Zimbabwe Cricket Online editorial

The fuel crisis continues to hold Zimbabwe in its grip, and its effects are unfortunately felt in the production of this magazine issue. Several interviews were possible at the Logan Cup match in Harare last weekend, between Manicaland and Matabeleland, but transport has not been available for any further ventures.

That match contained several notable feats, where the difference in quality and experience among the players was most evident. Most of the best batting came from former students of the CFX Academy, who have been spread out among the provinces for the final two years of their three-year contracts. Dion Ebrahim and Neil Ferreira stood out far above their colleagues with the bat in the first innings, which both sides completed on the first day. In the fourth innings another former Academy student, Patrick Gada, played a vital role in taking Manicaland through to an unexpected victory, when they required the highest total of the match to win.

Manicaland captain and former national player Mark Burmester has returned to first-class cricket for the Logan Cup competition. Mark took the first wicket ever to fall for Zimbabwe in Test cricket and has played the leading role in revitalising cricket in the province, and we were pleased to have the opportunity to interview him for this magazine. Also interviewed was the Matabeleland captain Mark Vermeulen, another former Academy student.

The most remarkable batting feat of the match, though, was that of the young Matabeleland development player Wisdom Siziba. He carried his bat through the Matabeleland second innings on his debut, a rare but not unique feat, and an interview with him also appears in this issue.

The articles for this issue have been sent in early this week as I leave for the match between Manicaland and Mashonaland at Mutare. At the time of writing no reports have yet been received of the other Logan Cup match last weekend in Kwekwe, where the CFX Academy beat Midlands. Clive Ruffell has been away and at the time of writing his club cricket report has not yet arrived; hopefully it will come in time to be slipped into this issue. Peter Whalley contributes another much appreciated article on the St John's College team's visit to South Africa, but again it is disturbing to note how difficult it is to obtain information on much of the other cricket played in this country.

I write on the eve of the First Test between West Indies and Zimbabwe in Port of Spain, and the most pleasing feature has been the long-awaited revival of Alistair Campbell's batting form. He has hit two fine centuries in the two warm-up matches, and Zimbabweans everywhere will be looking to see him repeat this in Test cricket for the first time. Stuart Carlisle has also batted superbly, although low in the order, and is virtually certain to return to Test cricket after an absence of over three years. Both have been written off by many, but Zimbabweans will be only too delighted to be able to eat their words if this pair can succeed in the Tests.

Rather more worrying has been the lack of penetration among the bowlers at times, but none of the players have bowled in the West Indies before and acclimatisation must play a part. There have also been one or two batting collapses which have been saved by the above-mentioned pair, so once again the unpredictability of the Zimbabwean team is clear. The West Indies, under completely new management, are even more unpredictable, so in the coming Test match - anything can happen.