Zimbabwe on first official tour of Sri Lanka (8 Aug 1996)

8 August 1996

Zimbabwe on first official tour of Sri Lanka

by SA`ADI THAWFEEQ

Stylish left-hand batsman Alastair Campbell will lead a 15-member Zimbabwe team on their first official cricket tour of Sri Lanka starting later this month.

Campbell, a stroke-maker in the David Gower mould has been given the task of leading a fairly young side which has an average age of 25 for the limited-over four-nation Singer World Series and the two Tests against Sri Lanka.

The Singer World Series takes place from August 24 - September 7 involving host Sri Lanka, India, Australia and Zimbabwe. The Zimbabweans will then play two Tests against Sri Lanka - the first to be played here - on September 11 and on September 18.

Twenty-four-year-old Campbell becomes the third captain to lead Zimbabwe since the country was elevated to the Test ranks in 1992.

David Houghton, who led Zimbabwe in the first four Tests was reappointed to captain the team to Sri Lanka after Andy Flower had relinquished it because he found leadership, wicket-keeping and batting, a strain. Flower however, has been included as a member of the team.

Houghton (39) is expected to retire from international cricket at the end of the South African tour in March next year. He is currently coaching Worcestershire, the English county in their championship season and is not available.

Thus, the leadership responsibilities have fallen on Campbell, who is no stranger to Sri Lanka having taken an unbeaten one-day century (131) off the bowling in Zimbabwe in 1992, and following it up with a top score of 75 in Zimbabwe`s World Cup fixture at the SSC early this year.

The Zimbabwe squad includes 11 players who formed the 14 for the Wills World Cup, won by Sri Lanka.

The only newcomer is 20-year-old Lumelelo Mbangwa. He is the second black cricketer to be included in a Zimbabwe team after fast bowler Henry Olonga, who is also a member. Otherwise, the squad is rich in Test experience with Campbell and the Flower brothers Andy and Grant heading the list having appeared in all of their country`s 16 Tests played to-date.

The Zimbabwe team for Sri Lanka: Alastair Campbell (captain), Eddo Brandes, Mark Dekker, Craig Evans, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Wayne James, Charles Lock, Lumelelo Mbangwa, Henry Olonga, Bryan Strang, Paul Strang, Heath Streak, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)