By John Ward

So this was the week that Zimbabwe's cricketers probably put themselves out of the Carlton and United finals, due mainly to their own erratic performances, especially in the field. Like many another side in world cricket these days, they seem to find consistency beyond them.

International cricketers the world over these days are perhaps overworked. Ten or more Test matches, thirty or more one-day internationals – some players spend perhaps 25 per cent of the days in a year on the international playing field. This may not sound much compared to other jobs, but few other jobs require a person to perform for hour after hour in full public gaze, both within the ground and on television, and involve such stress in so many different ways. Only the players themselves can fully understand the pressures involved in their chosen lifestyle, and there must be days when they just don't have the energy to perform their best. [More]

COMMENT

Thoughts on Zimbabwe in Australia

When a side has been soundly beaten, an essential question to ask is, "Did we play as well as we could have done?" No doubt the Zimbabwe players asked that question of themselves after last Sunday's match against Australia, and they could not have avoided the inevitable answer. They did not.

The batting was perhaps the least blameworthy department of their game. They achieved a respectable total - but I did get the impression that this was the sum total of their ambitions. There was a fine opening stand between Alistair Campbell and Guy Whittall, who took advantage of some erratic bowling by Brett Lee, rusty after time off through injury, and managed to avoid running each other out. Hopefully the selectors will now give them a good long run together at the top of the order, instead of chopping and changing yet again. The opening pair has been changed nine times already in one-day cricket so far this season, and that statistic speaks for itself. [More]

BIOGRAPHY

Andy Blignaut

Andy Blignaut is one of Zimbabwe's most talented young players. He has ambitions to become his country's Lance Klusener, a powerful hitter in the lower order and a more than useful fast-medium bowler. But his career has been severely handicapped by a chronic back injury. As he works his way back to full fitness, he talks about it to John Ward.

Andy made his debut in one-day cricket last season, with little success to start with. He just seemed to be on the verge of finding his feet with a couple of brief but powerfully hit innings against Australia when his back let him down and put him out of international cricket for several months. He toured West Indies, although not full fit, and then Sri Lanka with Zimbabwe A, before the back struck again. [More]

  NEWS

Old Hararians finish on top

Club cricket report by Clive Ruffell
The final round of Castle Lager National League fixtures produced exciting cricket as the teams scrambled for a top-four finish on the log and thereby qualify for the semi-finals. [More]

LETTERS

Congrats, Zimbabwe!
Are the Zimbabwean cricketers Christians? If not they have surely gained an inkling of what it is like to have a Saviour! On Tuesday I had the opportunity to see Zimbabwe live for the first time. I must say how impressed I am with the calibre of Heath Streak, batsman, bowler and captain. He played with such maturity and skill. Firstly his innings. Only one boundary (a leg glance)! For a batsman with a reputation as a big hitter, he summed up the situation and played with the tenacity required of a captain's innings.
Zimbabwe look to be gaining a stronger tail. Murphy must be rated the best No.11 in the world, he looked so solid. Perhaps this helped Streak's temperament. Having seen the team make only 138 I felt that I was gaining some empathy for long-suffering Zimbabwe fans. However from Streak's first over I felt some hope. Although the openers managed 16, Streak had yet to concede a run. Then for the next hour or so something happened that has few parallels in Zimbabwean cricket - the bowlers were unstoppable! The Windies lost 8 for 15! One of the most shattering bowling displays ever in international cricket. I feel somewhat spoilt in that I was able to witness such a spectacle at only my first match as a Zimbabwe fan. For all Zimbabwe fans around the world I can only say I was joyful! Absolutely joyful! About 8500 Aussies turned up, mostly neutral, looking for a spectacle. By the time Heath Streak was on a hat-trick the crowd was cheering as hard as we ever do for Australia. Fantastic.
This team is so fortunate to have a man like Heath as captain. He has all the qualities required of a Test captain. He was almost as cool under pressure as the Iceman himself, Stephen Waugh. By the way, Zimbabwe's domestic troubles are in our prayers over here in the lucky country. Remember this :- Any nation that can turn out men of the class and character of this cricket team, black and white, must have an awful lot going for it, even if many conflicts are yet to be solved. Congrats Zimbabwe!
James McMaster (Sydney, Australia)

Good Public Relations
I recently had the pleasure of meeting Heath Streak and Grant Flower at a cricket camp in Sydney which my son Sam was attending. As a parent and a junior cricket coach I was impressed with their willingness to get involved in such public appearances and the open and pleasant manner in which they talked to the kids and signed autographs. They struck me a terrific ambassadors for both the game and their country.
Ever since I have been willing them to do well in the current one-day series, and as such I was delighted to see the team, and Heath in particular, perform so well last night against the West Indies.
I would be pleased if you could pass on the Heath and his team my congratulations and best wishes for their continued success in the current one-day competition and thereafter.
Ashley Cooper (Australia)

Old Hararians champions again!

Old Hararians Sports Club have retained the Zimbabwe national club first league championship in a very close finish, beating Kwekwe last weekend to complete the job. It was not the most clear-cut of championships, as they were one of four teams with six victories, but picked up the extra points with two abandoned matches. Captain Trevor Penney spoke to John Ward about his club's season.

It is perhaps a little surprising that, with their reported problems over the captaincy in the last few seasons, Warwickshire have not considered Trevor Penney. Trevor is most highly rated in Zimbabwe, and his success with Old Hararians Sports Club is proof of his ability to lead an enthusiastic and successful team. [More]

Winstonians leads as cricket goes to townships
By Stephen Mangongo
Winstonians Cricket club is the first high-density (township) based team to play in the Mashonaland Vigne Cup and the national first leagues. Winstonians is based in Highfield's Zimbabwe Grounds, plot five, near Machipisa Shopping Centre.

In 1993 Stephen Mangongo, the then Zimbabwe cricket development coach, was frustrated by seeing his Chipembere and Mbizi primary school cricketers failing to pursue playing as no proper playing facilities existed. He then decided to form Winstonians with assistance from Givemore Makoni, Emmanuel Dube and Peter Sharples. Winstonians started in the national and Mashonaland Vigne Cup third leagues. [More]

SCHOOLS

Prince Edward
By Paul Bourdillon (1st XI Coach)
Prince Edward School was once a cricketing great amongst high schools in our country (boasting products such as Hick, Houghton, Penny, Brandes, Pohl and many others) but has sadly fallen away (though merely in this area!) over the past several years. I have taken over as coach of the first XI from George Lee-Bell, who is now at Falcon College.

Our first fixture was against Peterhouse, with firsts, thirds, and Under-16, Under-15 and Under-14 A teams at Peterhouse and the seconds and B teams at PE. This is our regular pipe-opener, and is not the best one for building confidence, as Peterhouse remain one of the giant cricketing schools. [More]

St John's College
By A.C. Vincent (1st XI Coach)
The end of year 2000 saw the departure of Mr Peter Whalley from St John's College. Mr Whalley has for many years been a leading light in Zimbabwean schools cricket and indeed in cricket at St John's College. The College takes this opportunity to wish Mr Whalley well in his future in the United Kingdom.

Cricket at St John's College continues however to develop from strength to strength. For the first time in many years there are four senior sides and also A, B, C and D teams in the age groups. This is an extremely healthy situation and the College is doing all in its power to encourage continued growth. To this end several outside coaches including ex-schoolboys have been invited to come in and coach. Notable amongst the outside coaches are Mr Bill Flower and Mr Kevin Curran who have offered their services and will be used throughout, offering advice and coaching at all levels and to all cricketers. There is no doubt to that all boys at St John's will enjoy and indeed benefit from the great knowledge and enthusiasm of these two coaches. [More]

Plumtree School
By Hamish Jogee
The Plumtree first eleven has lost a lot of valuable players from the previous squad. Therefore there has been an introduction of some young talent in the squad. Last year's season saw the squad going on a tour of Zimbabwe, which was very successful. The cricket festival went very well with notable performances by the likes of Terrence Duffin who managed a brilliant 198 runs against Jameson. He went on to score seven centuries and three fifties during the season. He has since left the squad and is currently at the Cricket Academy. [More]
[Plumtree v Falcon, 20 January 2001]

Watershed College
By C.N. Whitaker (master i/c cricket)
The College has a very enthusiastic young team this season with exciting prospects ahead. Besides captain Tim Hopgood, vice-captain Brendon McCay, top batsman Peter Tarr and wicket-taking spin bowler Barry Heath, who were regular first-team players last season, all other team members are new to this level of the game. [More]

Victoria High School
By Jax Shumbaimwe
A total of two games was played, with the first and Under-16 teams using a pitch at the Masvingo Sports Club and one at Kyle College respectively. Tinashe Chitsaka of Victoria High scored 44 not out and took six wickets. Willem was the best player from Kyle College team, scoring 25 runs and taking one wicket.

Clifford Mugota of Victoria Under-16 scored 17 runs and took a wicket. The team captain Tavona Rushwaya managed to keep the team disciplined and focused on the game despite losing the match. The Under-16 teams of these two schools have a rivalry that has been quite close in terms of performance; their score range and difference has been no more than three runs. [More]

Hillcrest College Results
By Hugh Knaggs [More]

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