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It is now ten years since Zimbabwe first entered Test cricket and amazed the cricketing world with their performance against India. They became the first new country to enter Test cricket by avoiding defeat; in fact, they dominated the match against India from beginning to end. Captain Dave Houghton became the first batsman to score a century in his country’s inaugural Test, apart from the very first match between England and Australia in 1876/77.The Zimbabwe Cricket Union is organizing a special celebration banquet early in November, to which all the eleven who played in the inaugural Test match have been invited. The only absentee will be Gary Crocker, himself a last-minute substitute for Ali Shah, who was injured on the eve of the game. Andy Flower spoke to ZCO about his memories of that inaugural Test, and also of the tour by New Zealand that immediately followed.Zimbabwe played in the World Cup competition of 1991/92 in Australia and New Zealand, losing all their eight matches but turning in some impressive performances at times. Their best match was their first, against Sri Lanka at New Plymouth in New Zealand, where they ran up 312 for four – Andy Flower batting right through for 115 on his one-day international debut – only for the opposition to win the match with 313 for seven.In July 1992 the annual ICC meeting took place at Lord’s, and Zimbabwe’s application for Test status would again be on the agenda. It was crucial, as it was an open secret in Zimbabwe that if their application was again rejected, many of the country’s top players would either retire or seek their fortunes in other countries, especially South Africa, recently returned to the international fold. Had this happened, cricket in Zimbabwe would probably never have recovered.Andy Flower said, "I remember that Grant and I were discussing leaving Zimbabwe and going to play domestic cricket in South Africa. We hadn’t planned anything, but I suspect that if we hadn’t got Test status we might well have moved on."Many, including some of the players, felt that Zimbabwe did not have the resources to succeed at Test level and a better path would have been to link up with South Africa again and rejoin the Currie Cup competition, even though that was unlikely to mean any Test cricket played in Zimbabwe.Andy Flower said, "My own opinion was that we shouldn’t get Test status, that we should try to rejoin the Currie Cup system and build our cricket from there. Those were my beliefs at the time. I was very surprised when we got Test status; I think we have been incredibly lucky to have played international cricket for ten years. We came into the game in this country at just the right time for us."However Dave Ellman-Brown, who had just taken over as president of the Zimbabwe Cricket Union, had launched a tremendous diplomatic offensive to persuade the other Test-playing nations to admit Zimbabwe to the top level. So convincingly did he argue that only England refused to support Zimbabwe’s application, and they abstained. It was thanks to his vision and energy that Zimbabwe achieved Test status and survived as a viable cricketing entity; he proved to be the right man in the right place at the right time – as indeed did Andy Flower as a player."I think I was very lucky in that I only started playing proper international cricket at the age of 24," he said. "I had done a lot of the groundwork already in playing first-class and club cricket, and some of the youngsters these days are thrown right in at the deep end without that groundwork in first-class cricket or plying their trade in England or other places."Things moved swiftly after that vital ICC meeting. India, one of Zimbabwe’s leading supporters, were eager for the honour of playing in the inaugural Test, and this was arranged for three months after that crucial ICC meeting, in October 1992. New Zealand also agreed to stop over on their way to Sri Lanka.Despite his original feelings, Andy Flower felt thrilled at the prospect of playing Test cricket for Zimbabwe. "To play against the best in the world is exactly what you want to be doing," he said. "We had been handed this opportunity to do it. It was very hard sometimes because we were getting beaten most of the time, and that makes it tough to carry on persevering – but it is an honour to carry on playing against the best in the world."Zimbabwe were to do better, on the whole, in their early Tests than they often did in later years; it was not until they first played in Sri Lanka in 1996/97, for their 17th Test match, that they were really overwhelmed. Andy Flower said, "I think part of the reason is that we had experienced players in those days, as opposed to youngsters thrown in at the deep end; we had guys like John Traicos, Dave Houghton, Malcolm Jarvis and Kevin Arnott to hold things together – experienced first-class cricketers. I know they didn’t play for long, but while we had them they were a steadying influence. Certainly that was my memory of them as a young cricketer."Also I think some of the standards of international cricket have improved over the last ten years, and it’s a harder school now. One-day cricket is a more aggressive game by a long way, and standards all round have improved in one-day cricket. Test cricket I think has become more aggressive too, so we’re not only trying to hold our own, we’re also trying to improve to keep up with these other teams, let alone catch up."I remember it being a very nervous build-up to the Inaugural Test," he continued. "John Hampshire was our coach and he was a big influence on all of us. He emphasized the basics all the time, whether those basics were catching everything that came straight to us, taking a certain percentage of the half-chances, batting for time, making sure your footwork was simple but correct: when you had to get forward, get forward into a solid position, and when you had to get back and across do it; leave the ball, and bat for little sessions – I’m sure you’ll hear most of the batsmen say similar things. He just kept drumming this into people. Those are some of the basics that should be revisited all the time by international cricketers."John Hampshire, former Yorkshire and England cricketer and later international umpire, certainly deserves much of the credit for Zimbabwe’s remarkable performances in their early Tests. Kevin Arnott remembers how he identified with the spirit almost of desperation among the Zimbabwe players on the eve of that inaugural Test, and could tell of the time when he himself made his Test debut against West Indies in 1969, and responded with a vital century after coming in with England in some difficulty. So inspired were the Zimbabwe players that they went in the next day and responded with 456.Inaugural Test, v India, at Harare Sports Club; 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 October 1992. ZIMBABWE 456 (G W Flower 82, D L Houghton 121, A Flower 59; M Prabhakar 3/66, J Srinath 3/89, A R Kumble 3/79) and 146/4 dec. INDIA 307 (S V Manjrekar 104, N Kapil Dev 60; M G Burmester 3/78, A J Traicos 5/86). Match drawn.The day before the match, Andy Flower remembers "doing various interviews and having a look at the pitch, having a light practice – and then it was just a wonderful start to Test cricket for us. Grant and Kevin Arnott gave us such a good opening start, and to get 450 in our first Tests innings was sensational. Then we had them under pressure; we were pushing them to the follow-on, and then Kapil Dev came out and blazed a quick 60."Before the start of the match the teams lined up on the field while the national anthems for both countries were played, a ceremony that perhaps sadly has not been repeated. The weather was hot and sunny, ideal for cricket. Zimbabwe won the toss and were happy to bat first on what looked an excellent batting pitch.Kevin Arnott faced Zimbabwe’s first ball in Test cricket as Kapil Dev ran in from the City (southern) end of the ground. He turned it neatly off his legs for a single down to fine leg and Zimbabwe were off the mark immediately.The Indian attack also contained Manoj Prabhakar, who had given Zimbabwe some serious problems on his previous visit with the Young Indian team several years earlier, but he was unable to make an impression this time. With Kapil Dev past his best, Javagal Srinath the fastest of the three pacemen but at the start of his international career, as was Anil Kumble, the Indian attack could get little out of the pitch. Still, Zimbabwe’s batsmen could well have succumbed to nerves, but the gallant opening pair held firm, with dogged determination rather than memorable strokeplay.They put on exactly 100 together in 220 minutes before Arnott, his concentration perhaps disturbed by afternoon drinks, was caught at square leg for 40. He was replaced by Alistair Campbell, who batted with more aggression in the company of his great friend Grant Flower. He had just turned 20 but showed typical nonchalance and the ability to rise to the big occasion as he scored 45."I remember Grant Flower being unlucky to be given out caught behind for 82," said his brother Andy. "That was gut-wrenching really, because he would have been the first Zimbabwean to score a Test century. Anyway, Dave Houghton took that honour later on; he batted superbly. I remember just playing very tight cricket and scratching away to get nearly 60, but I was very proud to get those runs. I was in overnight, and I thought, `Hell, I’ve got a chance to get a hundred here,’ but I got out very early the next morning."Dave Houghton, protected by night-watchman Mark Burmester, did not bat until the second morning, but he soon settled down. His century took just over five hours, a historic innings, as he also became at 35 the oldest batsman to score a century on his Test debut, a fine reward for a great servant of Zimbabwe cricket over the years.Zimbabwe batted out their innings for 456 in almost 14 hours. India responded with grim defence while John Traicos, the only Zimbabwean with Test experience, weaved his web around their batsmen. His pre-eminence represented a change of policy for Zimbabwe; they had expected the burly Eddo Brandes to be their strike bowler, but he broke down with a serious leg injury after only two overs and Traicos had to take over as the mainstay of the attack.India slumped to 101 for five, at a scoring rate of less than two an over, but Sanjay Manjrekar was still there. The great Sachin Tendulkar failed to score, Traicos holding a low return catch, and captain Mohammad Azharuddin was superbly held in the gully by Grant Flower off the same bowler."One clear memory I have is of watching Sanjay Manjrekar bat," Andy Flower recalled. "I thought it was wonderful to watch him play, this very short guy with what I thought was a perfect defensive technique. I thought, `Gee, I’m going to copy this guy,’ and for a number of years after that, whenever I felt I wanted to improve my defensive technique, I pictured Sanjay Manjrekar playing in that Test match. He did play very defensively, one of the slowest Test centuries ever, but it was great for me to watch and a real learning experience to visualize this defensive technique, although he was a right-hander, and copy it."It has been reported that Dickie Bird, umpiring in this Test as the first third-country umpire to appear under National Grid sponsorship, suggested that Zimbabwe might have forced India to follow on and won this Test had they allowed Traicos to continue to bowl against Kapil Dev instead of taking the second new ball. As it was, Kapil attacked the pace bowlers and later wicket-keeper Kiran More scored 41 so the follow-on was saved with four wickets down, just before the end of the fourth day. This condemned the match to a draw, but very much in Zimbabwe’s favour.Quite possibly the Indians were overconfident going into the match, but they played it in sporting spirit. "Generally the Indians are some of the friendliest guys you could ever meet," was Andy Flower’s opinion. "Very nice people, quiet, well-spoken, well-mannered, though obviously very excitable on the field."One-day international, v India, at Harare Sports Club; 25 October 1992. INDIA 239 (49.4 overs) (S V Manjrekar 70; G J Crocker 4/26). ZIMBABWE 209 (49.1 overs) (A Flower 62, G J Crocker 50; J Srinath 3/35). India won by 30 runs.A single one-day international was played between the two teams before India moved on to South Africa. India won by a mere 30 runs, a good performance by the inexperienced Zimbabweans, but the only times they looked in with a chance of victory was at the start of both innings. When India batted after Zimbabwe put them in, they lost both openers with only a single on the board, and then Andy and Grant Flower replied with an opening partnership of 63. But thereafter only Gary Crocker, with a fifty on his one-day international debut to follow his four Indian wickets, contributed much to the total."I remember Azhar and Sachin getting out to big shots (both caught by David Brain in the deep) and wondering, `Why the hell are they playing those shots?’" recalled Andy Flower. "And then when we were batting my clearest memory was being crapped on by John Hampshire after the game. I scored 62 off 104 balls, and he berated me for putting too much pressure on the other batsmen by scoring too slowly. I was really upset about that whole situation, but can understand it now, being a more experienced international cricketer, why he felt that way."Zimbabwe’s cricketers had no time to catch their breath when the New Zealanders arrived in the country. Andy Flower thought it was a good thing, though, as the players had just had the excitement of the country’s inaugural Test match and were ready for more.Unfortunately against New Zealand they were to experience the more unpleasant side of Test cricket. "It was a very hard tour for us," said Andy Flower, "because the New Zealanders were the worst sledgers I had ever come across; I couldn’t believe it."In earlier years, New Zealand had earned a reputation as being perhaps the most pleasant and sporting team to play international cricket. They had enjoyed success during the 1980s with a good team built around the great Sir Richard Hadlee and at one stage were probably second only to the great West Indian team of that era. But in 1990 Hadlee retired, and with him several other stalwarts of that side, including the present coach of India, John Wright. Martin Crowe succeeded Wright as captain, a great batsman with a greatly weakened team, and probably felt under a lot of pressure. It was sad that he should earn himself and his team such a bad reputation in Zimbabwe."I think his state of mind at the time wasn’t ideal," said Andy Flower. "I think even he’d admit that. It seemed he was in an aggressive, even bitter, state of mind. It was a terrible series for sledging, but I think they were under a lot of pressure to beat us, the youngest, least experienced and weakest Test nation, and I think he felt that pressure."I wouldn’t have described the Kiwis as nice, like the Indians, but my views have definitely mellowed as I got to know some of them a lot better, and they’re good blokes who play hard aggressive cricket on the field."First one-day international, v New Zealand, at Bulawayo Athletic Club; 31 October 1992. NEW ZEALAND 244/7 (50 overs) (A H Jones 68; G W Flower 3/39). ZIMBABWE 222/9 (50 overs) (M H Dekker 79; D N Patel 3/26). New Zealand won by 22 runs.First Test, v New Zealand, at Bulawayo Athletic Club; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 November 1992. NEW ZEALAND 325/3 dec (M J Greatbatch 87, R T Latham 119, A H Jones 67*) and 222/5 dec (M J Greatbatch 88; M P Jarvis 3/38). ZIMBABWE 219 (A Flower 81; D N Patel 6/113) and 197/1 (K J Arnott 101*). Match drawn."In the Test matches there was huge sledging," Andy Flower recalled. "There was a very boring draw in Bulawayo, where the facilities were very poor; the covering of the outfield, the square and the bowlers’ run-ups was very ordinary. We’d had some rain, and the abiding memory is of Martin Crowe moaning and carrying on about `the worst ground in the world’, I think he described it."But we had a very comfortable draw against them. Kevin Arnott scored a hundred, which was great to watch. I remember getting 81 in the first innings and didn’t bat in the second, and again I had thought this was a great chance to get a hundred. But then the left-arm spinner Mark Haslam took a brilliant one-handed catch at square leg, and my hopes were dashed."Second Test, v New Zealand, at Harare Sports Club; 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 November 1992. NEW ZEALAND 335 (M J Greatbatch 55, M D Crowe 140, K R Rutherford 74; D H Brain 3/49) and 262/5 dec (M D Crowe 61, K R Rutherford 89, D N Patel 58*). ZIMBABWE 283/9 dec (K J Arnott 68, A D R Campbell 52, A J Pycroft 60; M L Su’a 5/85) and 137 (D N Patel 6/50). New Zealand won by 177 runs."The Second Test is probably one of the biggest regrets I’ve had in cricket," Andy Flower recalled, "We played some reasonable cricket; again, watching Martin Crowe bat was something special, as he got a hundred. Then they set us about 300 to win in less than a day, on the last day."I remember John Hampshire and Dave Houghton, coach and captain, telling us that we were going to go for this target, and I couldn’t believe it because I thought 300 in less than a day, on a Harare Sports Club pitch, with a very heavy outfield, was unrealistic. I honestly believe they felt the pressure of Martin Crowe’s constant moaning about us playing negative cricket, and I think we were conned into chasing the target."They knocked us over really easily in the end, at about teatime on the last afternoon. Guys had gone in and played big shots, a couple of them caught on the boundary, a couple caught in the slips having huge hits outside off – it was silly cricket, and very disappointing to lose our first Test. I remember being very downhearted afterwards."I don’t think they had a good bowling attack, to be honest. Murphy Su’a was fairly quick, but inaccurate; Willie Watson was just a steady little seamer; Dion Nash a good away-swing bowler. Then I thought Patel was a good off-spinner, but nothing special, and their left-arm spinner Haslam was fairly ordinary, no huge mystery about him. In reality it was a nice gentle way for us to be introduced to Test cricket."Then we had the incident of Martin Crowe jumping on top of the Beverley tent and taking down the banner that was up there, which said, merely in jest, `Zimbabwe the only unbeaten Test nation’. He dragged it down with much glee written all over his face. The incident itself didn’t cause much hostility, but there was definitely a hostile atmosphere throughout that tour.Second one-day international, v New Zealand, at Harare Sports Club; 8 November 1992. ZIMBABWE 271/6 (50 overs) (A Flower 56, G W Flower 63, D L Houghton 50, M H Dekker 55). NEW ZEALAND 272/6 (46.5 overs) (M J Greatbatch 55, M D Crowe 94; E A Brandes 3/74). New Zealand won by four wickets."The only outstanding bit about the one-dayers was watching Martin Crowe bat," said Andy Flower. "I thought he was a superb cricketer. Also Dipak Patel, the off-spinner, opened the bowling in the second match. I was opening the batting, and Grant Flower took him on up front, and that was quiet exciting. It was soon after the World Cup where they had used the spinner up front, and they tried it here but it didn’t work so well; we got on top of him straight away. The one-dayers were pretty ordinary."

Experienced wicketkeeper and former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif todayannounced his retirement from Test cricket. He hopes however, that hecan still command a place in the one-day side.

When contacted, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could not confirmLatif’s retirement from the longer version of the game. However, Latifpersonally notified certain members of the media of his decision byemail.Suffering from a neck injury recently, Latif has been in Johannesburgreceiving treatment and physiotherapy. Having recovered sufficiently,Latif was given a clean bill of health by the doctors at the PCB.Latif’s recent replacement, young Kamran Akmal has impressed with bothhis glovework and batting. Equally comfortable keeping wickets to bothspinners and pacemen alike, Akmal has won the appreciation of severalpundits.With Latif’s retirement from Test cricket, it is widely believed thatthe Pakistan selectors will persist with Akmal in Tests while stickingwith Latif in the one-dayers.The situation however also gives a glimmer of hope to Moin Khan who isplaying domestic cricket in Pakistan at the moment.Latif, who played 34 Tests in his career spanning over ten years ledPakistan on three occasions. A safe, if not flashy keeper, Latif chalkedup 102 catches and 10 stumpings from his 34 Tests. A useful lower orderbatsman, Latif came to Pakistan’s rescue more than once, scoring onehundred and six fifties in reaching 1277 runs at an average of almost30.Latif retired from all forms of cricket once in 1995 due to administrative problems with the Pakistan cricket set up but later reconsidered his decision.

Zimbabwe have named their Board XI squad for the opening match of the tour by Pakistan’s National Academy which gets underway next week.Although their first-team squad are all on full-time contracts, none of the leading players have been selected, fuelling rumours of renewed friction between them and the board, a situation exacerbated by last week’s decision not to renew the contract of coach Robin Brown. While the board will stress that they are giving as many young players as possible a chance, it will be interesting to see how many first-teamers actually take part in the series.The increasing influence of the Takashinga club was to the fore with eight of the 15-man squad being drawn from their ranks. Takashinga has been accused of getting considerable favouritism in terms of finance and support from Zimbabwe Cricket, and the club is also known to have strong links to the ruling Zanu-PF regime.The team will be captained by opening batsman Erick Chauluka, who has enjoyed little success in previous flirtations as Zimbabwe A skipper. Steven Mangongo, who is also from Takashinga, will coach the side.Zimbabwe Board XI Erick Chauluka (capt), Bonaparte Mujuru, Prince Masvaure, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Timycen Maruma, Bradley Staddon, Gerald Aliseni, Trevor Garwe, Friday Kasteni, Regis Chakabva, Patient Charumbira, Sam Mwakayeni, Taurai Muzarabani, Tafadzwa Ngulube, Shingi Masakadza.

Two more brand new England caps may well be handed out at the start of the second npower Test against India at Trent Bridge, as the hosts strive to build on their one-nil series lead against India.After Glamorgan’s Simon Jones won his debut at Lord’s, the side injury he sustained there has opened the door to Durham’s Steve Harmison. Alex Tudor, included in the original squad, was released to rejoin Surrey for their Championship match against Sussex at Hove. And Kent’s Robert Key is the immediate beneficiary of Graham Thorpe’s decision to take a complete break from cricket, with Marcus Trescothick already sidelined with a thumb injury.”It’s a lucky opportunity for me, really,” admitted Key. “Marcus and Graham Thorpe are among the best players around at the moment and for him (Trescothick) not to play because of his injury is unfortunate for him.

“I’m under no illusions really – I’m going to be going out there doing my best and trying to keep guys like him and Graham Thorpe out of the side, trying to give the selectors a dilemma when these guys are fit for selection.”Key is grateful to England’s most-capped player Alec Stewart for advising him on what was required to reach the top level during a Professional Cricketers’ Association dinner two years ago.”I’d had a bad year and Kent were toying with the idea of sending me to Perth,” Key said. “I was pretty much sick of cricket and I wanted a break. I didn’t want to do another six months of playing but he pulled me aside and told me to sort myself out.”He told me to get out to Perth and play on some of the best batting wickets in the world and work hard and if I did that there would be a good chance for me going on and playing for England. I was wasting away as a cricketer and not really doing anything. I wasn’t really doing enough to be a professional cricketer even. I wasn’t even succeeding as a county player.”Key and Harmison both went back to Australia last winter as members of England’s Academy squad under Rod Marsh. Harmison, selected in four England squads two years ago against Zimbabwe and West Indies, is hoping to make his debut at last.”It feels good to be back, but it will be better if I actually get a game,” admitted Harmison. “Conditions in the past meant I didn’t get a chance.”At start of the season I was being bandied about as being the one bowler from the academy that could go on and play Test cricket this summer. But Simon got there first. I spent some time with him in Australia and what he did was a breath of fresh air for English cricket.”The England captain, Nasser Hussain, was still undecided today whether Harmison, Ashley Giles or Dominic Cork would be the unlucky man to miss out.”It’s an unusual Trent Bridge pitch,” Hussain said. “It sounds hollow. I would be guessing if I tried to tell you what it will do.”It will be a very difficult decision. It has swung around in recent years, which brings Cork into the equation. It may get quicker which brings Harmison into the equation. It could spin for Ashley Giles.”I think everybody wants to see what he’s like in the middle but that’s not a reason to play Harmison. We are not good enough to pick people for the sake of it.”India’s coach, John Wright, has told his batsmen to continue their natural attacking game at Trent Bridge.”I like to see our players playing their shots, because when we dominate we can take the game away from the opposition,” Wright told a news conference today.”Some of the shots we play are easier to play in the sub-continent. We’re trying to build a team who play for each other and fights hard.”The Indian captain, Sourav Ganguly, warned that Sachin Tendulkar, who failed to reach 20 in either innings at Lord’s, is due for a big knock.”He is the best player in the world and a match winner,” Ganguly said. “He does help us win games but he should be allowed to fail once in a while.”Meanwhile India’s dilemma over how to find a place for their off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has been resolved. Leg-spinner Anil Kumble is still suffering from the left calf strain he sustained during the NatWest Series, and makes way for Harbhajan in an otherwise unchanged eleven.

The match at Harare Sports Club between Mashonaland and Midlands ended in a disappointingly dull draw, as Mashonaland surprisingly made little real effort to pursue what would have been their 16th consecutive victory in first-class cricket.They set Midlands a totally unrealistic target of 390 runs in 51 overs, and the visitors had little trouble in playing out a draw, finishing with 168 for four wickets. Had Mashonaland declared earlier they would have found it difficult to bowl out Midlands on a pitch still playing very well, but it was surprising that they did not make more effort to extend their winning record. Congratulations to Midlands for being the first team to deny them victory for three seasons; we still await their first defeat since 1995/96.Two centuries were completed during the day, the first inevitably by Andy Flower who was on 47 overnight. He continued his quiet accumulation as a succession of partners came and went, all contributing a little, with Brian Murphy (26) and Gus Mackay (19 not out) the most exciting. He was still there with 128 when the declaration came midway through the afternoon session.Midlands lost their openers cheaply, and then two more wickets fell just as the teams were planning a 3.30 finish, the earliest permitted by the rules. So play went on, with Doug Marillier taking the opportunity to hit a brisk century, scoring many of his runs through the vacant third man position that Mashonaland never bothered to plug.His century came off 94 balls and with recognition of it the teams called it a day. One more over was actually bowled than necessary, as when he reached three figures the board credited him with only 99. With him was Sean Ervine, who had 28, their unbroken partnership being worth 99.

Warwickshire Bears remain top of the NUL after Shaun Pollock’s all-round excellence secured an 85-run victory over Notts Outlaws. The South African followed his belligerent innings of 70 with 3-12 as his side made it two NUL wins in two this season.It was a one-sided encounter at New Road as Worcestershire Royals prospered against a weakened Somerset Sabres side. The hosts soon recovered from losing Solanki to the first ball of the day as Anurag Singh and Ben Smith compiled half-centuries and David Leatherdale and Steve Rhodes chipped in with valuable cameos. Kabir Ali then ran through the visitors with 4-15 including the key wickets of Bowler and Cox as the Sabres were humbled by 127 runs.In Cardiff Glamorgan Dragons did well to defend a meagre total of 161-8 against Durham. Welsh supporters will thank Mike Powell for his patient 47 not out and a partnership with Mark Wallace (34) of 58 for giving their bowlers something to defend. And Michael Kasprowicz responded brilliantly by cutting down the Dynamos top order with 4-28 as his side secured a 20-run victory.Darren Lehmann steadied his side with another match-winning performance at Canterbury. His unbeaten 69 (98 balls with four boundaries) saw his side to a five-wicket win. Earlier the Spitfires had fought back from a dire start thanks mainly to a fine half-century from Matt Walker. And with Yorkshire Phoenix wobbling at 64-4 they were indebted to their captain for his knock that leaves them equal on points – but just behind on run-rate – at the top of the table.In the second division a wonderful all-round game from Jon Lewis saw his Gloucestershire Gladiators side clinch a one-wicket victory over Surrey Lions at Bristol. The day’s most exciting game saw Lewis (27 including a six) add 18 for the final wicket with Mike Smith to thwart an excellent effort by Surrey Lions’ opening bowlers Martin Bicknell and Ed Giddins. Earlier Lewis had taken 4-22 including the key wicket of Mark Ramprakash as the Lions had struggled to 163-9 in their 45 overs. It was a tough result on Giddins in particular, who bowled with real skill and batted with uncharacteristic resilience in adding 32 in a last-wicket partnership with Jon Batty (28 not out) that so nearly won his side the game.Elsewhere Ashley Cowan and Andy Clarke each snared a three-wicket haul to limit Derbyshire Scorpions to 155 all out. Essex Eagles knocked off the runs without undue difficulty to secure a seven-wicket vistory.Meanwhile Northants Steelbacks cantered to victory against Middlesex Crusaders. Darren Cousins was the start for the hosts with 4-13 including a hostile opening spell that saw the visitors slip to 10-3; a postion from which they never really recovered. Although the Steelbacks endured a sticky start to their reply, David Sales (66 off 79 balls) and Mike Hussey (56 off 83 balls) then added 109 for the third wicket to take their side within sight of victory.Stuart Law built on the good work of Lancashire Lightning team-mates Peter Martin and John Wood with an innings of 71 with five fours and two sixes. Earlier Martin (2-22) and Wood (3-21) had bowled out Sussex Sharks for just 160. But a good effort from the Sharks’ seamers saw Lightning endure some nervous moments before the vastly experienced Law saw them home.

Despite being a Saturday the County Ground at Taunton was a hive of activity this morning.Outside fast bowler Richard Johnson was running laps round the ground alongside one of the club physio’s Ross Dewar, and the signs are looking good for him to be fit to play in the C and G semi final against Kent.`Johnno’ has been missing from the scene since he injured his hamstring against Warwickshire at Edgbaston five weeks ago, but he hopes to play in a club game on Sunday, and providing there are no after effects he will be back to spearhead the Cidermen’s attack on Thursday.Alongside the Academy Fitness Centre a forklift truck has been delivered in readiness for the erection of the portable stand that is expected to take place at the start of this week.Meanwhile inside the Colin Atkinson Pavilion the office staff were busy dealing with telephone and personal sales for the remaining 500 tickets for the semi final.By the time that the office shut at lunchtime a fair number of these had been sold.Accounts manager John Fitzgerald told me: "Any remaining tickets will be sold to personal callers only on Monday, between 9am and 5pm. After that there will be no further tickets sold."

Around this time last year, Moin Khan was the Pakistan captain. And although things had started unravelling for him because of a string of reverses, he was still supposed to carry the mantle till 2003 World Cup, if not beyond. Now, he has to use all his powers of persuasion, and some behind the scenes wheeler dealing, not to win back his place in the eleven, but simply to sweat along with the boys at the training camp.That invitation was not an original idea of the selectors, but a mere afterthought. Not in the original 30, a terse one-liner two days later from the PCB headquarters informed the world that Moin’s name had been added to the list of invitees. The telephone lines are said to have ‘burnt’ not just between Lahore and Karachi, but all the way to Cape Town too, to win this small, but crucial concession to take Moin’s international career out of limbo.But being “in the reckoning” is the easy part. With Rashid Latif keeping and batting like a dream come true, Moin’s return to the eleven will take some doing. Ever so neat, compact, agile, athletic and all anticipation, with all the ingredients that make a great wicket-keeper, Rashid has looked so good with the gloves that a missed catch or stumping seems unimaginable. Of course Rashid too is human and fallible. But since his comeback there hasn’t been a hint of him giving anything away. So supreme has he been that in the Sri Lankan innings of 500-plus in the Asian Test Championship Final, he conceded just one bye. A remarkable feat, considering that the Pakistani ‘quicks’ were spraying it short and wide until young Mohammad Sami found the line and length to claim a hat-trick.Using the gymnastics scale of excellence, if Rashid were to be rated a perfect 10, Moin was something like 5 or 6. It was Moin’s doughty batting, and some ‘indiscretions’ of Rashid’s that he has now left behind but has the courage of conviction not to disown, that earned the former preference. While Latif’s batting was even then in the classical mould, it was Moin whose ability in a crisis endeared him to the gallery and the selectors alike.In his latest reincarnation, caused by a stroke of inspiration by the PCB chief Lt Gen Tauqir Zia, Latif is recognised as perhaps the best keeper-batsman – as opposed to batsman-keeper – in contemporary cricket. Rashid has earned this tag with remarkable consistency in critical situations, often in last-ditch stands with the tail. In the process he has improved both his Test and one-day highest scores, notching 150 in the same Test (against the West Indies at Sharjah) as he claimed his 100th victim behind the stumps.While Moin remains second best, by a considerable distance, he does not have the ghost of a chance to wear the Pakistan cap again in the near future. Regardless of the politics of cricket (in which the south of the country has repeatedly yet inexplicably stood solidly behind Moin, although Rashid is also a native of the same cosmopolitan city), the weight of Rashid’s performance is too massive to ignore.But stranger things have happened in Pakistan cricket than Rashid being consigned to oblivion now when he is at the peak of his powers. Oblique hints that ‘player power’ is rearing its monstrous head are floating again. How high it will be raised will be determined in the days to come, depending on the PCB’s patience with such antics. If things get out of hand (the chances of which seem remote) there might be a slight opening here for Moin. Maybe he will beseech the selectors to offer him an opportunity as a specialist batsman. There is a precedent, for Moin has played international cricket as a batsman alone. But that was in different times.The question here is: can Moin break into a batting line-up which may not live up to its potential in each and every innings, but where all middle-order spots are occupied by undisputed genuine articles? Can Moin possibly push out Inzamam, Youhana, Younis or Razzaq to carve a slot for himself? It doesn’t seem plausible.Among others, Faisal Iqbal, rated highly by some but run down by others, cannot hope to find a place in the middle order. That is why Faisal’s canny uncle Javed Miandad, knowing full well that there are limited opportunities in the middle order, has suggested to the selectors in one of his columns on a web site that the youngster be considered for an opener’s slot.So the dilemma for Moin is two-fold: Rashid is well settled, and the window of opportunity for batsmen is shut too tightly for comfort. It is time for the gritty fighter Moin to test the power of his prayers, and hope that luck would somehow shine on him.

It should come as no surprise that the second day of this Colombo Test Match wasyet another gripping affair, with fortunes fluctuating throughout the dayand controversy an ever-present bed fellow. It will come as even less of asurprise that the match remains evenly poised with both sides stillharnessing realistic hopes of winning the game.England dominated the morning as they efficiently brushed aside the SriLankan tail in the first half and then batted until lunch without loss, butSri Lanka’s spinners then swung the initiative their way as they took fourwickets between lunch and tea. Finally, Graham Thorpe rescued the innings inthe evening, adding 84 runs with Michael Vaughan, to leave England 66 runsbehind Sri Lanka.England’s position would appear to be the strongest, especially with GrahamThorpe still at the wicket. The Surrey left-hander played a key role inKandy scoring 59 in the first innings and an invaluable 46 in the second.Today too, he rescued the innings, defying the Sri Lankan spinners with anorganised combination of thrusting pad play and tempered aggression, toscore an unbeaten 71 at a time when England looked as if they were goingfold.He was well supported by Vaughan, who scored a disciplined 26 from 126 balls. He stroked two boundaries that betrayed his rich promise; a powerful sweep off the left arm of Dinuk Hettiarachchi and an exquisite cover drive off the beguiling Muralitharan.He will have been further boosted by the news that he has been added to theone-day squad, partly as cover for Nasser Hussain, who is unlikely to play,and partly because he offers an additional spin option on the slow SriLankan wickets.The Sri Lankan spinners proved a real handful after Chaminda Vaas had ended a 45-run opening stand when he dismissed Michael Atherton for the fifth time in five innings.Dinuk Hettiarachchi, a stocky left arm spinner making his debut, addedgreater potency to the attack as he offered the ball air and extractedconsiderable turn. He finished the day with creditable figures (19-4-33-2)and took the next two wickets to fall, as England slipped from 45 withoutloss to 66 for three.Marcus Trescothick was freakishly dismissed for 23 as he slog-swept straightinto the shirt sleeve of Russel Arnold at short leg, and then a limpingHussain, who was granted a runner by Sri Lanka after pulling his hamstringyesterday, was beaten in the air and drove straight to Sanath Jayasuriya atshort extra cover.Hussain had already been given out once in bizarre circumstances after hehad edged Hettiarachchi to Mahela Jayawardene at slip. The Sri Lankansimmediately appealed, but Jayawardene informed Sri Lankan umpire, Asoka deSilva, that he was unsure as to whether the catch had been taken cleanly. DeSilva conferred with David Orchard, who adjudged that the catch had beentaken cleanly and Asoka de Silva raised his finger, much to the horror ofHussain.England’s dumbfounded captain walked slowly off as television replaysclearly showed the ball had bounced. Asoka de Silva finally referred the decision to the television umpire, B.C. Cooray, who confirmed that the ball had bounced.In the event it proved irrelevant, as Hussain added only four more runs.Following the dismissal of Hussain, Alec Stewart and Thorpe added 25runs before Stewart was deceived by a straighter ball from Muralitharan tobe bowled.Both the Sri Lankan and England coaches believe that match to be evenlypoised and realise that tomorrow morning will be especially important. Thepitch is starting to wear and batting is becoming increasingly difficult. Alead of 70-90 runs would be very useful.

FULL NAME: Andre Pierre Hoffman
BORN: At Harare, 23 April 1978
MAJOR TEAMS: Mashonaland (1999/2000), CFX Academy (2001/02)
KNOWN AS: Andre Hoffman. Nicknames: Hoffie, Hoffmeister, Burger
BATTING STYLE: Right Hand Bat
BOWLING STYLE: Right Arm Medium Pace
OCCUPATION: CFX Academy studentFIRST-CLASS DEBUT: 3-5 March 2000, Mashonaland v CFX Academy, at Country Club,Harare
TEST DEBUT: Still awaited
ODI DEBUT: Still awaitedBIOGRAPHY (March 2002)Andre Hoffman, currently captain of the CFX Academy in the 2001/02 Logan Cup competition, is a cricketer with a handicap, which he is not afraid to admit and to tackle. He has to fight against being overweight, and has achieved such success that it is hard, looking at him today, to realize that this is a constant problem in his life and career.Andre comes from a rugby rather than a cricketing family, but came to realize that he has more talent in cricket. His brother, eleven years older than he, played cricket, although not at an exalted level, and he passed on his love of the game to Andre. He can remember playing back-yard cricket with him when very young, his introduction to the game.He began his junior schooling at North Park, where he played for the colts team, but later moved to board at Barwick. He remembers taking nine wickets for 30 runs in trials for the Zimbabwe Under-13 team, bowling medium-paced outswingers, and thinks he took more than 30 wickets during that week. He followed it with a successful tour to England with the Mashonaland Country Districts Under-13 schools side; he remembers scoring 86 against a Sussex team. "I’ve always been an all-rounder," he says. "I’ve always preferred batting; that’s been my main key, but I’ve got something to fall back on if I fail with the bat."He moved from Barwick to high school at Watershed near Marondera, the same school as Raymond Price, who was two years ahead of him, but they played first-team cricket together. "One thing I enjoyed about playing with Raymond was that he had a lot of guts and he definitely tried a lot harder than anyone else," said Andre. "He probably wasn’t the most talented of cricketers but he always worked hard at his game. I can remember before trials one year getting up at five o’clock in the morning for about two terms and having throw-downs with him in the nets."Watershed, a comparatively new school, did not have a strong team and by the end of his first year Andre found himself in the senior team. In a schools festival that year he remembers scoring 78 not out and also taking four wickets against Jameson (Kadoma). For his Under-13 team he recorded innings of 170 and 180, both not out, against Eaglesvale and Hillcrest, and took over 100 wickets. Unfortunately a back injury at the start of his second year prevented him from bowling for a year, which hampered his confidence when he returned and its long-term effects cut down his speed. Back problems still hamper him at times.In the fourth form he scored seven successive fifties, but `only about three or four hundreds’ altogether for the first team, putting it down to lapses in concentration. He names deputy head Jim Davidson as the greatest influence on his career, the man who taught him the desire for and love of the game. He played in all the age-group teams for Zimbabwe from Under-13 level onwards, captaining the Under-15 team, and was a member of the Under-19 team to tour England in 1997.He joined Harare Sports Club at the age of 14 and has played for them ever since when in Zimbabwe, enjoying the camaraderie at the club. He has played for them mainly as a bowler, but 2001/02 he thought was his most successful all-round season for them, scoring three half-centuries and several instances of four wickets in an innings. He also played winter league cricket for Watershed, scoring five centuries for them in 1998.Andre left school in 1998, and decided to opt for overseas experience, spending three seasons playing in the United Kingdom, trying to "further my knowledge of different conditions, which I think has worked, and has also helped in the mental aspect with the game. I think I’m a lot more focused now than when I left."In 1999 he played for Alderley Edge, topping the batting averages in scoring over 800 runs, with four centuries, but without bowling much as he was suffering from a shin splint injury. He returned to Zimbabwe, made his first-class debut for Mashonaland and was selected for the Board XI at the end of the season; in 2000 he played for Selkirk in Scotland. Tired of the politics interfering with the game in Zimbabwe, he decided he would give himself two years away from the country, but privately expected never to return. A winter in Scotland soon changed his mind.By the time he returned his weight had increased to 115 kilograms or more, and he found the cricket community did not take him seriously – despite the example of the legendary Richie Kaschula, who played at times with weight reputedly in excess of 130 kilograms! He found encouragement, though, from Andy Flower, who told him that if he put his heart into it, he could lose the weight and make a successful return to cricket.He returned to England for the 2001 season to play for Norton in the North Staffordshire and South Cheshire league, a season he did not enjoy. His personal performances were disappointing, and he calculated he had an average of four catches a game dropped off his bowling. The death of his mother in Zimbabwe also affected him badly, as he had enjoyed a close relationship with her and she had always supported him.However, Andre’s brother is in the army in England, and at this stage his influence for good on Andre continued. When he returned to England, his brother put him through commando training for six months, which lost him about 30 kilograms. "The focus he put into me made me decided that, yes, cricket was the way forward, and I was going to come back (to Zimbabwe) and give it my best shot. That is basically why I applied to come to the Academy."Andre feels he still has to lose another ten kilograms to be his ideal weight, but he now looks no more than burly and his application to fitness is satisfying the requirements of the Academy. "Everything is heading forward at the moment," he said. "I’ve put myself on hold for a bit for a prosperous cricket career, and now I intend to work hard at my game and see if I can actually make it to the top. I want to be a role model to a lot of people who think they’re overweight and can’t do things – or anything that is holding them back. I want to show them that if they put in a little bit of hard work – in fact, a lot of hard work – things can happen."It may sound a bit bigheaded, but I do intend to play Test cricket and I do intend to play one-day cricket for Zimbabwe. But that only comes with hard work and getting the right break at the right time, and cashing in on it."Andre is still keen to play cricket, of a higher standard next time, during the English season, and recalls a game during 2001 when he played as a guest for a club that is interested in hiring him as a future professional. He scored 160 not out, and would have won the match for them had not a run-out on the final ball of the game brought about a tie.Andre is predominantly a back-foot player who `likes taking it to the bowler’; he prefers batting at number four or five. When bowling, he feels that patience is his main virtue and he gets most of his wickets simply by bowling in the channel and getting many caught-behind decisions. His favourite fielding position is first slip.Cricket heroes: Andy Flower and Steve Waugh.Toughest opponents: Bowler – "John Traicos, in the nets at Harare Sports Club – very wily and cunning." Batsmen – Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell.Personal ambitions: "I’d love to play Test cricket and get a big hundred; to captain the team would be an even greater honour."Proudest achievement so far: Captaining the Academy side, a dream come true.Best friends in cricket: Bryan Strang, Donald Campbell, Mark Vermeulen, Raymond Price, Trevor Gripper.Other qualifications: No actual qualifications, but worked as a computer technician for eight or nine months, but found it difficult to take on a daily basis. He started his own computer business, doing odd jobs, and made quite a bit of money, but still found it too monotonous.Other sports: Rugby up to provincial level at school – "but it got a bit taxing on the body." Athletics.Outside interests: Computers – despite their being boring!Views on cricket: I’d prefer better umpiring – but we all make mistakes! I think rather than choosing players on colour, I would prefer a performance-based selection. Instead of having a quota system, players should be picked because they’re in good form or they have what it takes to succeed at that level, and we’d have a much better Test side. The Test side would believe in each other and we wouldn’t have the problems of players not wanting captaincy and so on, if we were playing the best side. I feel we could probably pick a second team that would give the Test side a good run for their money."