This was another exciting and significant season for Zimbabwe cricket, with two top-class teams touring the country, followed by a tour to England to play various county teams. John Traicos resigned the captaincy in favour of a younger player; Andy Pycroft took over and generally did a sound job on the field, although his tactics were rather stereotyped at times. His man-management skills caused some problems within the team, though, and he resigned after the England tour.

The Young New Zealand team, ably captained by Jeff Crowe, provided the opposition during the first part of the domestic season. They played a hard but fair game, and for the first time Zimbabwe had the benefit of four first-class matches in the series against them. The tourists won in Bulawayo, but the three Harare matches were all drawn. The New Zealanders took large first-innings leads in the first two of these, but Zimbabwe held the advantage in the final match. It seemed evident that an outright decision in three days on the placid Harare Sports Club pitch was unlikely, barring batting collapses, but it was several more seasons before the ZCU implemented these. The four-match one-day series was shared with two victories each.

The New Zealanders had wanted the emphasis on first-class rather than one-day cricket, but with the arrival of the English Counties team, under the captaincy of Mark Nicholas, the balance swung back in favour of the one-day game. Only two first-class matches were played, the Counties winning the first and Zimbabwe, after a thrilling run-chase with Iain Butchart again providing the goods in a tight situation, the second. Five one-day games were played and Zimbabwe won all five, an outstanding achievement against players with great experience in the one-day game. Unfortunately, this success inevitably led to further devaluation of first-class cricket in the country.

Zimbabwe's batting, so fragile the previous season, made something of a recovery this time, although it was far from consistent. Andy Pycroft was not as prolific as usual, perhaps affected by captaincy but also probably by developing his one-day game at the expense of his first-class. Dave Houghton took over the role of leading run-scorer, with 443 at an average of 40.27. Graeme Hick, whose stride was lengthening, had 389 at 35.36, but neither was yet able to record a first-class century; that was to come during the tour of England. Robin Brown, on the verge of losing his place, played some invaluable innings against the Young New Zealanders, and his season's total was 325 at 32.50. Pycroft found himself in fourth place, with 312 runs (average 28.36). Iain Butchart and Duncan Fletcher, who emigrated to South Africa after the Young New Zealand tour, also scored over 200 runs, but these were all middle-order batsmen, until Brown returned to open against the English Counties without success. The best opening partner-ship was 40, and the only fifty scored by an opener was Grant Paterson's 76 in the final match against the English Counties. The position was slightly better in the one-day matches, thanks mainly to Brown.

With Peter Rawson not in his usual form, the leading bowler and the surprise packet was the medium-fast Kevin Duers, who did so well against the New Zealanders. In his first match he took four quick wickets to reduce them to 20 for five at one stage. His season's tally was 23 wickets at an average of 24.13. Rawson, perhaps largely through suffering by being used so much as a stock bowler, took only 15 wickets (average 45.80), followed by John Traicos (11 at 46.72). Dave Houghton as wicket-keeper took 17 victims behind the stumps (15 caught, 2 stumped), his best return since Independence. Andy Waller made a promising debut against the English Counties, with a fifty in each of his first two matches. The tour of England was badly spoilt by the weather, and the only result in a first-class match was a defeat by Gloucestershire, set a target by acting-captain Traicos in an effort to engineer a finish after yet more rain. All the one-day matches on the tour were won, however, three of them against County teams. The most notable feature of the tour was the emergence of Graeme Hick, whose 230 in the opening match against Oxford University, followed by 192 against Glamorgan, drew the attention of the English media. Although he faded after that, he finished the tour with 598 first-class runs at an average of 66.44. Grant Paterson played some useful innings to score 320 runs (average 35.55). Pycroft returned to good batting form before leaving the tour early to attend the birth of his first daughter, and scored 245 runs at an average of 61.25. Houghton also recorded a first century against Oxford University, and scored 231 runs (average 33.00).

In the absence of Rawson for business reasons, the Zimbabwe bowling had little bite to it. Iain Butchart rose to the occasion, taking 20 wickets at an average of 27.35. The only other bowler to take ten wickets was Malcolm Jarvis, the perennially under-estimated left-arm swing bowler, for an average of 39.20.

YOUNG NEW ZEALAND TOUR

(50 overs) At Harare South Country Club; 3 October. YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS 234/5 (T J Franklin 56). ZIMBABWE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 196 (G A Paterson 52, G A Hick 56; D A Stirling 4/38, K R Rutherford 4/24). Young New Zealanders won by 38 runs.

At Harare Sports Club; 5, 6, 8 October. YOUNG NEW ZEALAND 311 (T J Franklin 153*, M C Snedden 47, D A Stirling 32; K G Duers 4/82). ZIMBABWE 142 (R D Brown 45; M C Snedden 8/73) and 304/6 (K G Walton 37, A J Pycroft 88, D L Houghton 84, D A G Fletcher 32*; V R Brown 3/43). Match drawn.

(1ST ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 7 October. ZIMBABWE 175/9 (D L Houghton 31, P W E Rawson 31*; D A Stirling 3/46). YOUNG NEW ZEALAND 175 (P S Briasco 32, J G Bracewell 35*; I P Butchart 3/43). Zimbabwe won on losing fewer wickets.

At Kwekwe Sports Club; 10 October. YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS 188 (K R Rutherford 85; A H Omarshah 4/22). YOUNG ZIMBABWE 189/7 (A H Omarshah 63). Young Zimbabwe won by three wickets.

At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 12, 13, 15 October. ZIMBABWE 317/9 dec (A J Pycroft 74, D L Houghton 54, D A G Fletcher 93; J G Bracewell 3/75) and 167 (K G Walton 33, A J Pycroft 56, G A Hick 30; D A Stirling 4/66, M C Snedden 4/26). YOUNG NEW ZEALAND 429/7 dec (B A Edgar 203, P E McEwan 69, V R Brown 67*; K G Duers 5/108) and 56/2 (P E McEwan 35*). Young New Zealand won by eight wickets.

(2ND ODI) At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 14 October. YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS 195/8 (T J Franklin 37, J J Crowe 53; D A G Fletcher 3/46). ZIMBABWE 95 (D A Stirling 4/10). Young New Zealand won by 100 runs.

(50 overs) At Hwange Country Club; 17 October. YOUNG ZIMBABWE 208 (C A T Hodgson 60; G K Robertson 4/48). YOUNG NEW ZEALANDERS 209/9. Young New Zealanders won by one wicket.

At Harare Sports Club; 19, 20, 22 October. YOUNG NEW ZEALAND 499 (B A Edgar 41, P S Briasco 89, P E McEwan 153, V R Brown 85*, E B McSweeney 34, D A Stirling 33; K M Curran 3/82). ZIMBABWE 202 (D L Houghton 33, G A Hick 95; J G Bracewell 6/48) and 271/5 (A H Omarshah 33, R D Brown 124*, D A G Fletcher 47*). Match drawn.

(3RD ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 21 October. ZIMBABWE 279/4 (D L Houghton 119*, G A Hick 61; J G Bracewell 3/30). YOUNG NEW ZEALAND 141 (V R Brown 31, J G Bracewell 59; K G Duers 4/29, I P Butchart 5/41). Zimbabwe won by 138 runs.

(4TH ODI) At Mutare Sports Club; 24 October. ZIMBABWE 165 (K G Walton 50, A J Pycroft 49; S R Tracy 4/36). YOUNG NEW ZEALAND 169/2 (T J Franklin 71, K R Rutherford 55*). Young New Zealand won by eight wickets.

At Harare Sports Club; 26, 27, 28 October. ZIMBABWE 479/9 dec (A H Omarshah 42, R D Brown 73, A J Pycroft 31, D L Houghton 53, G A Hick 88, I P Butchart 71, A J Traicos 37*; G K Robertson 3/113, J G Bracewell 3/172) and 81/5 dec (G A Hick 38*; D A Stirling 3/40). YOUNG NEW ZEALAND 364 (J J Crowe 88, P E McEwan 90, J G Bracewell 75; K G Duers 8/102) and 99/4 (D A Stirling 45). Match drawn.

ENGLISH COUNTIES TOUR

(50 overs) At Harare South Country Club; 13 February. ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 211/6 (B C Broad 111*). ZIMBABWE COUNTRY DISTRICTS 162 (G A Hick 53). English Counties XI won by 49 runs.

At Harare Sports Club; 15, 16, 18 February. ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 295 (B C Broad 64, R G Williams 38, P Bainbridge 46, N F Williams 62*; P W E Rawson 4/92) and 178/4 dec (T A Lloyd 50, V P Terry 80*). ZIMBABWE 219/7 dec (G A Hick 42, A C Waller 60*, I P Butchart 33) and 137 (D L Houghton 55; N G B Cook 5/41, R G Williams 3/39). English Counties XI won by 118 runs.

(1ST ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 17 February. ZIMBABWE 232/8 (G A Paterson 35, G A Hick 41, A J Pycroft 30, D L Houghton 47; M R Davis 3/40). ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 176/9 (B C Broad 52; I P Butchart 5/31, G A Hick 3/31). Zimbabwe won by 56 runs.

(50 overs) At Kwekwe Sports Club; 20 February. ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 214/6 (B C Broad 78). ZIMBABWE B 177 (E A Brandes 47). English Counties XI won by 37 runs.

(Not first-class) At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 22, 23, 25 February. ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 338 (M C J Nicholas 91, P Bainbridge 147*; J P Brent 3/68) and 260/5 dec (V P Terry 135*, D B D'Oliveira 50, P Bainbridge 32*). ZIMBABWE B 331 (A H Omarshah 50, K G Walton 54, E A Brandes 56, M P Jarvis 58; R G Williams 4/86) and 138 (R G Williams 7/49). English Counties XI won by 129 runs.

(2ND ODI) At Bulawayo Athletic Club; 24 February. ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 252/8 (B C Broad 36, M C J Nicholas 73, V P Terry 77). ZIMBABWE 258/6 (R D Brown 80, G A Paterson 39, A C Waller 56*, I P Butchart 38). Zimbabwe won by four wickets.

(50 overs) At Hwange Country Club; 27 February. ZIMBABWE B 184/8 (C M Robertson 41; G Monkhouse 5/44). ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 186/3 (B C Broad 115). English Counties XI won by seven wickets.

At Harare Sports Club; 1, 2, 4 March. ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 288 (B C Broad 59, V P Terry 129, M C J Nicholas 38; P W E Rawson 3/80, K G Duers 4/49) and 174/3 dec (V P Terry 53, M C J Nicholas 95; P W E Rawson 4/70). ZIMBABWE 178 (G A Paterson 76; N F Williams 7/55) and 288/7 (D L Houghton 84, A C Waller 75, I P Butchart 49*; N F Williams 3/64). Zimbabwe won by three wickets.

(3rd ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 3 March. ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 149/8 (D B D'Oliveira 63, M F Tremlett 35*; P W E Rawson 5/33). ZIMBABWE 150/3 (R D Brown 75, G A Paterson 31). Zimbabwe won by seven wickets.

(50 overs) At Mutare Sports Club; 6 March. ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 255/9 (B C Broad 76, M C J Nicholas 56). ZIMBABWE B 184 (C A T Hodgson 68, D L Houghton 41). English Counties XI won by 71 runs.

(4TH ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 9 March. ZIMBABWE 202/6 (R D Brown 49, G A Paterson 30, G A Hick 61*; M C J Nicholas 3/25). ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 177/9 (M C J Nicholas 39, V P Terry 48). Zimbabwe won by 29 runs.

(5TH ODI) At Harare Sports Club; 10 March. ZIMBABWE 243/9 (D L Houghton 76, A H Omarshah 40, A J Pycroft 53; T M Tremlett 3/40). ENGLISH COUNTIES XI 167 (M C J Nicholas 42; G A Hick 4/32, I P Butchart 3/30). Zimbabwe won by 76 runs.

TOUR OF ENGLAND

At Oxford; 8, 10, 11 June. OXFORD UNIVERSITY 262/7 dec (A J T Miller 36*, D A Thorne 124; I P Butchart 3/51) and 149/5 (P C MacLarnon 44, R S Rutnagar 57; M P Jarvis 3/37). ZIMBABWEANS 440 (G A Hick 230, D L Houghton 104, L L de Grandhomme 32*; D A Thorne 3/105, R S Rutnagar 5/112). Match drawn.

(55 overs) At Worcester; 13 June. WORCESTERSHIRE 215/9 (T S Curtis 52). ZIMBABWEANS 218/7 (G A Hick 42, A C Waller 69, I P Butchart 42*). Zimbabweans won by three wickets.

(Not first-class) At Aldershot; 14 June. COMBINED SERVICES 70 (A J Traicos 4/27). ZIMBABWEANS 71/2 (G A Paterson 45*). Zimbabweans won by eight wickets.

(55 overs) At Bath; 15 June. SOMERSET 191/9 (R J Harden 56; K G Duers 5/26). ZIMBABWEANS 195/6 (G A Hick 42). Zimbabweans won by four wickets.

At Swansea; 19, 20, 21 June. GLAMORGAN 214 (A L Jones 80, H Morris 34, S P Henderson 47*; I P Butchart 5/65) and 187/4 (J A Hopkins 44, H Morris 36, S P Henderson 52*). ZIMBABWEANS 364 (G A Paterson 69, G A Hick 192; G C Holmes 4/49). Match drawn.

At Birmingham; 22, 24, 25 June. WARWICKSHIRE 308/2 dec (T A Lloyd 57, R I H B Dyer 109*, D L Amiss 86, G W Humpage 45*) and 139/5 dec (G W Humpage 76). ZIMBABWEANS 159/5 dec (D L Houghton 35, A C Waller 56*) and 231/6 (G A Hick 65, A J Pycroft 46*, D L Houghton 30*; S Wall 3/42). Match drawn.

(45 overs) At Coatbridge; 28 June. ZIMBABWEANS 165/8 (A J Pycroft 54). SCOTLAND 95 (G A Hick 4/24). Zimbabweans won by 70 runs.

At Cleethorpes; 29, 30 June, 1 July. ZIMBABWEANS 214 (A J Pycroft 44, L L de Grandhomme 59; K A Arnold 5/57, T S Smith 5/79) and 293/7 dec (G A Hick 38, A J Pycroft 110*, I P Butchart 82; R Herbert 3/76). MINOR COUNTIES 293/8 dec (S R Atkinson 63, D G Ottley 47, G R J Roope 61, R Herbert 43; I P Butchart 3/46, L L de Grandhomme 3/79). Match drawn.

(Not first-class) At Builth Wells; 8, 9 July. WALES 179 (I P Butchart 5/45) and 320 (G Edwards 79, D Harris 70; L L de Grandhomme 5/11) and 83/3. ZIMBABWEANS 240 (R D Brown 50, A J Pycroft 52, D L Houghton 70; B J Lloyd 4/71) and 192 (I P Butchart 96; G Edwards 4/72). Wales won by 67 runs.

(Not first-class) At Middleton; 10, 11 July. LEAGUE CRICKET CONFERENCE 264/7 dec (D Borthwick 65, R J Blakey 48, J Foster 41) and 83/3. ZIMBABWEANS 163 (D L Houghton 52; T A Merrick 6/37) and 182 (D L Houghton 52). League Cricket Conference won by seven wickets.

(55 overs) At Hove; 13 July. SUSSEX 237/6 (N J Lenham 76, A P Wells 80). ZIMBABWEANS 238/5 (G A Paterson 95, A H Omarshah 52, R D Brown 41). Zimbabweans won by five wickets.

(Not first-class) At Arundel; 14 July. LAVINIA, DUCHESS OF NORFOLK'S XI 217/8 dec (N J Lenham 74, J M Rice 49; A H Omarshah 4/43). ZIMBABWEANS 220/3 (G A Paterson 88, K G Walton 78*). Zimbabweans won by seven wickets.

At The Oval; 17, 18, 19 July. SURREY 343/5 dec (A Needham 124, A J Stewart 33, T E Jesty 100*; I P Butchart 3/58) and 220/4 (A Needham 38, A J Stewart 88*, T E Jesty 54). ZIMBABWEANS 226 (G A Paterson 43, L L de Grandhomme 48; R J Doughty 3/61, G Monkhouse 3/48). Match drawn.

At Bristol; 20, 22, 23 July. ZIMBABWEANS 156 (G A Paterson 36; K M Curran 3/37, G E Sainsbury 4/36) and 205/4 dec (G A Paterson 92, A H Omarshah 40, G A Hick 39). GLOUCESTERSHIRE 65/2 dec (A J Wright 40*) and 299/3 (P W Romaines 114*, P Bainbridge 45, Zaheer Abbas 38, B F Davison 53*; K G Duers 3/75). Gloucestershire won by seven wickets.

At Leicester; 24, 25, 26. Arranged, but cancelled by Leicester-shire.

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 1985/86