Meet the Matabeleland players

We have a very young side: apart from Neil van Rensburg who is 34, the oldest player we have is Warren Gilmour who is 22, with Chuckie Coventry being 17. In those five years we have ten players, which is encouraging, but lacking experience. We are trying to mould them into a side with team spirit, to play the game hard but within the laws of the game. They will benefit from the coaching and experience; some of the squad were able to bowl to Australia and Sri Lanka, and I think Carl Rackemann helped them. We have the makings of a good side, and as long as they're keen, want to play, and above all enjoy the game, that's all we ask.

Charles Coventry - Charles is a CBC (Christian Brothers College) schoolboy who played for the Zimbabwe Under-19 team this year and went down to the Coca-Cola Week. He is a very talented player, very strong on the front foot; he has kept wicket before but should concentrate mainly on his batting. He has a lot of potential. His father has umpired in first-class cricket, but unfortunately for various reasons he is not standing this season, but he will probably return next season.

Wisdom Siziba - Wisdom is a very keen young player from the western suburbs of Bulawayo, one of the players who attends all the practices. He has limited footwork and will obviously have to do a lot in that area, but again that's the purpose of having coaches to help these guys and get them on the right track.

Mark Vermeulen - I think Mark is a very talented cricketer. He obviously has a good cricket brain, having captained the Zimbabwe Under-19 side at the last World Cup, and he is now captaining Matabeleland for this game, which I think is good experience. He is a player who reads the game and is prepared to learn, which is not found too often in youngsters playing today.

Dion Ebrahim - Dion is another player from the Academy; again, he is a player who reads the game and is prepared to learn, prepared to battle out there as we saw in his first innings in this match. He has a fine technique, is a hard player to get out, and one who wants to learn and further improve his game.

Neil van Rensburg - Neil is virtually the 'father' of the Matabeleland side, having played in Matabeleland sides for the last ten years on and off. He is a player who gives 100%, a good team man, capable of performing on his day, but now approaching the end of his career. He has not always been a regular Matabeleland player: he has changed jobs and is married with a young family, so quite often with cricket today being professional and most of our guys being amateurs, taking time off work is not all that easy.

Shaun Commerford - Shaun is probably rather an enigma: very keen at times, but at other times not a lot of interest. But the talent is there and he is a very good hockey player. He is an aggressive bowler, and when his back is up he can be pretty fiery. But at times we have to curb his attitude. He bowls a good line and length, and can bat as well.

Warren Gilmour - Warren is a very good little keeper and has played a couple of games for the President's XI and the Zimbabwe B side. At the moment he is mixed up with his hockey commitments, having currently been selected for the Zimbabwe squad in the Africa Cup, so he's trying to devote a lot of his time to hockey and split it with cricket. But having been given the opportunity, and there are vacancies in the Zimbabwe side for a keeper, he could well make cricket his future game.

Ian Engelbrecht - Ian is a good left-arm spinner who likes to bowl protracted spells. He bowls good line and length, reads the game and is a thinking cricketer. He is capable of batting and a good fielder, and a player who will I think make the Zimbabwe side in time to come; if not, he will come very close to it. I think he should get a game.

Matthew Townshend - Matthew is another guy from CBC, keen on his cricket, capable of bowling well on his day, but he does have a problem which is common with a lot of bowlers: he bowls too many wides and no-balls, and in a game like this, and in one-day cricket especially that can be costly. He needs to curb that, but with Shaun Commerford, with the right coching and interest shown in them, they could make a good opening pair for Matabeleland.

Stephen Brown - Stephen is a new player in the side, also from CBC, an off-spinner. He would probably be upset if we said he is not a batsman, and he can stick around a bit. He is an off-spinner who does turn the ball, but as a youngster he is learning, and needs help and encouragement.

Jason Hitz - Jason is right-arm fast-medium, with an awkward action, but he does bowl a good line and length. He is good in the field and can bat a bit, but also very keen. He is one of the guys who has shown tremendous interest in attending nets, playing, learning and trying his heart out in the field. He is a good fielder and at the end of the day a good team man as well.