Letters

AN AUSTRALIAN ON AUSTRALIAN UMPIRING

No, they didn't cope very well, did they? But I bet you don't hear about the 'catch' that Heath took, and although umpire Hair was just metres away AND watching he couldn't even make the decision, he then asked the third umpire AND he gave a GREEN light, not a white as should have been used, not only then but all season for the suss decisions. Then Whittall coped a shocker of a lbw decision, and Nagamootoo had the audacity to think he deserved the wicket. Think back also to the 'catch' Carlisle took off Ponting. Most of the fault then actually lay with Ponting himself for seeing it was caught then not believing Carlisle. World Champions in winning, but NOT in the spirit of the game!! Andy Symonds was also just as much to blame for his NON golden duck in Hobart. Unfortunately the umpiring this year has been SHOCKING. I for one expected no less for not only Zimbabwe but also for the WI when they arrived. Lara took at least two catches this year that were taken off him through the third umpire system. When England were last over here Slater in one of the Tests should have been run out without scoring BUT the third umpire gave him not out. He WAS definitely OUT and he went on to score a great ton. Australia were the first to bitch about umpires on tour for years, BUT heaven help any country that tours here. Just ask Sri Lanka. All this of course doesn't let Zimbabwe off the hook for the poor performances they have put in in the last couple of games. They had a fantastic opportunity, but blew it. Let's hope they can beat Bangladesh in April!!! I hope Zimbabwe open with Marillier and Madondo on Sunday as it's a dead game and experience is all that the players will get out of the game.

Leon Bain (Australia)

SPORTSMEN v BUSINESSMEN

I had the opportunity to watch Zim v Aus at the one-day SCG match recently. Having recently arrived in Australia I was determined to remain neutral out of deference to my ex-Zim, now Australian host. However, watching the repeated bad sportsmanship of a number of the players (not just Warne) contrasted by the dignity, defiance, humour and sheer humaness of the Zimbabwe team, I was forced to reveal my true colours - RED, RED and more RED. This visit has left me proud to be even vaguely associated with the Zim team - not a bunch of white farmers as some idiot reporter said (I'm sure Nkala and Madondo would be pleased about that!), but a bunch of talented Davids facing a well-trained, well-funded and contemptuous Goliath. The condescending, patronizing and uninformed grilling I get every time someone realizes I'm Zimbabwean is worth it every time one of our guys hits a boundary. I know it's all about money these days but sometimes I wonder why they don't have a sportsmanship award, we'd win it every time.

C. O'Connor (Australia)

SO NEAR YET SO FAR!

Dave Houghton once said about South Africa in the Standard Bank tri-series, "The South African team is after all made up of eleven men and they are not superhuman." The same applies to the Aussies. Zimbo's superhuman effort battered the Aussies to the rope but couldn't deliver the clear punch. It could have been an upset to beat all upsets, something so dramatic that it took a while for the result to sink in. Most of the time it's death-or-glory stuff for Stuey Carlisle at No. three spot and on the current Down Under tour he has tasted plenty of both but inside him who has perfected the boys stood on the burning deck routine, there is a kamikaze pilot itching to get out. Today rather than the intimidated by the target he led the way by smashing 119. He had a chance to finish the match off but smashed the ball directly to Mark. Remember very few kamikaze pilot stories have happy endings. "If it is going to be, it's up to me," Douggie Marillier must have thought before the final over and he batted as if he was a veteran of ODIs. His two boundaries were breathtaking in the end, though Zimbos were plucky but not lucky enough. Touring Australia is like a passing through cricket's original school of hard knocks and Streak and Company have emerged from this brutal environment with their reputation enhanced. We don't need Johnsons and Goodwins to clinch series as we have proved twice. The best thing is we are youngest in world cricket if you look at the average age. So we'll be much better prepared next time, Aussies.

Dr. Situ (India)

PROUD OF ZIMBABWE

We are sending this message to the Zimbabwean cricket team to tell them how proud we are of them at the conclusion of their tour to Australia. Through many atrocious umpiring decisions they have proved themselves to be sportsmen in the true sense of the word. They played an excellent game against Australia and I only wish they had won. None the less we have pointed to our two sons throughout the series and said the Zimbabwean's are who you should emulate. The Australian win-at-any-cost dictum is not the way to teach the game of cricket to those who follow. Congratulations!

Fiona and Keith Fincham (Brisbane, Australia)

TEST CRICKET IN WINTER?

I trust you and the other Zimbos have recovered from the near miss of almost overhauling Australia's 300+ total. Too bad they didn't put up this type of fight earlier. I watched the highlights on Sky. I notice that Zimbabwe are scheduled to play cricket in winter this year-- what gives? Not that I'm complaining, mind you, as every match helps. Is there any history of the sport having been played in winter in Zimbabwe? Finally, surely the ZCU can mend the fence with Murray Goodwin-- the guy seems to be dying to play for his country again. I hope somebody take the initiative here. Anderson Mutemererwa (cold and grey Hull, England!) Reply: First-class cricket has not been played in the Zimbabwean winter before, but the farmers have always played winter cricket to keep them active during their slack season. The problem has been the difficulty of persuading other countries to tour Zimbabwe at what is for them the busiest time of year and for us the wettest, so the ZCU have invited them to tour during our winter, with success. Regarding Murray Goodwin, the team were expecting to meet up with him in Perth and that item is no doubt top of their agenda! So we await developments. Murray is contracted to play for Sussex in the next English season, though, so he would not be available for us before September.

WELL DONE, ZIM B

Congratulations to our Zimbabwe B side playing at Harare South for winning both the three-day and one-day matches against North West. Keep up the good work.

George and Bets Penney (Harare)

AN AUSTRALIAN'S VIEW

Michael Gorey of Australia kindly sent us a copy of the following letter, addressed to The Age newspaper in Melbourne: Congratulations to the Zimbabwean cricket team on their relatively successful tour of Australia. The tour was marked by a series of dubious umpiring decisions which must surely pose a question mark over the future of home umpires in international games. Australian commentators have vigorously defended our umpires in the past, while happily criticizing those from Africa and the sub-continent. It's time we realized that our umpires are among the worst in the world. Examples from the recent series include critical LBWs against Alistair Campbell and Guy Whittall, disputed catches against Stuart Carlisle and Heath Streak, and the amazing non-catch involving Andrew Symonds in Hobart. Australian umpires were also zealous enough to cost Zimbabwe a borderline 'short run' in the final game at Perth that ended in a one-run defeat for the visitors. I hope the Australian Cricket Board rewards the gallant visitors with a Test series in the near future. Zimbabwe's cricketing fortunes depend on support from the rest of the world.

Michael Gorey (Australia)

EVERBLOOMING FLOWERS

Flowers everblooming A record-breaking week If we just had one Goodwin We'd be on a winning Streak. That humorous placard at the WACA perhaps summed up a side who won plenty of friends, if not matches. The Zim cricketers are a talented bunch and the 'Flower power' of the pitch is translated off the wicket as well. It was a pleasure to listen to Andy Flower on a three-man panel at the WACA a few days before that great climatic ODI of the season that saw a gallant Zim fail by just run to catch Australia's 302 ( and if a tired Stuart Carlisle had not been given one short run towards the end of his great knock of 119 the scores would have been tied). It was also a pleasure to have Andy on our table at the Save the Rhino fund-raiser, at the Hyatt, after the match. An easy conversationalist, the senior Zim player is a perfect ambassador for his country being good-humoured, intelligent and witty. In fact the 'good ambassador' statement can be applied to many of the Zim players. Having had a long conversation with Stuart Carlisle, at the WACA function, and observing Heath Streak handle his official duties as skipper, this is indeed an unspoiled side that will continue to win friends - and they will win more games with greater experience in the international arena. With the political tensions and hatreds being fomented by certain politicians it really is refreshing to witness the decency of young cricketers, (and read of their attempts to develop communal harmony on this website). These sportsmen represent the best values of their country. More power to Zim cricket - and count me in, as a supporter and potential helper.

John Elsegood (Radio 6MD, Merredin, Western Australia)