Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton plans to take maximum use of this game warm-up game before the visitors travel up to Kandy to play the first of the two Tests starting on January 7 at Asgiriya Stadium. Zimbabwe's 15-member squad arrived in Colombo yesterday and they are scheduled to arrive in the southern city of Matara today. One day specialist John Rennie will join the Zimbabwe squad in Colombo on January 17 before the visitors start a three-match one day international series against the World champions. This will take place on conclusion of the Test series. Sri Lanka won the last Test series between the two countries 2-0.
* The Manager of Zimbabwe, Malcolm Jarvis said their team has been working hard over the past 12 months and are in a position to give Sri Lanka a good run for their money in the two-Test series. Jarvis said that Zimbabwe will offer Sri Lanka a better fight than they did on the last occasion.
He added that Zimbabwe has a different outfit now with competitive spinners of whom they have four, including Adam Huckle, who captured 16 wickets in the series with New Zealand in Zimbabwe''. The other spinners are - Paul Strange (another leg-spinner), Andy Whittal (off-spin) and Grant Flower (left-arm spin).
The First Test will be played from January 7 to 11 at the Asgiriya International Stadium in Kandy, while the Second Test is from January 14 to 18 at the SSC Grounds, Maitland Place. The three one-day internationals are ;on January 22 at the SSC grounds, January 24 at the Premadasa Stadium and January 26 at the SSC grounds. There is another limited-over game at the Moratuwa Stadium against a Sri Lanka Board XI on January 20, besides the three-day game starting at Matara on Friday. (Abroad):
* Despite maintaining their world champion title winning three one day international tournaments, Sri Lanka has been the most unsuccessful Test team during the 1997 calendar year during which a total of 44 Test matches have been played.
Sri Lanka, along with India and Zimbabwe, are the only countries which could not win a single Test match during 1997. But Sri Lanka has the worst record of them all playing 11 matches and losing three. Though Pakistan has the best record on wins/defeats ratio, Australia has won most number of Tests this year (8).
* World champions Sri Lanka won most number of one day internationals during the 1997 calender year (19 wins) but South Africa has been the most successful team.
In 23 one day internationals, South Africa has 17 wins (including two victories against Sri Lanka) to enjoy a success rate of 77.27 - slightly ahead of Sri Lanka's 73.08. In 28 matches, Sri lanka has 19 wins, seven defeats and two no results.
Gwen showered with praise
The Sri Lankan delegate to the International Women's Cricket conference, Gwen Herat was showered with congratulations from all the countries for helping Sri Lanka make its women's world cup debut.
The Sri Lanka team sailed smoothly and qualified for the World Cup 2000 to be held in New Zealand by their magnificent performance.
Herat was also able to clinch a berth for a triangular tournament in South Africa in the middle of the year. Pakistan will also play in Sri Lanka while an Australian tour is lined up for 1998.
Herat who voiced the cause of women's cricket in the Asian region was able to convince the IWCC to hold an Asia Cup tournament.
Meanwhile, IWCC will co-ordinate with the International Cricket Conference (ICC) to promote cricket professionally to reach the level of men and attract major sponsors internationally.
While the World Cup will be limited to eight countries the rest of the affiliated nations will play in a competition for an international trophy to be named by the IWCC apart from the current European Cup tournament played annually.
Herat whose many suggestions were accepted by the World Body also lobbied for an International Monetary Fund which was accepted. She pointed out that due to financial constraints many Asian countries backed out of the World Cup who had very rich potential and talent.
Making a strong plan for one or two talented players to play in England, Australia, New Zealand and to gain experience, was met with approval and the possibility of sending one girl to Australia emerged.
The next IWCC meeting was fixed for December 1999 in Australia, one year ahead of the 7th World Cup.