Rhodesian first-class cricket in 1976/77

Without the services of Mike Procter and several other leading players, Rhodesia suffered one of their worst seasons. They failed to win a single match and lost five, only saving a sixth due to the determination of their last two batsmen, and finished at the foot of the A Section table. Ten years earlier, this would have meant relegation to the B Section; this time the policy of the South African authorities had swung so much that, instead, Rhodesia was permitted, from 1977/78, to field a first-class second team in the B Section. Although it is dubious that B teams should ever play first-class cricket, certainly it was a great advantage to give them the prospect of regular competitive cricket, although it was several seasons too late to be of maximum benefit for Rhodesian cricket. Procter's loss was most keenly felt, and interest in cricket in

Rhodesia declined somewhat with his departure. Robin Jackman's coaching contract allowed him to appear in only two matches and John Shepherd did not return to Rhodesia, so pace bowling would be a major problem. Back trouble prevented Howie Gardiner from playing and ended his career; with no obvious replacement, Stuart Robertson was again saddled with the wicket-keeping job, and for the last two matches the captaincy as well. Jackie du Preez, nearing the end of his career, missed most of the season after an operation, and several other players missed matches through injury or illness, notably John Traicos.

Several leading players also played at well below their usual form, and increasing army call-ups as the bush war in the country escalated made exhaustion and lack of practice major obstacles. Jack Heron, the success of the previous season, lost form and played only one major innings, against his favourite Eastern Province. Robertson began the season well, but appendicitis, wicket-keeping and finally the captaincy all probably had its effect on his batting later. Brian Davison was in such poor Currie Cup form that the selectors replaced him as captain for the final two matches in the vain hope that his batting would improve. Duncan Fletcher had a disappointing all-round season, while Paddy Clift, after a heavy season's work playing for Leicestershire, was also not in his usual form. On the credit side, Jimmy Mitchell returned from Transvaal to open the innings and he enjoyed his best season with the bat, although doing little with the ball. Peter Carlstein, emerging again from retirement, played in two matches, his last for the senior Rhodesian team.

The season went almost from bad to worse. A dismal opening match against Western Province was followed by a better performance against Transvaal. However, the southern tour was a disaster: three matches were lost quite heavily, and the fourth, against Eastern Province, was saved only by the determination of the last two batsmen in holding out for a draw. Then, at home, they managed to scrape another draw against Eastern Province before finishing with another heavy defeat by Natal. The uncertain political and security situation in the country meant that emigration of whites was increasing, and players and public alike had other things on their mind than cricket. The future of the game would be closely tied to the future of the country.

Jimmy Mitchell scored the most runs, 480 at 32.00. Top of the averages, though, was the English professional, Barry Dudleston, who came in for Robin Jackman. With determined, if often slow, batting, he often held the innings together, scoring 393 runs at an average of 49.12. Also over 300 runs were Robertson (406 at 31.23) and Davison (399 at 26.60), but both were disappointing returns.

No bowler succeeded in taking even 20 wickets, the best being pace bowler Bernie Horton's 19 at 33.21. Clift took 18 at 39.88 and Duncan Fletcher 13 at 34.84, but nobody else took 10. Both Clift and Fletcher were required at times to open the bowling with Horton in the absence of a strike bowler, but neither was best suited to the role. Fletcher's brother Allan, another all-rounder, played in four matches and batted with determination, but his leg-breaks made little impact. 20 In the Gillette Cup, Rhodesia again beat Northern Transvaal, with Heron devastating the B Section bowling attack, but lost a close match to Natal in damp conditions. 20

CURRIE CUP TABLE, 1976/77
               Bonus Points
                           P      W     L     D     Bat    Bowl   Points
                                (10)
Natal                      8      4     2     2      26     33      99
Transvaal                  8      4     1     3      24     28      92
Western Province           8      3     2     3      33     29      92
Eastern Province           8      1     2     5      23     20      53
RHODESIA                   8      -     5     3      13     22      35

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 6, 7, 8 November. RHODESIA 136 (P B Clift 40*, A W R Fletcher 33; R A le Roux 3/36, S A Jones 3/40, D L Hobson 3/30) and 237 (B F Davison 44, S D Robertson 79; D L Hobson 3/82). WESTERN PROVINCE 361 (E J Barlow 30, P N Kirsten 30, A Bruyns 35, H M Ackerman 94, A J Lamb 109; R D Jackman 4/66, B Horton 4/72) and 13/0. Western Province won by ten wickets.  

At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 13, 14, 15 November. TRANSVAAL 304/9 dec (C E B Rice 49, B L Irvine 112, P D de Vaal 49*; P B Clift 3/63) and 149/3 (D D Dyer 92*, R K Muzzell 34). RHODESIA 375 (J C Mitchell 61, D B E Bawden 42, B F Davison 83, S D Robertson 97; P D de Vaal 7/76). Match drawn.  

At Port Elizabeth; 10, 11, 13 December. EASTERN PROVINCE 376/5 dec (S J Bezuidenhout 41, K S McEwan 92, R G Pollock 90, K P Reid 78*) and 286/4 dec (S J Bezuidenhout 122*, C P Wilkins 55, R G Pollock 41). RHODESIA 347/8 dec (J G Heron 122, S D Robertson 35, P R Carlstein 50, A W R Fletcher 39*; G S Cowley 3/48, C P Wilkins 3/56) and 197/9 (J C Mitchell 35, S D Robertson 68; P Carrick 5/59, R L S Armitage 4/94). Match drawn.  

At Durban; 18, 19, 20 December. RHODESIA 178/9 dec (J C Mitchell 33, B F Davison 63, S D Robertson 30; M J Procter 3/49) and 161 (S D Robertson 49; V A P van der Bijl 6/58). NATAL 235 (B S Groves 41, M J Procter 59; V R Hogg 3/40, P B Clift 4/70) and 105/4 (A Jones 32; A J Traicos 3/36). Natal won by six wickets.  

At Cape Town; 7, 8, 10 January. WESTERN PROVINCE 387/7 dec (A Bruyns 49, P N Kirsten 44, K C Wessels 136, A J Lamb 60, R E T Morris 39; D A G Fletcher 3/73) and 166/6 (K C Wessels 71; A J Traicos 4/48). RHODESIA 202/9 dec (J G Heron 39, A J Traicos 38, B Dudleston 49; D L Hobson 7/99) and 347 (J C Mitchell 66, B Dudleston 142, D A G Fletcher 64, B F Davison 37; D L Hobson 3/129, E J Barlow 3/46). Western Province won by four wickets.  

At Johannesburg; 11, 12, 14 February. RHODESIA 184 (P B Clift 60*; C E B Rice 4/45) and 235 (J C Mitchell 77, B Dudleston 84; P D de Vaal 6/27). TRANSVAAL 237 (K A McKenzie 65, L J Barnard 40, A J Kourie 40; J H du Preez 3/72) and 185/5 (B L Irvine 61, C E B Rice 52*). Transvaal won by five wickets.  

At Police Ground, Salisbury; 26, 27, 28 February. RHODESIA 233 (J C Mitchell 52, K Tattersall 40, J H du Preez 46; W K Watson 3/50, P Carrick 3/68) and 268/8 dec (C B Thorn 66, B F Davison 61, K Tattersall 33, J H du Preez 45*; P Carrick 5/96). EASTERN PROVINCE 302/7 dec (K S McEwan 46, R G Pollock 37, J M Winstanley 35, G S Cowley 90*; B Horton 3/89) and 116/4 (C P Wilkins 41, G S Cowley 32*; B Horton 3/46). Match drawn.  

At Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo; 12, 13, 14 March. NATAL 352/6 dec (A J S Smith 49, A Barrow 48, B S Groves 65, H R Fotheringham 90, M J Procter 55*, S Turner 31*). RHODESIA 177 (B Dudleston 33, D A G Fletcher 37; M J Procter 3/70, A R Lilley 4/32) and 157 (B Dudleston 41; M J Procter 5/61). Natal won by an innings and 18 runs.      

GILLETTE CUP (60 overs)

At Pretoria, 23 October. NORTHERN TRANSVAAL 156 (56 overs) (D A G Fletcher 3/45). RHODESIA 158/2 (45 overs) (J G Heron 119*). Rhodesia won by eight wickets.  

At Police B Ground, Salisbury; 30 January. RHODESIA 180/8 (60 overs) (J G Heron 35, B Dudleston 54, T J Townshend 40; V A P van der Bijl 3/27, A W Lilley 3/41). NATAL 181/7 (55.1 overs) (H R Fotheringham 42, M J Procter 44*; P B Clift 3/26). Natal won by three wickets.

It is intended in the future to produce full scorecards, and also much more information about all cricket in Rhodesia during this season. At present, the next entry in this section is for 1977/78