ACS Overseas First-Class Annual 2015

Zimbabwe in 2014/15 Zimbabwe continued to have difficulty in establishing a worthwhile programme of Tests, but at least in 2014/15 they enjoyed the novelty of a three-match rubber; not since 2001/02 had they played a series of more than two matches. Inevitably, perhaps, it was Bangladesh that provided the opposition, and the outcome was a severe setback for Zimbabwean cricket as Bangladesh, showing increasing authority as the rubber progressed, completed a 3-0 clean sweep (see the Bangladesh section). Among the batsman, the experienced Hamilton Mazakadza emerged with some credit, as did Regis Chakabva with a maiden Test hundred. Of the bowlers, the fast-medium Tinashe Panyangara did well, but Zimbabwe were outclassed in the spin department and it was this that won Bangladesh the series. Only in the first Test were Zimbabwe competitive, but after losing this relatively low-scoring encounter by three wickets captain Brendan Taylor was left ruing his batsmen’s inability to build an innings: “Twenties and thirties won’t help.” Defeat in Bangladesh consigned Zimbabwe to bottom place among the ten Test nations, having been ninth at the end of the 2014 season; and a glance at the table (see page 7) will indicate how far they now are below even Bangladesh. The table also shows how few matches Zimbabwe plays, compared with other countries, which means that its ICC ranking will be disproportionately affected by a rubber with such a decisive outcome as the one in Bangladesh. In fact, the matches in Bangladesh were Zimbabwe’s only Tests in 2014/15 and 2015. After leading the side in the 2015 World Cup, Brendan Taylor joined Nottinghamshire as a Kolpak player. Thus he will no longer be available to represent Zimbabwe, a major loss to a country that can ill afford it. With no international first-class cricket of any kind in Zimbabwe in 2014/15, the season consisted exclusively of the eighteen matches in the Logan Cup. The format of the Cup was reorganised, with the disbanding of Southern Rocks (based at Masvingo), consistently the weakest of the five franchises. The Logan Cup final was discontinued, leaving the remaining four sides to compete for the Cup in a league structure in which every team played the others thrice each – an unusual arrangement, but one that had previously been used for the Logan Cup in 2009/10 and 2010/11. It at least meant that each side played nine matches, giving the season a more substantial character and affording players more first-class opportunities. The first-class season began, as might be thought almost traditional in Zimbabwe, with the loss of the first day of the first round of matches because of a player strike over pay. But once it got under way, the Cup was well-contested. Matabeleland Tuskers came out on top with five wins in their nine matches, three points ahead of Mid West Rhinos, also with five wins. In fact, Matabeleland’s success was more comfortable than the table implies because they had actually secured the title after the penultimate round; it was only their defeat in the last match (by Mashonaland Eagles) that gave the appearance of a close finish. Mountaineers, the 2013/14 champions, suffered more than any other team from the absence of the international players from the competition, and finished in bottom place. The apologies of this Annual are due to Mountaineers for the failure of the 2014 edition to acknowledge them as Champions last year. The text, on page 626, incorrectly stated that Matabeleland had won the Logan Cup; although the table on the same page was correct. 575