Matabeleland report

The Matabeleland selectors have named a squad of 13 players for the forthcoming Logan Cup match against Mashonaland on 15 to 18 February, at Bulawayo Athletic Club in Bulawayo. The team will be captained by Ryan King in the absence of Mbangwa who will be playing in South Africa with the Zimbabwe Board XI.

Ryan King, Captain, Queens
Warren Gilmour, Vice-Captain, Queens
Mike McKillop, BAC
Munir Mukadam, Crescent
Norman Mukondiwa, BAC
Tawanda Mupariwa, BAC
Gavin Ewing, Queens
Jason Hitz, BAC
Mercury Kenny, BSC
Wisdom Siziba, Mac Club
Greg Strydom, Queens
Matthew Townshend, Queens
Colin Williams, BAC

The side has suffered a heavy blow with the loss of key players at a vital stage, the beginning of the competition. Former national captain Steak is away with the national side in India, Mbangwa and Nkala are with the Board XI in South Africa, while Dabengwa and Mahachi are out with injury and one of the leading wicket-takers in the competition, Ian Engelbrecht, who has been continually overlooked by the national selectors, has decided to travel to the UK to further his cricket.

The side is strong in bowling, although that so-called strength has to be tested against better opposition than most have played against, and somewhat weak in batting, which makes a fairly unbalanced side. The problem area is in the important 3, 4 and 5 batting positions, more so in four-day matches.

King is likely to open with Siziba and then who to follow becomes a problem. Young Strydom has the potential but is still young and impetuous and plays one-day cricket shots which are out of place in that position. The players most likely to slot in will be Kenny, Gilmour - who may well reveal his undoubted talent with more responsibility - Strydom and McKillop. If two spinners play, Ewing and Kenny, then one cannot play all your seamers, Townshend, Hitz, Mukondiwa, Mupariwa and Mukadam, as both Strydom and McKillop can bowl seam.

The other most important fact of this match is that no players have ever played a four-day match or have the knowledge to play the longer version of the game. Very few would have the stamina to bat a whole day or more - interesting times ahead.

Townshend and Hitz will open the bowling, both of whom have been bowling well recently. Hitz is to be commended on making the side again after spending last season as twelfth man, but his commitment and dedication are an inspiration to all his team mates and he deserves success.