, in the UCBSA Bowl
match against Gauteng B in Mutare, is not as serious as is widely
rumoured, according to the player himself.
He went straight into this match from the Third Test against Sri
Lanka, and was therefore playing for eight days without a break,
surely an unnecessary risk for a player just returned from
injury. During the course of this match his knee became
increasingly swollen and sore, so that he was only called upon to
bat in the second innings when it was necessary to save the
match.
Craig feels that the Christmas and New Year break will be enough
for his knee to recover, and hopes to be playing again as soon as
the national club league matches start again in early January.
Neil Johnson is missing the one-day series against Sri Lanka as
he has left the country for Durban to have his groin injury
treated by his long-term physio.
The course will take five weeks, and it is hoped after that he
will again be able to play a full part in Zimbabwe's decimated
bowling attack, especially in the triangular tournament in South
Africa in January and February, which also involves England.
The Test averages for the Sri Lanka tour show Andy Flower dominating the Zimbabwe batting,
and Eddo Brandes heading the bowling.
[Test
averages]
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INTERNATIONAL
The first three Zimbabwe-Sri Lanka one-day internationals in retrospect
John Ward
Even now that they have started winning the toss again, Zimbabwe
have not been able to get their act together on the cricket
field. After three one-day internationals out of five against Sri
Lanka, Zimbabwe have lost two and put themselves out of the
series already, while one was left drawn due to rain.
Our
weakened bowling attack is doing its job, most of the time, as
well as can be expected, while the fielding is generally good if
not at its best. It is the batting which is letting the side down
for one match after another - the middle order this time. Our
openers have done a fine job - up to a point - with opening
stands in successive matches of 51, 91 and 81.
[More |
Scorecards]
INTERVIEWS
The Player's View: Guy Whittall on the first two One-Day Internationals
(Photo of Guy Whittall, copyright Paul McGregor)
As before, we asked one of the most successful players for his
views on the first two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka.
Guy Whittall had a good all-round weekend and he has this to say
with John Ward on those matches in Bulawayo - the first of which
was drawn due to rain, and the second won by Sri Lanka by 13 runs
as Zimbabwe threw it away.
"When I went in to bat I personally didn't think we should have
been in that position, needing six an over, but we were, and
Murray and I managed to carry it on at six an over, but we just
cracked under that pressure. I went for a big shot and maybe I
should just have gone for a single, and we would have had nine
off the over. But I got a bit greedy, but I thought I could hit
Murali into that cow-shot area and I failed unfortunately, and I
think that was a bit of a turning point in the game."
[More |
Scorecards]
The convenor of selectors answers your questions
In response to a request from one of our readers, Graham van
Tonder, we managed to arrange a quick interview with the convenor
of selectors, Andy Pycroft, to answer questions sent in. We are very grateful to
him for finding us time in what is an extremely busy schedule
before he leaves for South Africa next week..
"When we play a team like South
Africa we are more likely to play a spinner, or an extra spinner,
than we are against Sri Lanka, and we are more likely to
strengthen our batting when playing against South Africa than we
are against England."
[More]
The Match Referee's View: The Sri Lankan Tour
The ICC match referee for the Sri Lankan tour of Zimbabwe was
former Jamaican and West Indian wicket-keeper Jackie Hendriks. He
talks to John Ward about the series and Zimbabwean cricket in
general.
"I have been here for quite some time and I go after the final
one-day match on Sunday. I have enjoyed myself; the cricket is
obviously the reason why I am here and that has taken up most of
my time. All the matches have gone the distance, and of course
the weather has interfered with two Test matches which I thought
could have had very interesting finishes. But that's how things
go; that's cricket. I think the future for cricket in Zimbabwe is
quite bright; they have an academy in place and good coaches, and
I see they have gone to Carl Rackemann to help them with their
cricket. He's an excellent man and a very good coach, and I think
that all these things put together should be very good for the
cricket here. The cricketers here seem to be very keen to learn."
[More]
The player's view: Henry Olonga on the third one-day international
Fast bowler Henry Olonga took four wickets in Zimbabwe's third
one-day international against Sri Lanka. Here he talks to John
Ward about the match.
"Our batsmen are struggling, but our bowlers are doing a decent
job; we're not doing a fantastic job, bowling sides out for 180,
but our batsmen are struggling, and I certainly hope that one or
two of them can bat through in the next few games. That's all
that's really needed; hopefully if they can do that then it'll be
a relief for the side.
It's tough going for the whole side; we haven't won a game since
the Kenya tournament and we hope we start winning some at some
stage this year, hopefully before the end of the millenium."
[More]
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Zimbabwe under-19s prepare for South African week and World Cup
The team manager is Mr Win Justin-Smith, senior master at CBC (Christian Brothers College) in Bulawayo. He contributes his
views on the team's progress so far and their future plans.
"We then come back for a short break over Christmas and New Year,
and then are due to fly on 6 January to take part in the World
Cup Under-19 tournament, which is taking place in Sri Lanka this
year. We have been picked to play against West Indies, the
Americas and England in our group, before the positions in the
various logs will be taken into account and we will either go
into the Super Six or down into the plate event.
We should have a strong side as there are six members who played
in the Coca Cola Week last year, so they have gone through the
tournament before and know what the situation is, and will have
learnt from their experiences last year. We don't know what the
other teams in the World Cup are like, but we did well last time
and so should be able to be fully competitive this time.
[More]
Your letters
In this edition: more suggestions for the selectors, Australian Zimbabwe fans and more...
[Your letters |
Contact us.]
DOMESTIC CRICKET
Zimbabwe Board XI news
Coach Trevor Penney and captain Gus Mackay report on the Board
XI's latest matches, played at Mutare Sports Club from 9 to 11
and on 12 December 1999.
"That was quite a tight finish; we needed Wishart and Mutendera to
block out the last four overs. It was a good game of cricket but
the rain ruined it. There were bits of rain and bad light on
both the second and third days, so a lot of overs were lost. All
the Board XI bowlers bowled well on a very flat wicket and no one
did outstandingly. It was just a containing job; you couldn't
beat the bat."
[More]
Provincial Cricket News - Manicaland
by Michelle Burmester
The Manicaland First XI finished 7th on the national club
first-league log earlier this year and retained their
first-league status. The Second XI played far beyond
expectations and clinched promotion to the third league and won
the knockout competition. We were fortunate enough to contract
Guy Whittall to play for our first team this year. He gave
freely of his time (whenever possible), both in the Mutare and
Chipinge, and his knowledge and expertise were of great value to
all the young cricketers he assisted.
[More]
Primary School Cricket: The Partridges
The national primary schools cricket week was held in Harare from
6 to 10 December this year. We have not yet been able to obtain
a report on the week, but we included this article by Mr Iain
('Poll') Campbell, former headmaster of Lilfordia School and
father of Zimbabwe cricketer Alistair Campbell, on the history of
the Partridges, as they were known.
"The concept of combined age-group teams at levels below the
traditional Nuffield (high school) sides was initially mooted by
Messrs George Wells and 'Weary' Maxwell. In 1954 their original
'Fawns' XI took the field in a series of matches against local
opposition. Their catchment area and sphere of operation was
limited to Mashonaland in the first instance, but the pioneer
squad contained many who were to become well-known cricketers in
domestic circles, and one lad, Jackie du Preez, would earn
international honours."
[More]
Club Cricket News
Round Six of the Vigne Cup was scheduled to take place on Sunday
12 December. After a great deal of rain, only the well-drained Alexandra
Sports Club ground was fit for play, and the other two matches
were therefore abandoned. Rain and bad light caused problems
with the one match that did take place, and when the match
eventually had to be left unfinished the Duckworth-Lewis
regulations were brought into operation, but the situation was so
complex that the results were not known until two days later,
when Tony Lewis himself had been contacted and sent in his
verdict.
[More | Vigne Cup]
Picture of the Week
The lovely Queen's Sports Club ground, Bulawayo
(photo by Alex Campbell )
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