By John Ward

It was another rather dismal week for Zimbabwe cricket, with two more losses against England. The team did at least put up a slightly better fight, but they are still playing at nowhere near their best.

Zimbabwe only did better in the third one-day international thanks to a truly great fighting innings by Andy Flower, whose 142 not out remarkably equalled the highest individual innings for Zimbabwe in such matches already held jointly by Dave Houghton and Grant Flower. Flower was perhaps driven by anger as much as anything, at the feeble performances of the others at the top of the order. [More]

INTERVIEW

Henry Olonga: return of the singing seamer
Henry Olonga, nicknamed ‘the Singing Seamer’ by the England press in view of the popular CD he has issued (“Our Zimbabwe”), has had a frustrating year. He finally returned to the Zimbabwe team for the third one-day international against England. He talks to John Ward about the last few months. [More]

Zimbabwe visit to Sharjah still on
by Larry Moyo
Despite the United States-led military attacks on Afghanistan, the Zimbabwe cricket team’s tour of the United Arab Emirates for the Sharjah triangular series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka is still on. [More]

LETTERS

KALLIS OR FLOWER?
No where on earth can you justify Kallis being Man of the Series. Andrew scored more runs, at a better rate against the world's second most lethal attack and that too in adversity. Keeping wicket, batting for 1053min, fighting the inevitable exhaustion -the effort this ‘machine’ [as said by (Mike) Procter] puts into his cricket is staggering. That's why my Man of the Series is - Andrew Flower. There was similar controversy against Eng in the Harare Test [1996/97] when Grant's 73 was considered more superb than Stewart's 100. Incidentally, the sponsors acknowledged players from both teams in the Harare Test against Sri Lanka, Andrew Flower and Arnold.
Situ Phalswal (India) [More Letters]

Latest news on Murphy, Whittall etc [More]

The national malady
by Nigel Fleming
As serious cricket has yet to get underway in Manicaland, all eyes in recent weeks have been on the dismal performances of the national side in their ODI series against South Africa and England. New coach in waiting Geeff Marsh must be wondering what he let himself in for. [More]

Matabeleland report
by Derrick Townshend
Not much is happening in Matabeleland cricket at present with the England tour, as the week is taken up with the two one-day matches.

There will be a change to the Matabeleland selection panel as Dave Riley, who was nominated at the recent AGM, was unaware that his name was being put forward and is not available; he has withdrawn from the panel. Until the next club delegates’ meeting, where a replacement will be nominated, former Matabeleland convener and national selector Derrick Townshend will join the panel. [More]

Schools' cricket report
by Tristan Holme
Peterhouse and Falcon made the most of Falcon’s long journey by playing on both Saturday and Sunday, the teams ending with one win apiece.

The game on Saturday was a declaration game and was won by Peterhouse. The home team batted first and reached what seemed merely a reasonable total of 228 for five before declaring.[More]

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