Former local cricket coach GEORGE GOODWIN has returned to Zimbabwe to follow the current Test series and one-day matches against South Africa and Sri Lanka. Still heavily involved in the game in rural Western Australia, he talks about his 'first impressions' at Harare Sports Club.

ZIMBABWE cricket needs a tonic and it must be administered now before the "virus" that has gripped the national team takes a stranglehold. From an impressive 1998 with promising performances against powerhouse Pakistan, including an historic first away series win on the sub-continent, to a Super Six spot at the World Cup earlier this year the national team has been dealt a body blow.

Blame unrest in the camp, blame a lackadaisical attitude by the players and even blame the ZCU ....the toss.... the weather..... Just blame everybody, anybody. That's not the answer, even though many of the Zimbabwean people who paid to watch the second Test debacle against South Africa were not slow in coming forward with 'blame'.

Having witnessed some strong showings against the potent Pakistani attack last year and followed the team's progress through the media since, I feel that as a credentialled coach, cricket-lover and ardent supporter of Zimbabwe cricket I am entitled to comment.

Two things hit me like an Allan Donald bouncer on my return to Zimbabwe after some 14 years of living in Australia. One I ducked and came up smiling. That was the impressive sight of Harare Sports Club Ground which I believe is now under the jurisdiction of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union. The new stand, the former rugby ground seating, the picturesque green oval and the roomy new media centre were an impressive improvement in just one year, not to mention "The Keg".

The other bouncer I was unable to duck fast enough, and it hurt. It was the poor crowd against one of the best teams in the world, the lack of corporate tents and the lack of support generally by the people who did attend. A winning team draws the crowds. Until just a month ago Zimbabwe was considered a successful team, certainly Zimbabwe's most successful sporting team until it crashed to the world champions.

The reason is simple. With its lack of depth, injuries to key bowlers Heath Streak and Neil Johnson were critical, and so the 'virus' took hold. To take on the mighty Australians in a Test match without having played a first-class fixture for nearly a year was downright folly. And to follow that up with two Tests against heavyweights South Africa, who were hell-bent on preparing for the England tour, was just as bad.

A couple of strong first-class hit-outs for the players and not the few one-day sorties they did have before the Australia visit would have made the world of difference. Without their two frontline bowlers the Zimbabwe attack is wafer-thin. Unfortunately that spread to the batting line-up, and while that is no excuse for the abject performance put up by the batsmen against Australia and South Africa, I feel it would not need much to give the team a lift.

Major surgery was suggested by the 'armchair critics' throughout the South African Test disaster - "Houghton must go, Ellman-Brown must go, Campbell must go, the ZCU must go...". To the Zimbabwe public I say this: Your team has fought valiantly against great odds. The ZCU likewise has fought valiantly against great odds. Both have tasted great success until recent weeks, so why the outcry when they lose a few? The paying public has the right to be critical but is it right to 'put the boots in' while the players are down? The tonic recommended is not a magic elixir - just a little TLC - 'Tender Loving Care' - and support. They will recover, but support is critical to their rehabili-tation.

One thing that was notable at the end of the second South African Test -- the only one I have seen on my most recent trip -- was the lack of contact, even eye contact, between the Zimbabwe players and their fans. In Australia it is now fashion for any team after a big game -- winner or loser -- to acknowledge the support of the public. The Zimbabwe players were conspicuous by their absence on the Sports Club balcony. Several people in my vicinity at the after- match awards even asked for the players. Surely a brief appearance on the balcony to thank those who did bother to stay would not be too much.

That was one pimple to squeeze. Another was for the players to make a concerted effort to attend the sponsors' tents or boxes to thank them personally for their support -- especially the Ford people and the like. My research shows not too much of this goes on. And last but not least the players and the ZCU must bury any hatchet that may be raised between them -- contracts or whatever -- to become a united team.

A happy team is a winning team and at the minute there appears to be an undercurrent of discontent in the camp which was reflected in the team's play. It is not too late to meet half-way, bury the hatchet and get on with entertaining the public the best way they know how.