David Cochrane (England)

I belong to a cricket club in England called Hutton Cricket Club. During the mid-eighties we had Angus Mackay in our first team for a season. I am listening to S.A. v Zimbabwe on the radio and whilst logging on to your website saw Angus`s name among the records and wondered what had happened to him since his visit to our club. I am involved in club affairs at Hutton C.C. and always keep an interest in ex club players. I would be grateful if you could give me any information on the said player. Many thanks.

Reply: Inspired by your letter, we include an interview with Gus in this issue.

Pat Moody (England)

Many thanks for the great work you are doing with Zimbabwean cricket. I am a Zimbabwean living in the UK and have only really become interested in cricket in the years I have been away from Zim, 12 now! I think the media coverage here has attracted me to the sport and the fact that Zimbabwe had a successful couple of years up until the Super Sixes at the World Cup. I was lucky enough to see Zim play against Australia at Lords in the World Cup, which was a memorable day, with Neil Johnson carrying his bat after a wonderful innings. Unfortunately he was not supported well enough by his team-mates on that day.

I have actually started playing cricket myself in the last 3 years at a village club 'Warfield' in Berkshire, quite a late starter, as I shall be 40 this year. I only wish I had taken up the sport years ago but I am really enjoying the village cricket I am managing to play and I look forward to the start of the season in a few months time, especially with Zimbabwe visiting as well. One of the great aspects of the game is that it can be played at quite a late age. We have one member who is close to 65 and still taking many wickets with his accurate spin bowling, apparently he was a fast bowler until sprinting into bowl got too much for him! I only wish that young cricketers with talent such as Adam Huckle would make the best use their youth before time eludes them! Warfield Cricket Club was founded in 1787, which gives some perspective on the history of sport over here. I don't believe we have had any great names in the sport over the years but do know that Archibald Campbell MacLaren, who once captained England and played for them between 1894 and 1909, had a family home in the Warfield area. He is buried in the Warfield church cemetery quite close to our club grounds.

I listened intently to the first of the one-day games in the Standard Bank tournament yesterday. About 30 more runs from Zim would really have made an exciting game. It was good to have the game broadcast on radio and Satellite TV. As good as the ball by ball Internet coverage is, and sometimes the only source of following a Zim match, it is still nice to have more descriptive live commentary. Good luck Zimbabwe. Believe in yourselves again - YOU CAN DO IT!

I grew-up in Bulawayo and went to college at the Bulawayo Tech with Ian Ellman-Brown. Does anyone have any knowledge of his whereabouts, as I know he was an enthusiastic member of Queens Sports Club along with Jeff Fenwick?

Reply: Thanks very much indeed; it is good to know we are so valued overseas. Jeff Fenwick is now an umpire in Matabeleland who has stood in several first-class matches. As ZCU chief executive Dave Ellman-Brown is away at present, we have not yet been able to contact him to see if Ian is a relative.

Nathan M

With the Adam Huckle thing, maybe you could get a petition sort of thing put together, getting as many people like fans and teammates to sign it with them maybe leaving positive messages in there as well. I know this is a lot for a guy in a situation like his (I don't know what it is), but it may spur him back into action.

Also, what has happened with Paul Strang? I read in CricInfo that he is the coach of the Zimbabwe U-19 team, is he still playing for Zimbabwe? And I think Henry Olonga should be given more of a go. He missed out on the first game of the one-day series against South Africa. I know he can be a bit erratic, but if his bowling can get tight, he could be Zimbabwe's leading strike bowler taking the load and pressure off Heath Streak and giving them that extra pace that that they need. Trevor Madondo or maybe Trevor Gripper should also be given a go, if Carlisle and Wishart don't perform in the one-day series.

I see Sri Lanka with their preparations starting already for the W.C. bringing in a heap of young players so they can blood them into the international cricket scene leading up to the W.C., South Africa too with leaving Donald out of the one-day squad. What things are Zimbabwe doing at the moment?

Reply: A good idea about Adam Huckle, but I don't think this publication can really take the lead in it. I believe he lives at Croome Farm, Turk Mine, if anybody wishes to follow it up. Paul Strang is still waiting for an arm injury to heal and is looking to being available possibly for the tour to West Indies. I think Zimbabwe's main concern at the moment is simply to start performing to potential again with the best players they have right now!

Gerard Kavonic (South Africa)

I'd like to know what has happened to Craig Evans. Zim seem to lack someone who can score big-time in the middle order. Has he retired ? If so, is there anyone up and coming who the selectors have their eye on? All my best to the Zim squad ! I'm a keen supporter.

Reply: Thanks very much. Craig is still around, and our issue number 7 contained his biography. His form in international cricket, especially his bowling, trailed off over the last year or so, and he is not really in contention for the national side at the moment.

Trevor Mcintosh (New Zealand)

It is great to see some school scores and commentary on your pages. This is where it all starts and even though I never played for the first XI it has brought memories flooding back, particularly of playing for Eaglesvale at Lomagundi.

It was also very good to read of 'Bomber' Campbell in another part of your publication.

Reply: As a result of your letter, we decided to interview Don Campbell and include his biography in this issue.

George Moyo (South Africa)

I just got to see your great site and I'd like to congratulate you on its inception. I would like to appeal to the ZCU to consider playing some of their matches in East London or Ntselamanzi cricket grounds on their next tour to South Africa, because of the large number of Zimbabwean students at the universities of Fort Hare and Rhodes which will support the boys. I think we have a good team at the moment and wish them the best in the Triangular series.

Reply: That would be a good idea, but the United Cricket Board of South Africa arrange the itineraries, so perhaps it would be best to approach them in good time for Zimbabwe's next visit down south - whenever that may be!

Peter Holdridge (UK)

I was listening to commentary on today's one day international (on radio in England) and heard the commentator say he could see someone reading a book titled "Olonga's Magic Over". (At least I think it was a book and not just a newspaper article). No prizes for guessing that the 'over' in question was the final over of the Zimbabwe vs. India World Cup match. Well I was there and it was the most dramatic and exciting five minutes I have seen on any sports field ever (and I was at the tied semi-final).

Is there such a book and if so do you know how I could buy a copy?

Congratulations to Zimbabwe on today's win. I hope Darren Maddy gets a game next time!

Reply: We don't know of it - does anybody else?

Christopher Megone (UK)

As England are playing Zimbabwe in a one-day game at Kimberley today I thought I would pop in to your website to see how Zimbabwe cricket is these days. At the same time heard David Houghton on the radio being interviewed by Mark Nicholas, and he spoke a little about your academy and the development of first class cricket. Given the overall state of Zimbabwe at present at least so far as one can tell from the radio and newspapers over here I marvel at what is being achieved. Having read some of your archive history on cricket in Rhodesia/ Zimbabwe back through the decades, and all your work on the website it is obvious that you put an enormous amount into Zimbabwe cricket, and I congratulate you on an excellent website and lots of interesting reporting.

Have never been to Zimbabwe, though have been out on one or two trips to South Africa, including five months at Rhodes University in Grahamstown. Hope to visit some day, and that in the meantime both your cricket and the country as a whole continue to develop through what seem, as I say, to be difficult times.

Reply: Much appreciated, thank you, and hope you can visit us one day!

Beverly Treml (UK)

I am trying to find information on Colin Bland. My husband who has been following cricket for far longer than I have tells me that Colin was an even better fielder than Jonty Rhodes. This I find hard to believe!

I can find only very basic facts on the Zimbabwe cricket website and no picture. Would it be possible to have an article in the newsletter telling more about this remarkable cricketer? Reply:

Reply: Yes, we have still plenty of work to do in many areas on our website, and biographies of past players will certainly be tackled before too long. In the meantime former ZCU president Alwyn Pichanick has agreed to write us an article on Colin, which we hope will be ready for our next issue. Unfortunately in our present financial state we cannot yet publish photos ourselves.

ZIMBABWE'S VICE-CAPTAIN

Here are letters we had in response to our survey about who readers thought should be Zimbabwe's vice-captain. It is possible that some letters got lost while I had my computer problems; if any reader's letter is not included here, please send it again and we will publish the best next week.

MURRAY GOODWIN?

Good to see the online still online (was getting a little worried for a bit). In regards to the national vice captain I feel (and I may be a tad bias in favour of the Aussie connection here) that Murray Goodwin has the credentials and the capabilities to fill the role, with aspirations of assuming the higher captaincy position at some later date. I am of the belief that Zimbabwe are in need of a much harder edge to their cricket if they are to become "winners". To be a winner you must think as a winner; losing does not enter the fray at all. Unfortunately the Zimbos seem to give in to themselves more so than the opposition and thus make the job of defeating them all the more facile for these opposing sides (easy game for the mentally tough sides). With Murray's exposure in the toughest of all arenas, Australia (arguable but not an unreasonable assertion), I believe that this will enable him to be the tough, uncompromising leader Zimbabwe are in need of. Appointing him V.C would be a positive move and would give Murray the chance to warm to an official leadership role whilst learning, from a most capable Andy Flower, the more intricate facets of captaincy. Within 2-3 years I would envisage Murray captaining Zimbabwe. Thank you.

Martin Lauritsen (Geraldton , West Australia)

I think there is only one viable choice with Neil Johnson's decision to step down from the Vice Captaincy and that is Murray Goodwin. In reality he is one of the few batsmen in the side which is truly of Test class and has a good understanding of the game and a deep thinker. With Alistair Campbell resigning due to pressure and Andy Flower unwilling to continue in the long term, I think it would be very wise if Zimbabwe cricket were to invest in Murray as their future Captain for the next decade. I'm sure it would be money well spent.

Steve Blacker (Australia)

HEATH STREAK?

I think that Heath Streak is a great choice for the position. He thoroughly deserves it for being the backbone of Zimbabwe's bowling attack for some time now. If he can stay injury-free, he is at a good age and has plenty of experience to one day maybe captain the team. I think Goodwin, G. Flower or P. Strang would be in line after Streak.

Mark Nelson (Australia)

I think Heath Streak because he has been s a member of the team for a considerable amount of time, has international standing and is not seen as an outsider who would have played for another country if he could have.

Mike Seward (Australia)

PAUL STRANG?

Of all the many responsibilities and roles falling upon a captain or vice-captain, not least must be a requirement to be there for the players. A fast bowler will unfortunately always be at higher risk of injury than almost anyone else in the team. The question to my mind becomes - is either player the right answer? Both Streak and Johnson have been struggling with injury in recent months, and have therefore not been where their captain would like his vice-captain to be - on the field in the thick of things. If your captain is not a bowler, perhaps it is best to balance up the captaincy with a bowler as vice-captain. I would suggest Paul Strang as an answer except for the obvious fact that he has also been afflicted with injury recently! Perhaps then the vice-captaincy should be given to a senior member of the team who "has been there, done that" and is capable of passing on what he has learnt in previous situations. Grant Flower, perhaps?

Graham van Tonder (UK)