Zimbabwe Schools news from Zimbabwe Cricket Online

We have asked the cricket masters of the leading high schools in the country to give us a brief report on the cricket played at their schools during 1999. We invite those schools who have not yet contributed to send their reports to the editor for inclusion.

ST JOHN'S COLLEGE, HARARE - contributed by Mr Peter Whalley

It was always expected that 1999 would be a difficult year for the College first XI as the side was almost entirely made up of Lower VI and Form 4 players. This proved to be the case and was not helped by the fact that Andrew Stone, the 1998 Zimbabwe Under-16 captain, only played the first three matches of the first term before being injured and missing the remaining 13 games of the year.

The side relied heavily on the talents of the two opening bats Gavin Thorn and Barney Rogers to score the runs, and although they put together some big opening stands the rest of the batsmen struggled to put together enough runs to challenge the top sides in the country. It was pleasing to see Stephen Wright who took over the captaincy in the third term score some big runs and emerge as a genuine all-rounder. The bowling showed promise, particularly Scott Brant, a left-arm quick who like the rest of the team will return in 2000 with much greater experience.

The team undertakes a tour to Cape Town in November 1999, and playing against the likes of Bishops, SACS and Wynberg should stand this young team in good stead for the future. Five players of the very successful Under-16a team will be going on that tour as well.

In fact the College junior sides, especially the Under-16 and Under-14 teams, did particularly well and this augurs well for the future of cricket at the college. Four of the Under-16 team made the Zimbabwe Under-16 side, namely Michael Brundle, Richard Caldecott, Stuart Carrihill and Simon Seager, while Duncan Bradshaw, Brendon Taylor and Garth Ziegler were selected for the Zimbabwe Under-14 team. The St. Johns Under-14a side was unbeaten in 1999 and the College looks forward to their progress in the years ahead.