Mahwire on the comeback trail

Blessing Mahwire has completed six weeks of corrective coaching to rectify his suspect bowling action. Mahwire was reported by Mike Procter, the match referee, during Zimbabwe's first Test against Sri Lanka at Harare in May, but has since been working with Geoff Marsh, the coach, and Phil Simmons, the coach of the Zimbabwean academy.

According to an AFP report, Vince Hogg, the outgoing managing director of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, said that Mahwire was working on a more side-on action to try to correct his tendency of straightening the arm. "Blessing is keen to work with our coaches to do whatever is necessary to improve."

Hogg, who will take leave of his office on August 6, also indicated that Mahwire would not be part of the Zimbabwean squad for the next three months, and would play only a four-day match against India A in July. "This is so that his action can be assessed under match conditions," explained Hogg. "As an extra precaution, before selecting Blessing for further representative cricket, we are considering sending him to Cape Town, South Africa, in September to be assessed by Dr Tim Noakes [a body-movement expert] if this is deemed necessary."

Mahwire is expected to be fully available for selection again by January 2005, when Zimbabwe return to Test cricket with a series against Bangladesh.