Zimbabwe Provincial Cricket - Midlands update

The Nissan-sponsored Centre of Excellence has inspired a renewal of interest in cricket in the Kwekwe area. Where previously seven or eight people would turn out for nets, we are now experiencing anywhere between twenty and thirty at Kwekwe Sports club practices and nearly forty on Friday night squad sessions where the Queens Club cricketers also attend. The reasons for this are of course the first-class facilities, coupled with the fact that practices can go on until nine or nine-thirty under floodlight and therefore every player gets an opportunity to bat and bowl. There is also a bowling machine to iron out the batsmen's specific problem areas. Considering the increased numbers and keen interest generated down here, it is my opinion that similar centres will see similar results in places such as Masvingo, Chinhoyi, Kadoma, etc.

We are eagerly anticipating the arrival of our three ex-academy coaches, Douglas Marillier, David Mutendera and Raymond Price, on 1 February. These three will be involved in a comprehensive coaching programme based at the Centre in Kwekwe but involving children from all Midlands schools. Doug Marillier will have further responsibilities whereby he will, in conjunction with the Midlands board, travel extensively throughout the province with a view to reintroducing cricket in schools where the game has collapsed. This is a huge task; however, with backing from Z.C.U., we hope to achieve our goals and ultimately attempt to take the game into the high-density suburbs. Doug will report to the Midlands board who will in turn report to the National coaching committee.

Our two National league sides resumed in January with the first team (third league) enjoying two wins from two outings so far, which should be enough to take us into the play-off stages. The second team (fourth league) has not fared as well and will probably not quite make the playoffs but they have done well for their first season in the league. The Midlands squad for the forthcoming Logan Cup is as follows:

Ken Connelly, Colin Sanders, Douglas Marillier, Craig Grant, Doug Hensburg, Mark Riley, David Mutendera, Sunjay Naran, Michael Saunders, Justin Lewis, Raymond Price, Neill Saunders, Guy Savory, Peter Breese.

We are not expecting to do particularly well in our first year but we agree with Z.C.U's policy of introducing Logan Cup to all the provinces and are therefore prepared to limp along for a while with only three players with any first class experience. There are however, two Midlands lads in the Academy this year, Travis Friend and Gregg Haakonsen, and hopefully they will return next year to strengthen the side further.