For Zimbabwe, the only way is up after 2001

Another disappointing year for Zimbabwe cricket was punctuated by some fine performances. Despite securing two Test series wins - against fellow rookies Bangladesh - Zimbabwe still struggle to regularly compete with world cricket's elite.

Anything which happened on the field was overshadowed in June, with the news of Trevor Madondo's untimely death. The first black batsman to be picked for Zimbabwe, he died of malaria on June 11. In four Test matches, he made 74 not out against New Zealand in what proved to be his last Test innings. He was 24.

Andy Flower was characteristically superb. The classy left-hander averaged 90 in Tests this year, hitting three centuries in nine matches. Predictably, it was Heath Streak who led the way with the ball, with 32 Test scalps.

This was a season where Zimbabwe tried a wide variety of bowlers, in search for the best back-up to Streak. Andy Blignaut was the most successful, while Travis Friend shone in Bangladesh. Despite this, there is a long way to go before Zimbabwe's attack is to be considered particularly potent.

Whilst the talent of the leading performers is evident, consistency has never been Zimbabwe's watch-word. Indeed, it is their persistent inconsistency which has led to a rapid turnover in the captaincy. This year alone has seen Streak resign and Stuart Carlisle stepping in following an injury to new skipper Brian Murphy. Murphy later dropped himself before Zimbabwe's post-Christmas defeat in Sri Lanka. Guy Whittall and Alistair Campbell skippered in several ODI's after an injury to Streak.

Zimbabwe began the year in the antipodes. They were victorious in a one-day series with New Zealand, recovering from 64-5 to successfully chase 274. Andy Flower led the way with 81, but it was Streak's 79 - at better than a run a ball and with five sixes - which secured a marvellous win.

Such excellent form was not repeated across the Tasman. Zimbabwe managed only one win in eight Carlton Series matches. It was a performance against Australia, where they lost, which was the most impressive. Chasing 303 to win at the WACA, a century from Carlisle and 85 from Grant Flower left the visitors agonisingly one run short.

The ZCU wisely took the decision to move the time of Test matches. Traditionally, Zimbabwe had played in the traditional Southern Hemisphere summer. This is also the wet season. The Union realised that matches were being scuppered by the weather, and that winter was the best time for cricket, with generally clear skies. The move was a qualified success, Zimbabwe can attract sides more easily at non-traditional time, and the weather was better. Matches did however, regularly start with the mercury hovering in single figures, and crowds were consequentially fairly disappointing.

Zimbabwe's home schedule saw four two Test series. Such series are often disappointing, with neither side able to show their authority over a prolonged period. Still, they are a necessary evil if the ICC Test Championship is to flourish.

The Bangladesh team made their first trip to Africa as a full Test nation, and Zimbabwe smelled blood. Few more than 100 people were present at the first day of the contest. Despite Bangladesh's obvious frailties, Zimbabwe still had to take the game from them. The home side performed well, winning by an innings in Bulawayo and eight wickets in Harare. Andy Blignaut impressed on debut, collecting eight wickets in the Bulawayo rout. In Harare, a solid first innings total of 421 set-up victory. Sadly, Bangladesh were unable to challenge significantly in the one-day series, victims of a 3-0 clean sweep.

With the minnows tamed, Zimbabwe turned to tougher tasks. With India's dreadful reputation away from home, Zim sensed an upset. India triumphed in the first Test, benefiting from a poor Zimbabwe batting display, where only Andy Flower (51 and 83) escaped blame. The show moved to Harare, where Zimbabwe fought back hard to claim their second Test win of the year. Streak and Blignaut were in the wickets, and a half-century from Carlisle secured victory by four wickets.

Throughout the year, school-children had been bussed to the cricket. This ensured a noisy, lively atmosphere in grounds that would have been otherwise empty.

Following a tri-series where they lost all of their four matches, Zimbabwe's form dropped against a resurgent West Indies, who had won the three team tournament. In the Tests, West Indies dominated. Without Andy Flower at Bulawayo, the hosts were skittled for 155 and 228.

Though the Harare Test finished a tame draw, there was enormous encouragement for the hosts. Hamilton Masakadza, just 17 years old, struck a century on debut. Masakadza - like Tatenda Taibu, who had made his debut in Flower's absence - is a product of the Zimbabwe Academy. With a cover drive for four he became the youngest player ever to hit a Test century (though Mohammad Ashraful who re-write the records later in the year) and a star was born. Masakadza continued good, if not so spectacular form, throughout the year. Craig Wishart, back from the wilderness, struck a hard-hitting 93 in the same match.

With Spring approaching, South Africa made the trip north. Zimbabwe had only six weeks off before the series, which was destined to be one-sided. The first day at Harare Sports Club was men against boys. South Africa crashed 414-1, before closing their innings at 600-3. Andy Flower (142 and 199) was supported by Dion Ebrahim who hit 71 in the first innings, and Masakadza with 85 in the second.

Bad weather ruined the Bulawayo Test. Half centuries from Campbell, Ebrahim and Andy Flower, helped Zimbabwe to a first innings 419. Travis Friend and Raymond Price picked up wickets, but could not prevent South Africa reaching over 500. With no time left in the game, Zimbabwe batted out for a draw.

The home side lost the one-day series 3-0, a disappointing result which was compounded when England swept them 5-0 in a hastily arranged one-day series. It was a turgid, poor quality series, attracting attention only after the ugly spat between Andy Flower and James Foster.

Streak announced his resignation in October, citing dropping form as one of his reasons. Murphy, who had struggled all year with injury, was appointed captain. Murphy could do nothing to turn around Zimbabwe's poor form in one day cricket (in 37 matches in 2001 they won only 10, six against Bangladesh) as they failed to win a game in Sharjah.

The Test series in Bangladesh was always likely to prove more successful. Wishart made 94 as Zimbabwe hit 431 after Friend had picked up five first innings wickets to scupper Bangladesh's hopes for a solid start. The Dhaka rains prevented a result, but there was no stopping the tourists in Chittagong. Carlisle took over the captaincy as Murphy was forced home through injury. Wishart blasted his first Test century, and Trevor Gripper came back to form with a correct 112. Andy Flower weighed in with 114, split into parts after he was forced to retire hurt, to set up a first innings 542-7.

The fact that Zimbabwe needed Grant Flower to bowl over 50 overs in the match - he picked up eight wickets in a comfortable win - highlights the bareness of the Zimbabwe spin bowling cupboard, a problem which would further hurt them as their Asian adventure continued.

On to Sri Lanka, and yet another tri-series, this time Sri Lanka and West Indies were Zimbabwe's combatants. Murphy's side managed only one victory - a fine performance against West Indies - and failed to make the final. Worse still, they were bowled out for 38, the lowest one day score. Calamitous news followed, as Murphy first dropped himself, and then returned home from the tour as the Tests began. Carlisle took over what was fast becoming a poisoned chalice.

The first Test in Sri Lanka was a disaster, with Sri Lanka launching a powerful assault on the Zim bowling. The visitors missed out, scoring 184 in the first innings and 236 in the second, gifting the Lankans an innings and 166 run victory.

With so few spinning options, the tour to Sri Lanka looks doomed. India will offer further tough challenges, before a well earned break. The winter sees Australia touring, and it is vital that Zimbabwe learn to compete consistently. Flower and Streak are top performers, and Wishart, Ebrahim, Friend and Masakadza showed a glimpse of their talent. There is a long way to go, but the only way for Zimbabwe cricket is up.