ROCKS LOSE TO RHINOS

In a Logan Cup four day match played at Masvingo Sports Club, Mid West Rhinos beat by an innings and 92 runs.

Rhinos had continued from their Day 1 overnight total of 98 for 1 to declare on 398 for 9 with a healthy 249 run lead. This meant that the Rocks needed 250 runs for victory in two days but the hosts failed to carry on with the momentum gathered a week ago when they beat Mashonaland Eagles in Harare.  

Brendon Taylor scored a massive 132 runs after facing 140 deliveries, clearing the boundary for six, three times and the national team captain hit 18 fours. Taylor was eventually caught by Maunze after he failed to deal with a Roy  Kaia delivery in the 95^th over leaving the Rhinos on 356 runs for 6 wickets.

English born Jaik Mickleburgh made 112 runs off 259 balls in his 5 hour long innings. He hit 13 fours before being trapped leg before wicket by Rocks skipper Tinashe Panyangara. Mark Vermeulen who returned to domestic cricket after a one year break made 33 runs concluding the number of batsman who made meaningful contributions for the Rhinos who batted for 110 overs.

For the VeZhira side, teenage sensation Cuthbert Musoko was the pick of the home side bowlers as he claimed 4 scalps for 63 runs in 22 overs. Panyangara and Kaia took two wickets apiece while veteran all-rounder Tawanda Mupariwa took one wicket for 63 in 25 overs.

Rocks never looked set as they lost two quick wickets towards the end of day one in their second innings. Richard Mutumbani was once again the top scorer for the hosts as he made 40 runs off  56 balls while nightwatch man Trevor Garwe managed 38 runs, with the only other notable contribution coming from Peter Burgoyne. They were to be bowled out for 157 runs after having faced 50 overs.

Mike Chinouya picked up ten wickets in bothe innings with Edward Rainsford picking up a total five wickets in the match. The duo’s pace and discipline paid off as they kept the lines tight and offered no room for the Rocks batsman to maneuver and create something on a movement filled wicket.

Rocks will travell to Bulawayo for a date with Tuskers after the awards on the 13 November to the 16^th November. Rhinos will be headed for Harare to play against Mash Eagles on the same dates.

GOOD JOB MR TAIBU

A fight well fought Mr Taibu, good job for your country .

After reports of  Tatenda Taibu (29) quitting international  cricket last night I really looked at the "ninja"s contribution as a senior player, he has moulded a lot of careers of the current national team players. He provided that guidance and motivation to the young stars all the times, I remember during my days at Mountaineers when we had difficulties paying the players, he was always culm and willing to listen. He was more of the captain in the ship because he gave that same guidance to the senior players like Hamilton Masakadza, Prosper Utseya, Tino Mawoyo, Johnson Marumisa just to mention a few.

At national level he was the pillar of the team at all times, this is evidenced by the fact that during matches when crunch time came all captains including Heath Streak, Prosper Utseya, Elton Chigumbura and most recently Bredon Taylor would ask Tiba for advise on field settings and other on field technicallities.

Off field it really seems like he has taken yet another bold decision quitting this time for work at church. We can only wish him all the best but maybe a testimonial match would have been a good way to say thank you to our little man The Ninja.

The decision ends an 11-year international career during which he became the youngest Test captain in history. Taibu played 28 Tests and 150 one-day internationals (ODIs) for Zimbabwe.

“I just feel that my true calling now lies in doing the Lord’s work and although I am fortunate and proud to have played for my country, the time has come for me to put my entire focus on that part of my life,” Taibu said in a statement last night.

He is definately one of the most successfull stories on the game's development  and losing his services in cricket, I certainly pray that God allows Taibu to return to the game again in the future.
It seems everything has come full circle for him and he has taken the challenge to do God’s work. Taibu made his first-class debut at the age of 16, and his debut for the national team in 2001, at 18. In 2003, he was appointed vice-captain to Heath Streak on the team’s tour of England, and he was appointed national captain in April 2004, making him the youngest Test captain in history.

He was absent from Zimbabwean cricket from 2005 to 2007 as  he played a season in Namibia as the captain and another season for the Cape Cobras in South Africa. He made his return to the Zimbabwe side in a series against India A in July 2007, registering a century. The following month Zimbabwe hosted South Africa for a three-game ODI series and in the final game Taibu scored a career best 107 not out. It was the first ODI century by a Zimbabwean against South Africa.

The Kolkata Knight Riders of the Indian Premier League, on February 20, 2008 purchased Taibu’s contract. During 2010, Taibu’s form continued to soar and he scored 73 against South Africa as Zimbabwe were all out for 268. The South Africans chased down the total comfortably with Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers scoring centuries.

When Zimbabwe returned to Test cricket in 2011, Taibu was selected to play in their one-off Tests against Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand despite making critical remarks against the country’s cricket administration. He scored half-centuries in each of the three Tests.

MUPARIWA AND EGWING BACK IN THE SQUAD

Gavin Ewing and Tawanda Mupariwa have been drafted in the squad for the triangular series pitting Zimbabwe’s A side against Sri Lanka and South Africa.Since their inclusion into Zimbabwe A’s training squad, just over a fortnight ago, concern had been over their fitness given the two had been out of the national set-up for a long time.

The two have since been subjected to a rigorous fitness programme, which they appear to have passed. Ewing, despite his form, had fallen out of contention for both the senior and A sides, while Mupariwa has been sidelined by injury for the past six months.

According to Zimbabwe A’s head coach Steven Mangongo, the two have been working hard in training and could be well on their way to remarkable comebacks.
“I am happy to announce that both Ewing and Mupariwa will be eligible for selection when the squad gets trimmed for the 50-over Tri-series, given they pass fitness tests.
“Mupariwa is on his way back to his menacing best and has been bowling with great control on top of batting well during training. Ewing looks to be in good shape and believes he is ready to take up the challenges of international cricket,” said Mangongo.

The duo’s return seems to be the only piece of good news coming from the camp after the team got off to the worst possible start in their preparations for the tri-series, which begins later week.
Despite an already shaky squad, Mangongo has had to contend with the loss of a couple of seasoned players and a blight of injuries.Foster Mutizwa and all-rounder Glen Querl failed to make it into camp due to injury and contractual obligations respectively.

Skipper Tino Mawoyo and Raza Sikander Butt received minor injuries during camp while upcoming leg spinner Natsai Mushangwe was axed from the team.Mushangwe was axed from the team after he failed to pitch up for Zimbabwe’s nine-wicket victory over South Africa in the Pran RFL Twenty20 final last month, while Mutizwa failed to recover from a back injury and will miss yet another series.
“It’s unfortunate that Mushangwe’s expulsion will stand and he will not take part in the series at all. He is an extremely talented bowler and would have been an integral part of the team had he made it.
“He has since apologised and asked to at least train with the squad, a request that we have granted him.

“Mutizwa has not taken part in any of our training sessions after he failed to recover on time, but on a more positive note both Mawoyo and Butt’s injuries were not serious and the two have since fully recovered even taking part in a few practice games,” he said.
Mangongo has opted to remain optimistic, insisting the worst is now well behind them and everything should go their way as the series beckons.

“We are not taking anything lightly as we aim to emulate the senior team’s victory during the just-ended Twenty20 series.“We have reinforced the team’s batting by including a couple of talented and promising players and I can only do so much as the players have to stand up and play their part.
“We might have lost a couple of players, but as the norm we always have cover for every player and position. Expect a lot from guys like Tino Mutombodzi, Richmond Mutumbami and the every rising Richard Muzhange,” he said.

Aiding Mangongo in his quest for yet another series win are players like Cephas Zhuwao, rookie batsman Kevin Kasuza and Bradley Staddon, who received a late call-up into the squad after a spate of injuries. Staddon is expected to be a direct replacement to Querl while Zhuwao and Kasuza should provide a little batting arsenal. Mangongo’s message to his players is simple: stand up, be counted and attract the selectors’ attention.

“Well, as in all A sides, the objective is to perform well and put yourself in contention for the senior side, and that is exactly what I expect from my players during this series.“We are well aware of our opponents and will not be taking them lightly, but we are on home turf and, as such, we will definitely play to win it and hopefully continue the momentum sparked by the senior team’s exploits,” he said.

The series, which begins this Friday, will see Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and South Africa’s A sides taking part in a triangular series in limited overs cricket. Both the touring sides, Sri Lanka and South Africa, are expected to arrive on Wednesday with the two clashing in Friday’s opener at Harare Sports Club.
The local selection panel was expected to meet last night after which Zimbabwe’s A side will be trimmed and announced this week.

BY TINASHE KUSEMA OF THE SUNDAY MAIL

PROUD TO BE A ZIMBABWEAN CRICKET FOLLOWER

WOW, Boy!!!
Am I proud to be a part of the cricket set up in Zimbabwe!!!!!!!!
Well done to BT and his boys for that fantastic all round perfomance. To Allan Butcher, Steve Mangongo, Grant Flower and Heath Streak keep up the good work you made us proud as your fans and media practitioners of the sport.

THIS IS HOW IT TURNED OUT IN THE FEWEST WORDS...............

South Africa were hopeless in their demise as Zimbabwe capped a fine week to win the unofficial Twenty20 tri-series final by nine wickets at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.
Beaten by the hosts and Bangladesh earlier in the tournament, the Proteas' corrective measures - at the crease and in the field - were entirely inadequate.


Faf du Plessis was the mainstay with the bat, while Chris Morris' right-arm seam proved solid. The rest, though, have plenty of questions to ask of themselves at the end of a poor tour.
Sure not to buck the norm after winning the toss, visiting captain Hashim Amla duly opted to bat first. The decision brought his side a total of 146 for six, but really they would have wanted considerably more on either side of du Plessis' half-century.


However, Richard Levi's duck and Amla's three didn't oblige. Neither did Justin Ontong's five nor Justin Ontong's two. Were it not for Albie Morkel's late-innings cameo of 34 not out from 23 balls, the final tally might not have reached much more than 110.

Either way, it was not enough.

Zimbabwe promptly backed a fine showing in the field with more dominance with the bat. Vusi Sibanda perished at gully for 23 to afford the South Africans momentary hope, but that ambition was ultimately stifled by Hamilton Masakadza (58 not out) and Brendan Taylor (59 not out).
Man of the Match Taylor and Player of the Series Masakadza had formed the backbone of Zimbabwe's batting in the build-up to the final, and Sunday was no different.The duo were near faultless in their unbeaten 117-run alliance inside 14 overs that ensured victory with all of 17 deliveries to spare.


Taylor was particularly telling in his attack of spinner Robin Peterson, while Masakadza was happy to bid his time against Morris before attacking Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
The Proteas endured another substandard effort in the deep and, although they didn't drop any catches this time, will be questioned for their shoddy ground fielding.
While their preparations for the World Twenty20 were far from polished, Zimbabwe will feel pretty pleased ahead of September's limited-overs showpiece in Sri Lanka.

AMLA LEADS STARS IN BANGLADESH WIN

South Africa opened their account with Richard Levi and Hashim Amla, the duo immediately sank their teeth in. They posted 70 runs in a little over six overs, making Mushfiqur's hope of keeping South Africa below 160 seem nothing more than wishful thinking.

While Levi scored his runs through force, Amla, who hit his highest Twenty20 score, did it through finesse. Bangladesh had no answers. Ziaur Rahman gave them some respite when he removed Levi with a slower ball for 37 off 21 deliveries. Amla would have gone shortly after, but Mortaza put down a tough chance at short cover. Amla brought up his half-century with his first six of the innings, arguably the shot of the day, using his wrists to hit high over extra cover.

Albie Morkel was moved up to No. 4 but did not produce the expected fireworks. That Morkel did not deliver did not matter, because Amla continued to pepper the boundary. JP Duminy joined the plunder, pulling at will in the last over. Young Abul Hasan had little composure and sent down short ball after short ball to end a tough 20 overs for Bangladesh.

Bangladesh never looked up to chasing at a rate of 10.50 runs per over but did not disgrace themselves either. Mohammad Ashraful showed early intent against the short balls from Tsotsobe, cutting and pulling powerfully. Anamul Haque, who replaced the injured Tamim Iqbal, could not provide suitable company, getting caught at fine leg off a Marchant de Lange short ball.

Ashraful almost lost a second partner when Jahurul Islam edged a full ball from Morkel but the wicketkeeper Dane Vilas could not hold on as he dived to his right. After a 29-run stand in five overs, Ashraful eventually looked to force the pace but spliced a Tsotsobe short ball to a diving Amla at mid-on.

Bangladesh suffered a mini-collapse in the next over, when Jahurul tried to take on Robin Peterson but holed out to long-on, and Nasir Hossain top-edged to Morkel at third man. Peterson's double-wicket maiden contributed to his figures of 2 for 16.

At 49 for 4, it could have unravelled for Bangladesh but Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah did not allow that to happen. They had the luxury of facing the weakest bowler in South Africa's arsenal, Wayne Parnell, who bowled too short. The pair put on 61 runs before a Morkel slower ball accounted for Mahmudullah.

Mushfiqur hung around until the end as South Africa's bowlers seemed to interest and gave away runs, failing to control their lengths. He further irritated South Africa when he offered Tsotsobe a catch that the fielder let through for four. Mushfiqur reached 50 off the last ball of the innings, a full one from Parnell, which was driven for four. Bangladesh had seen out 20 overs, but it was a mismatch.

TAMIM OUT OF ENCOUNTER, SA IS IN IT TO WIN IT

  After Hamilton Masakadza's half-century blitz and a superb all-round performance with the ball afforded Zimbabwe a eleven run victory over Bangladesh in the first match of the T20 tri-series at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday.

Bangladesh have a tough task tomorrow as they face South Africa at the same venue. The Tigers will be without star batsman Tamim Iqbal the opener, who has been ruled out of Tuesday's Twenty20 triangular match,  due to a thigh injury he picked up in the tournament's opening game. Anamul Haque, the 19-year-old Khulna batsman, will be his replacement.

"Yes, I injured my quads, the physio says it's a grade-one tear. So I'm definitely not playing tomorrow's game," Tamim told OFF THE CREASE. "It is still a 50-50 call whether I will play the next game, because I don't want to aggravate the injury. But I will definately be staying here for the rest of the series."

Tamim endured the grade-one tear on his left quadriceps while batting against the hosts on Sunday, and he is reported to have had a similar injury earlier this  month.

MEANWHILE

Former Mountaineers coach Allan Donald now South Africa's bowling coach  has promised an entertaining game of cricket in tomorrow's encounter."We have come here to win it and also enjoy the game. l am very confident we will do well although for us this for preperatory purposes for our up coming tours and the T20 World Cup later on this year" he said.

The  Hashim Amla captained South African team has however been tight lipped on their final eleven for tomorrow's encounter. "We obviously have set goals here and there but we want to try by all means possible to observe some individuals in the team. We also are bearing in mind that the team will be going for the T20 World Cup" Donald added

The match starts at 12:45 at Harare Sports Club tomorrow morning.

OFF THE CREASE: BOTHA OUT OF SERIES AS BANGLADESH ARRIVE

OFF THE CREASE: BOTHA OUT OF SERIES AS BANGLADESH ARRIVE: SOUTH AFRICA spinner and stand in Proteas captain Johan Botha will not be part of the T20 series here in Zimbabwe. The series that also feat...

BOTHA OUT OF SERIES AS BANGLADESH ARRIVE

SOUTH AFRICA spinner and stand in Proteas captain Johan Botha will not be part of the T20 series here in Zimbabwe. The series that also features Bangladesh who arrived in the country last night gets underway on the 17th of this month. Botha suffered a knee injury at training in Johannesburg early this week, but is hopeful of a return against England this August. He was set to captain the side in the series in the absence of AB de Villiers. Botha told Cricinfo: "I got a ball to the knee and didn't think much of it but I was told to go for an MRI when I got home. "The damage got all the way to the patella [knee cap] and although I can cycle and do most things, the South Africa management was concerned that if I got hit on the knee again or was injured during fielding, that would prolong the recovery [period]. Hashim Amla will replace Botha as skipper on the trip, and a disappointed Botha added: "Even though I was only captaining because AB wouldn't be there, I was really looking forward to it. "The Zimbabwe series is important, but for me it may have been a little far out in terms of time. Hopefully, I'll play in England and get some cricket in there before Sri Lanka. "In terms of team combinations, it is disappointing to miss the Zimbabwe series, but I'll still play before [the World Twenty20]." MEANWHILE The Mushfiqur Rahim-captained side is expected to take on the hosts’ select side in a warm-up match which has been slated for Country Club tomorrow. Bangladesh open the series against Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club this Sunday. The Tigers will have very bitter memories of their last visit to Zimbabwe after losing the one-off Test and the ODI series in August last year. In a clear sign that the Tigers are taking the series seriously, Richard Pybus told OFF THE CREASE that there would not be banking too much on the series’ “unofficial” tag. " “We are playing against Zimbabwe and in their backyard. We don’t have fond memories of the last tour because we lost both the Test and the one-day series, so it’s an opportunity,” said Rahim. “And playing South Africa so early before the World Cup is an opportunity as well. Definitely we will play for a win and try to give 100%.” The upcoming 12-day tour will be a first tour with the Tigers for six individuals in the touring party: new coach Richard Pybus, all-rounder Ziaur Rahman, batsman Anamul Haque, left-arm spinner Elias Sunny, paceman Abul Hasan and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen. While both South Africa and Bangladesh have already finalised their squads, the identity of the 15 players who will form part of the Zimbabwe team remains a closely guarded secret.

SA, BANGLADESH ANNOUNCE SQUADS FOR ZIM TRIANGULAR

South Africa's ODI and T20 captain AB de Villiers, Morne Morkel,Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn will miss the tour to our beloved Zimbabwe as Cricket South Africa decided to rest the star players after their exploits in the recently concluded IPL. The quartet will stay at home while the Proteas play an unofficial triangular series against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh, who are also using the games to prepare for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September. Faf du Plessis has been drafted into the side, as has Highveld Lions all-rounder Chris Morris, who will make his debut for the national side. The team will be captained by Johan Botha. Convener of selectors Andrew Hudson explained: "The four players concerned have turned out in virtually all their games for their franchises during the Indian Premier League. "In addition they are involved in all three international formats for the Proteas and this is the last chance to rest them until the end of the ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September and October. "Du Plessis has been a stand-out performer for the Chennai Super Kings at the IPL and well deserves his T20 call-up. He has given us exciting, extra options by demonstrating his ability both at the top of the order and in the middle-order. Johan Botha (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Marchant de Lange, JP Duminy , Faf du Plessis, Colin Ingram, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Chris Morris , Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Dane Vilas. MEANWHILE Former Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful and opening batsman Junaid Siddique have been recalled for the unofficial Twenty20 tri-series against Zimbabwe and South Africa next month after reasonable performances in Bangladesh Premier League. They replaced Nazimuddin and Jahurul Islam, both of whom were in the top-order during the Asia Cup in March. This season, Ashraful and Junaid have batted like they used to in the early part of their careers in the Twenty20 format. Ashraful has the most runs in T20Is for Bangladesh and was the second highest scorer among country's batsmen in the BPL with 258 runs at a strike-rate of 112.66 including a fifty. Junaid scored 238 runs in the BPL and had been in good form in first-class cricket. He played his last T20I in August 2009 against West Indies. Bangladesh arrive in Harare on June 13 and take on Zimbabwe in the first game of the tournament on June 17. Squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Mahmudullah (vice-capt), Tamim Iqbal, Junaid Siddique, Anamul Haque, Mohammad Ashraful, Shakib Al Hasan, Nasir Hossain, Abdur Razzak, Elias Sunny, Mashrafe Mortaza, Farhad Reza, Nazmul Hossain, Ziaur Rahman, Abul Hasan

DONALD TURNS DOWN BANLGADESH AS ZIM PREPS FOR TRI SERIES

Fomer Mountaineers Head coach, Allan Donald now South Africa's bowling coach, has denied claims linking him to the Bangladesh coaching job. Donald, along with Mick Newell and Dermot Reeve, was understood to be on the BCB's wishlist but said he will not consider the offer if he is approached. "I have not had any approach but I would not be interested," Donald told ESPNcricinfo. "I am doing a job I always wanted to be involved in and I have no inclination to make a move. My interest is with South Africa and I won't give that up at all." Donald was named South Africa's bowling coach in June last year, when the national team management underwent a complete change of guard. Gary Kirsten replaced Corrie van Zyl as coach and headhunted his former team-mate Donald. Meanwhile Zimbabwe cricket team assistant coach Steve Mangongo says his side need to work hard to improve in confidence and believes the tri-series involving South Africa and Bangladesh next month will lift the side ahead of theTwenty20 World Cup. The team is assured of four Twenty20 games in Harare, which comes as a big relief since the players have not been active for the past three months. Zimbabwe have not been engaged in international commitments since February when they returned from a disastrous tour of New Zealand and the coaches reckon that lack of match fitness is a major concern especially when the players are coming from the off-season break. However, Mangongo said that besides building muscle and strengthening their physique, the players, who got into camp early this month, are also working hard on the shortcomings which were exposed in their last outing in New Zealand. “Of course we haven’t been involved in international games recently but we cannot cry over what we don’t have. We will work according to what is available to us. “It has been three weeks in camp now and we are working on a lot of specifics to make sure that the team is a well-oiled machine before we embark on the World Cup. “We learnt from the last tour in New Zealand that uncharacteristic of us, our fielding was below par. So we are doing specific drills on catching and throwing and a lot of one on one with the batsmen. We want positive play from them and to build confidence at the crease,” said Mangongo. Although the T20 games will not be recognised as internationals since they are not on the International Future Tours Programme, Mangongo said Zimbabwe are still grateful for the opportunity. South Africa are expected to arrive in Harare on June 18, the same day Zimbabwe play their first game against Bangladesh. They will then engage the hosts two days later. “Getting opposition like South Africa before such an important tournament is exactly what the doctor has ordered. South Africa are one of the best T20 nations in the world and you can always expect exposure to top quality cricket. With such an opposition, you cannot be motivated any better. “We also hear Bangladesh could be coming and their presence will certainly add the sub-continent dimension to the whole tour. That makes it the more exciting. We have played them a number of times before and they are an ever-improving side whose presence would give us good practice.” Zimbabwe, South Africa and Bangladesh are in the same group for the World T20, which also includes hosts Sri Lanka. The tournament will start on September 18 and finish on October 7.

GREAT CAPTAINCY HANDS AUSSIES A WIN

WOW!!!!!!!! What a game of cricket this was.
Talk about great captaincy that is fantastic work from Michael Clarke, to come back like that and turn things around. I really think our very own Brendon Taylor will take a leaf from this seemingly great Australian leader.

Five years after Australia won the World Cup in a farcical finish in the dark at Kensington Oval, they again celebrated a victory there in fading light as the first Test went to the wire on the fifth day.

Set 192 to win in two sessions, the Australians started their chase slowly and were almost derailed by middle-order wickets, but Michael Hussey's calm and rational approach ensured they narrowly outpaced the setting sun to win by three wickets.

In a tense conclusion, Hussey was bowled by Kemar Roach for 32 from 26 balls with three runs still required, but Ryan Harris and Ben Hilfenhaus saw the Australians home and denied West Indies a satisfactory outcome despite them dominating the first three days.

Hilfenhaus struck the winning run with a single scrambled to the off side and a direct-hit at the bowler's end was sent to the third umpire, who found Hilfenhaus in his ground by a few inches.

All the while, the players were keeping an eye on the umpires, who were keeping an eye on the light and under the new ICC rules have complete authority to determine whether play continues or ceases. By the last few balls the shadows had completely enveloped the ground but there was just enough time for the Australians, who celebrated a victory that was set up by Michael Clarke's gutsy declaration behind on the fourth day.

It was a decision that indicated Australia would attack in the final few sessions and by dismissing West Indies for 148 before lunch on the last day, they gave themselves hope. West Indies were not out of the contest either, and four wickets to Narsingh Deonarine gave them more that a slim chance, as the Australians still needed 52 runs with five wickets in hand when Clarke became the fourth of Deonarine's victims.

But Hussey used the finishing skills that have made him such a valuable ODI player, reverse-sweeping to find gaps and twice clearing the long-on boundary off Deonarine to bring the target within reach. The loss of Matthew Wade, who cut Roach high and was caught at deep point for 18, was a blow, and the departure of Hussey in Roach's next over kept the game alive, but it wasn't enough for West Indies.

They were left to rue a couple of important dropped catches, particularly the captain Darren Sammy's failure to hang on to a chance when Shane Watson had 4. Watson cut Roach viciously to gully and the ball fizzed through Sammy's hands, and while it was a fearsome stroke it was certainly a catch that should have been taken. Ed Cowan was also reprieved when he edged Sammy and the keeper Carlton Baugh, standing up to the stumps, couldn't glove the ball.

Cowan and Watson compiled a 75-run stand after David Warner was caught behind off Sammy for 23, but their partnership was notable for the snail's pace at which it was built in the early stages. Cowan went to tea on 11 from 61 balls and Australia needed another 131 in the final session, and their lack of urgency seemed at odds with Clarke's aggressive declaration.

The tempo lifted after tea and the dropping of Watson proved costly as he started to find the boundary and on one occasion cleared it. He was caught at deep backward square leg for 52 when he top-edged an attempted pull off Deonarine and Cowan followed soon after for an agonising 34 from 100 balls when he pulled Deonarine straight to Shivnarine Chanderpaul at midwicket.

Ricky Ponting was bowled by a ball that stayed low and Clarke chipped a catch back to Deonarine, before Hussey and Wade steadied the chase. Australia had been favourites when they bowled West Indies out in an extended opening session in which the hosts added 77 to their overnight total for the loss of their last five wickets.

The last specialist batsman, Deonarine, added only one run to his score and was the first to depart, lbw to Harris for 21. It was precisely the start the Australians needed if they were to give themselves time to chase down a target, and they had another perfect chance soon afterwards when Sammy skied a chance to long-on.

Nathan Lyon put down a sitter to give Sammy a life on 12, and nobody was happier than Lyon when Sammy played on to Watson for 14, accidentally kicking the ball on to his stumps as he tried to prevent it rolling back. Baugh chipped a catch to mid-on from the bowling of Hilfenhaus (4 for 27) for 23 and West Indies were in trouble at 116 for 8.

Fidel Edwards defended solidly for a while before he played a surprisingly rash stroke and skied a catch to mid-off for 3 from 17 balls to give Peter Siddle his second wicket, and that brought the No.11 Devendra Bishoo to the crease. Bishoo defended calmly and together with Roach set about eating up time and adding some important runs to the total.

Their 23-run stand pushed the session beyond the scheduled lunch time but eventually ended when Roach was bowled by Harris for 25. That left the Australians with 192 to chase in two sessions and they were good enough to do so - just. West Indies were left to wonder what could have been.

'JONTY' RETURNS TO THE FIELD OF PLAY

As many Zimbabwean cricket players prepare for the beginning of the English cricket season. Mash Eagles team manager Joseph Madjembwa porpularly known as Jonty has announced his return to the field to try his luck once again.

Madjembwa in an interview with Off The Crease sighted how happy he was to return to the field of play, this time as a player. "Its a liberating feeling to be playing yet again,l am now getting into the thick of things. I been shown the ropes, so I am looking forward to the challenge" he said.

He is among big names like former national team opener Dion Ebrahim, pace bowlers Mluleki Nkala, Travis Friend and Regis Chakabva among many fellow contry men.The action begins in three weeks time where Zimbabwe's sons will take to the field in a bid to make it into better leagues like the County League.
MEANWHILE::::
West Indies remained firmly on top after three days of attritional cricket in Barbados, where Darren Sammy's early strikes and Devendra Bishoo's variations kept Australia's batsmen from making significant progress. At stumps on day three Australia were 248 for 5, with Michael Hussey on 47 and Matthew Wade on 19, and while they had almost passed the follow-on mark they were not yet safe in the match.

The big challenge for West Indies remained finding a way to turn their impressive performance into a victory. Rain again played a part on the third afternoon and their task for the final two days was to run through Australia's lower order quickly, bat again and set the visitors a target, and then skittle them a second time. The way this match has unfolded so far, that looked like it would be easier said than done.

But through Sammy and his colleagues West Indies had at least put themselves in the much stronger position. Last time the two sides met in a Caribbean Test series, the hosts had several days of inspired cricket but were unable to string together enough in one match to take a victory from Australia. This time they had started with two encouraging days, and worked through the third in the same fashion.

Michael Clarke provided Australia with a fighting half-century but threw his wicket away, while Shane Watson and David Warner also failed to capitalise on solid starts. Watson was also accountable for the ugly run-out of Ricky Ponting, a calamitous confusion that left Ponting fuming as he walked off the field.

The pair had come together after Sammy removed both openers in almost identical fashion, pitching the ball on off stump and nipping it away from the left-handers Warner and Ed Cowan. Cowan was on 14 when his thin edge found the wicketkeeper and Warner had made a promising start and had 42 when he edged to second slip, and Sammy's accuracy and persistence was impressive.

Those strikes were followed by the run-out of Ponting for 4 when Watson turned the ball behind square leg and took a single, and then called for the second, hesitated, and called Ponting through again. The throw from the deep to the wicketkeeper's end found a confused Ponting out of his ground as Watson loitered halfway down the pitch and Ponting's frustration was evident.

Watson was nearly involved in another run-out later when Clarke was saved only by a wayward throw. That, together with poor use of the review system, were the only real blemishes that could be attached to the West Indies fielding effort. Twice Watson survived lbw appeals that could easily have gone against him, once when he offered no shot to a prodigious inswinger from Sammy, who asked for a review and saw the replays show a perilously close prediction that had the ball hitting off stump, but only in the "umpire's call" zone.

In the next over, Kemar Roach appealed for lbw against Watson and also received a not-out verdict. This time Sammy decided against asking for a review but replays showed the ball would have struck enough of leg stump to have the decision overturned. West Indies wasted their second review after lunch when Sammy was off the ground and the vice-captain Kirk Edwards asked for the third umpire to check another Roach lbw appeal that was clearly sliding down leg.

But those errors of judgment didn't prove too costly. Watson threw his wicket away in the first over after lunch when he flashed impetuously at Roach and was caught behind for 39. It was hardly the innings Australia needed from Watson in his first Test batting at No.3. Clarke and Michael Hussey led a fightback with an 82-run partnership and they had to work hard against Bishoo, whose variations kept them from scoring freely.

Clarke used his feet against the legspinner and lofted him straight down the ground for six, but otherwise the Australians typically waited for poor balls from Bishoo and did the best they could to keep the good ones out. Clarke brought up his half-century from his 121st delivery with a fine cover-driven boundary from the part-time offspin of Narsingh Deonarine, and he was fortunate to have got there after a contentious review when he was on 27.

Clarke was adjudged caught behind off a Bishoo ball that stayed low and he immediately challenged the out decision from the umpire Tony Hill. Replays did not clearly show that he hit the ball but nor did there seem to be overwhelming evidence to overturn the call, but that was what happened and it was a serious let-off for Clarke.

Eventually, Bishoo had his reward when Clarke tried to clear long-off but succeeded only in skying a catch, and it was an unwise shot selection at a time when Clarke and Hussey needed to continue building their partnership. Hussey was more watchful and by stumps was approaching a half-century, and Wade struggled against Bishoo with a packed close-in field, but he was good enough to put away the bad balls when they came.

Bishoo's challenge on the fourth day will be to run through the tail, although with the new ball due Sammy will first turn to his fast men to do that job. And if they can manage it, victory will be a possibility, although a draw remains the more likely outcome

WEST INDIES GOING STRONG WITHOUT GAYLE

The West Indies have named their squad for the first of three Tests against Australia, with batsman Narsingh Deonarine and seamer Ravi Rampaul included in the 13-man fold.

The 28-year-old Deonarine has not played for the Windies since June 2010, when he fell from favour during the series against South Africa, but returns to the team on the back of a solid run of form for Guyana.

Rampaul, meanwhile, has recovered from the bout of dengue fever that ruled him out of last month's five ODIs and two T20Is against the touring Australians.

Kirk Edwards has been named vice-captain, while Devendra Bishoo is the lone specialist spinner in the squad.

The series opener gets underway in Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday.

Squad: Darren Sammy (capt), Kirk Edwards (vice-captain), Adrian Barath, Carlton Baugh (wicketkeeper), Devendra Bishoo, Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Fidel Edwards, Kieran Powell, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach

Gillespie leaves Zimbabwe as a happy man

Zimbabwe's Richard Muzhange has moulded his yorker on the one Australia's Jason Gillespie used to bowl. He fires it in fast, aims low and produces late inswing. On one of the 16 turf nets at the Kwekwe Sports Club in the Midlands, he practises it over and over again, motivated not by a magazine clipping or television footage of Gillespie, but by a lucid memory.

"Because Jason showed him how to bowl the yorker, he knows how to do it now and he wants to make sure he gets it right every time," said Kenyon Ziehl, chief executive of the Mid-West Rhinos, where Muzhange plays his franchise cricket.

The Rhinos are one of the less glamorous of Zimbabwe's five franchises. They have not won a trophy since the competition was introduced in 2009 but are steadily improving. For the past two seasons they have had the expertise of Gillespie to guide them. His enthusiasm resulted in the discovery and grooming of seamers Muzhange and Michael Chinouya, both among the top wicket-takers on the domestic scene, and generated an air of excitement and hope in the squad as a whole. "We've discovered a lot of young bowlers here and things are looking very promising," Ziehl said.

Most visitors to Zimbabwe do not venture further afield than Harare or Bulawayo but Gillespie did. He was offered the job with the Rhinos in 2010, when his youngest son was only nine weeks old. He was tempted by the opportunity to coach a first-class team but says he did not take the decision lightly. "My thoughts focused on how I can develop my coaching, how I could help the Rhinos players individually and as a team, how grassroots cricket could be improved," Gillespie said.

He found a fairly basic facility that had deteriorated during what Ziehl calls Zimbabwe's "lean years" - the mid 2000s. The structure of a multi-purpose sports facility that had hosted an ODI (against Kenya in December 2002) was there, but it needed serious sprucing up. With funding from Zimbabwe Cricket and bits of sponsorship, Kwekwe began to transform.

"The change has been immense," Gillespie said. "There is a swimming pool and gym, and the new turf training facility, once fully completed, will compete with Harare and Bulawayo as the best net training set-up in the country. The old scoreboard from Harare is now in Kwekwe, and hopefully by next season it will be operational."

What inspired Gillespie was the personnel. In an area thirsting for cricket development, he found players eager to learn and succeed. When the franchise system was formed, Zimbabwe Cricket ensured the national players were evenly distributed across the five franchises. The Rhinos were given current captain Brendan Taylor, opening batsman Vusi Sibanda, legspinner Graeme Cremer and allrounder Malcolm Waller. Most of the other players at the franchise were also from the main centres.

Finding and grooming local talent - one of the few national players actually born and brought up in Kwekwe is Charles Coventry who plays for Bulawayo's Matabeleland Tuskers - was essential, and Gillespie found that it was difficult.


In late 2011, the Australian embassy funded the building of a ground in Mbizo, a high-density area just outside Kwekwe. Mahindra, the Indian automobile manufacturer, also lent support, and Gillespie and members of the Rhinos squad held coaching clinics for the local children





Zimbabwe Cricket cannot afford to maintain more domestic competitions than the current franchise system caters for, so all second-team tournaments were cancelled. Players who came to training but did not make the first XI were often demotivated by the lack of opportunity. "We had upwards of 20 players coming to all the skills and fitness sessions for months on end and [they would] then be told there was no cricket," Gillespie said. "Their only cricket was club cricket. It's difficult to judge a player's form from sporadic club cricket and net form, and the frustrations of the lads were quite clear."

Like in most of Zimbabwe, Kwekwe's club structures are virtually non-existent because of lack of funds. Matches are infrequent and the standard is poor. Ziehl said it was one of his goals in the next few seasons to revive club cricket in the area. "We hope to get a proper league system going so our development can kick on from there."

Financial support and interest have increased, so Ziehl's ambition is not unrealistic. In late 2011, the Australian embassy funded the building of a ground in Mbizo, a high-density area just outside Kwekwe. Mahindra, the Indian automobile manufacturer, also lent support, and Gillespie and members of the Rhinos squad held coaching clinics for the local children. "We simply wanted kids to have fun. I must credit the players for making themselves available to come and teach these kids the basics of the game which they enjoyed immensely," Gillespie said.

Such initiatives will allow more players like Muzhange to start competing with established franchise players for places, which Gillespie thinks is crucial. "The first-class players in the country are not being challenged from below, and for the standard to improve across the board, more consistent and meaningful cricket is needed at the lower level," he said.

For that to happen, a more aggressive effort has to be made to take the game to the people, by building facilities in areas that previously had none - Gillespie is passionate about Chitungwiza, a suburb south of Harare, being given a franchise - and assistance from foreign players like him. The Rhinos have two international players, Gary Balance (born in Zimbabwe but who is aiming for England qualification) and Riki Wessels, son of former South African captain Kepler, playing for them.

Wessels senior has also played an informal consultancy role with the franchise, which may become official in the coming season. The Rhinos are on the hunt for a new coach because Gillespie has taken up a position with Yorkshire and settled his family in Leeds. "We were very happy to have Jason with us for two seasons," Ziehl said. "He took a gamble coming here and he made a big difference."

Gillespie hopes to continue contributing, and said a part of his heart remains in Zimbabwe. "I have made some great friends in Zimbabwe and I love the country, the people and the lifestyle. My business back in Australia has an agency agreement with Cricket Tours Africa to bring cricket teams from Australia out to Zimbabwe, South Africa and Kenya," he said. I believe I can help promote Zimbabwe as a cricketing option for players and coaches by communicating my experiences in Zimbabwe over the last couple of years."

OFF THE CREASE: Utseya joins ODI squad

OFF THE CREASE: Utseya joins ODI squad: Former Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya has joined the squad in New Zealand. Utseya had been forced to remain behind making way for Graeme Cr...

Utseya joins ODI squad

Former Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya has joined the squad in New Zealand. Utseya had been forced to remain behind making way for Graeme Cremer and Ray Price the option of playing as the two spinners in the Test.

Utseya is going to be available for selection in for the ODI and T20 series. Stuart Matsikenyeri and Elton Chigumbura who missed out in the Test will be in the running for selection.

Utseya has played 137 One Day Internationals and 52 Twenty20s while picking up 137 and 53 wickets respectively. The 26 year old is expected to give Zimbabwe the much needed assistance in the bowling department where there was a lot of legging behind during the Test.

Zimbabwe lost to New Zealand by an innings and 301 runs in the one off Test. The Africans will be out to salvage some pride in the shorter version of the game.

Meanwhile Brendon McCullum has been named captain of the ODI and Twenty20 squads for the series against Zimbabwe.

Ross Taylor is out after succumbing to injury, McCullum was given the leadership role for the upcoming series, which will have three ODIs and two T20 internationals.

Tarun Nethula, Rob Nicol, Michael Bates, Andrew Ellis and Tom Latham were given call-ups to the ODI squad, while Bates and Nicol were also named in the Twenty20 side along with fellow newcomers Colin de Grandhomme and Ronnie Hira.

National selector Kim Littlejohn said the players were rewarded for consistent performances on the domestic circuit.

"Tarun Nethula and Ronnie Hira have been the form spinners this season and richly deserve their selection through consistently good performances," said Littlejohn.

"Michael Bates has been one of the best pace bowlers for Auckland over a number of seasons and is a skilful death bowler who also offers us a left-arm option.

"Colin de Grandhomme and Andrew Ellis also played extremely well in the HRV Cup and their all-round skills with bat and ball are well suited to ODI and T20 cricket.

"Tom Latham is an exciting keeper batsman who is very well equipped for short-form cricket and we think he has the potential to make a big impact on the international scene."

With Taylor's calf injury keeping him out of the entire series, Littlejohn said McCullum was the perfect stand-in and that he will be able to provide guidance to the younger players as they build toward the 2015 World Cup.

"Although it is disappointing for the likes of Luke Woodcock, Graeme Aldridge, Andy McKay and BJ Watling who miss out we pleased that there's real competition for places and by the end of the series will benefit from having another group of guys with international experience," Littlejohn said.

"The new caps have earned their chance through solid performances at domestic level and we think it's the right time to take a look at players who will be in the frame for the Twenty20 World Cup later in the year, and looking further ahead to the 2015 ODI World Cup."

New Zealand ODI squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Michael Bates, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Andrew Ellis, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Tarun Nethula, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson.

New Zealand Twenty20 squad: Brendon McCullum (captain), Michael Bates, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Colin de Grandhomme, James Franklin, Martin Guptill, Ronnie Hira, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson

Zimbabwe: Brendan Taylor, Foster Mutizwa, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu, Tinotenda Mawoyo,Stuart Matsikenyeri, Malcolm Waller,Elton Chigumbura, Ray Price, Kyle Jarvis, Brian Vitori, Shingi Masakadza, Keegan Meth,Regis Chakabva, Prosper Utseya and Greame Cremer.

Butcher Speaks Out

Alan Butcher, the Zimbabwe coach, has said his players were embarrassed by their loss inside three days to New Zealand in Napier. Zimbabwe were bowled out twice on the third day of the Test, and lost by an innings and 301 runs, slumping to their lowest Test total, 51, in the process.
"They [the players] were embarrassed in the dressing-room and they should have been," Butcher told Fairfax News. "They all felt we let ourselves down badly and that we hadn't given a good account of ourselves."
Zimbabwe have performed creditably in Tests since returning from a six-year self-imposed exile last August. They beat Bangladesh in their comeback Test and then pushed New Zealand till deep into the fifth day in Bulawayo in November. The Napier Test was their first on foreign soil for six years and though Butcher knew it would be hard, he expected his team to at least last all five days.
"Regardless of how the result had gone, it wasn't going to be easy for us to play a Test away from home, having been out of Test cricket for some time," he said, "but we hoped we would at least provide five days of competitive cricket. We got nowhere near that."
The Zimbabweans had fared well in the warm-up match, against a New Zealand XI in Gisborne; their batsmen built a total of 329 to give them a first-innings lead. The sudden slide in form between that game and the Test match was something Butcher said he could not understand.
"It was disappointing. It bore no relation to how we've been practising and how we've played in recent times. Not only the batting on Saturday, but I thought we didn't bowl particularly well on the first day. All around I think we were below par and New Zealand played well and took full advantage.
"With the bat we played at a lot of wide balls and we played across straight balls. We didn't do things that we've been doing pretty well. It's difficult to know why we should collapse collectively, twice, with the exception of Regis [Chakabva] who played very well and showed you could make runs. They did bowl some bad balls that we could score from."
Zimbabwe will now travel to Dunedin for the first of three ODIs, which will be followed by two Twenty20 internationals. When New Zealand toured Zimbabwe in October last year, Zimbabwe managed to win the last of the three ODIs by chasing 329. Butcher said they needed to replicate that kind of performance.

"That will be in their [New Zealand's] minds; to know we can compete in a much better fashion than we did in the Test match. We've got to. If we keep losing like that, then we'll find ourselves back where we were five or six years ago."

Matsikenyeri "The Ninja" bounces back

Top-order batsman Stuart Matsikenyeri has made a comeback to the Zimbabwe squad for their upcoming tour of New Zealand. Vusi Sibanda missed out since he was ineligible for selection, after declining a domestic contract in favour of playing grade cricket in Australia. There were no other surprises in the 16-member side that will be led by Brendan Taylor.

Matsikenyeri played the last of his 108 ODIs in March 2010 before being dropped from the side. He has had a good run of form for the Mashonaland Eagles in domestic cricket, which helped him force his way back into the national squad. "Stuart Matsikenyeri has earned a recall into the national squad as he has done very well in the domestic competitions and is one of the few batsmen who has been consistent," Givemore Makoni, convener of selectors, said. "He is an experienced and aggressive player."

Zimbabwe Cricket's eligibility policy for selection provides for exceptions in the case of one-off tournaments abroad in which case a no-objection certificate is issued, such as the one given to Taylor for his foreign assignments. Sibanda, unlike Taylor, declined a ZC contract, which ruled him out of contention.

Legspinner Graeme Cremer finds a place in the Test side, but will make way for Prosper Utseya ahead of the limited-overs leg of the tour. The series will comprise a one-off Test starting January 26, followed by three ODIs and two Twenty20s.