Zimbabwe: Midlands cricket report

1 Landman Trophy

This four-team, 30-over competition has not been contested for several years but has been revived in Kwekwe this season. Kwekwe have three sides and Gweru make up the fourth.

2 Midlands League

The Midlands league once again ran successfully in 1998/99 with the participating sides being Kwekwe Sports Club, Chegutu Sports Club, Kadoma Sports Club and Kwekwe Queens. This league ran from September to December with each side playing the other on a home and away basis. This league has developed a very keen competitive edge with clubs like Chegutu gaining strength every year. They have recently purchased a bowling machine and practise under floodlights three nights a week. Kadoma and Kwekwe have similar facilities and Kwekwe Queens are working hard on improvements at their ground.

3 National League.

A Kwekwe Districts team was entered into the National Fourth League in 1998/99 and performed very well, not losing a single game in the league itself and only losing in the play-off final to Manicaland. This season we have two sides participating in the third and fourth leagues; the term 'Kwekwe Districts' is used as players are selected from both Kwekwe-based clubs.

4 Logan Cup.

A Midlands team strengthened by the inclusion of our three ex-Academy coaches has been entered into the Logan Cup First-class competition. Whilst we are not yet strong enough to pose a serious threat to the larger provinces, this is definitely a step in the right direction by the Z.C.U. in establishing a country-wide, first-class structure.

5 The Nissan Centre of Excellence.

This Centre was officially opened on Friday 12 November by Nissan Zimbabwe Marketing Manager Bruce Ogilvy. It was very pleasing to see the Chief Executive of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, Mr Dave Ellman-Brown, down for the occasion. Dave congratulated the Midlands board on their work to date and pledged further support from the National body. The President of the local Rotary club (who donated the bowling machine) fired the very first delivery to Sanath Jayasuriya who played it competently. We are all now looking forward to the arrival of the coaches in January which should boost Cricket in the Midlands area tremendously. Our profound thanks are extended to Nissan Zimbabwe for their support of Midlands Cricket.

6 Tours.

Following the success of the England A game in January we were awarded matches involving Sri Lanka and Border when the fixture lists were issued. This is encouraging for the Midlands Association as, with these fixtures plus Logan Cup and National League, there is a tremendous amount of cricket being played in the province, particularly at Kwekwe Sports Club.

7 Development.

The Centre of Excellence offers greater opportunities for keen youngsters. There are three artificial turf nets adjacent to two grass nets, plus a bowling machine. The entire facility is under floodlights and therefore for the first time in Kwekwe practices do not have to conclude at dusk. Further development will include the improvement and expansion of the changing room/ablution facilities and the construction of a permanent covered stand.

8 Coaching.

Three ex-National Academy coaches will arrive in Kwekwe in January 2000 and they will be gainfully employed coaching and furthering the game throughout the Province. There are three areas of responsibility.

A Coaching existing cricket-playing schools.

B Reintroducing the game to ex-cricket playing schools.

C High-density.