By John Ward

A rather puzzling break in the South African tour has enabled me to catch up on the statistical side of things during the past week. The South Africans actually flew home after the match in Bulawayo last Sunday, and will fly back again to Harare for the two one-day matches this weekend. It could have been made a five-match series, with two matches in Bulawayo and an extra game on Wednesday in Harare, as has been done for the England tour, but fortunately for the players they were not pressed this hard in an effort to boost finance. [More]

INTERVIEW

Dave Houghton: the CFX Academy

The idea of the Academy originated from my trip to Australia in 1985. I saw their academy, and also their centres of excellence in different states, and I brought back that idea then. But Zimbabwe cricket in those days was living from hand to mouth, and there wasn't enough money to proceed with a project like this. So it just stayed on the shelf as no more than a good idea for 13 or 14 years. [More]

COMMENT

Further thoughts on SA in Zim
Another wholesale slaughter for Zimbabwe's bowlers in the first one-day international in Bulawayo last weekend, as South Africa ran up the highest total ever recorded against Zimbabwe in a one-day international. 363 for three is quite an advance on the 313 for seven scored by Sri Lanka in the World Cup of 1991/92, the previous highest our team has ever conceded. [More]

LETTERS

HELLO FROM AN AUSSIE FAN
My name is Stephen Vagg, a 28-year-old cricket fan from Sydney, Australia. I just wanted you to know I really love the coverage of Zimbabwe cricket. One of the best things about the internet (as well as pay TV - not that I have that) is it enables Australian cricket fans to find out all about competitions in other countries when previously we had to wait for Wisden.

I really enjoy your stuff on Zimbabwe cricket. I know your country's having a tough time of it lately - I can't even begin to imagine what it's like - but I am sure locals derive comfort and enjoyment from your reports.
Stephen Vagg (Australia) [More Letters]

STATISTICS

Eddo Brandes in Test cricket [More]

Andy Blignaut in Test cricket [More]

Dion Ebrahim in Test cricket [More]

Raymond Price in Test cricket [More]

England arrive in Harare
The England cricket team arrived in Zimbabwe Thursday morning for a 17-day tour of five one-day matches hoping to end a losing streak stretching to last year. Speaking soon after arrival at the Harare International airport England manager Phillip Neale said that they were expecting a tough battle against Zimbabwe given that the tourists have been struggling with their one-day game. [More]

Vigne Cup Report
by Larry Moyo
The second week of the Mashonaland Vigne Cup First League saw defending champions Old Georgians and national league champions Old Hararians maintaining their winning starts. The match at OH saw 15-year-old Churchill schoolboy Elton Chigumbura fighting a lone battle for Takashinga. Batting at number two, Chigumbura scored a sensational 117, which included six sixes and seven fours as Takashinga were chasing 253 to win. [More]

Manicaland Cricket Report
by Nigel Fleming
In a welcome show of interest after a two-year lull, domestic cricket returned to Mutare a fortnight ago with the start of a new 30-over knockout competition. Called the Oliver Jordan Cup in memory of the beloved player/administrator Alderman 'Olly' Jordan, who died last year, five teams will contest this new trophy. Donated by his son Mark - a lawyer residing in Yorkshire - this competition revives a pre-season tradition (not played for ten years or more) once known as the Athenides Cup. In another salute to his memory, the new media centre at Mutare Sports Club has been named the Oliver Jordan Score Box in recognition of the countless occasions he scored for Manicaland. [More]

FIXTURES: full Zimbabwe fixture list for the 2001/2 season [Fixture List]

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