ACS Overseas First-Class Annual 2015

The leading run-scorer in the 2014/15 season was Mashonaland’s Tino Mutombodzi, who, at the age of 25, seems to be completing his metamorphosis from leg-spinner to specialist batsman (not the first player whose career has undergone such an evolution, of course). Mutombodzi compiled 630 runs at 39.37, slightly ahead of a more familiar figure on the Zimbabwean batting landscape, the former Test player Keith Dabengwa of Matabeleland, with 619 at 47.61. Matabeleland also claimed the second most successful bowler, the young medium-pacer Luke Jongwe, who took 34 wickets at an excellent average of 18.08. But the leading wicket-taker was slow left-armer Brad Wadlan of Mid West Rhinos, whose 39 victims cost 19.25 apiece. Wadlan, originally from Bridgend, has been a familiar figure on the English (and Welsh) minor county circuit for some seasons, but his only first-class cricket has been for the Rhinos in Zimbabwe in 2013/14 and 2014/15. It hardly speaks well of Zimbabwean cricket that the Logan Cup’s leading wicket-taker is an import from Wales who has been unable to break into the first-class game in the UK. This reinforces the impression of general weakness generated by the low ranking of the Test side; moreover, the Test rubber in Bangladesh was preceded by two matches between the same countries’ ‘A’ sides, both of which resulted in defeats for the Zimbabweans. Nor does there seem any immediate prospect of improvement. Zimbabwe Cricket’s financial woes – largely or wholly self-inflicted, it must be said – show no sign of diminishing; and as players tire of being paid irregularly, if at all, inevitably they drift away from the country, the sport, or both. This, of course, weakens not only the national side but the domestic competition as well, and it is easy to see how Zimbabwe might fall into a cycle of decline from which it will be very difficult to escape. (JCB) Logan Cup 2014/15: Final table P W WLF L LWF DWF DLF ND A Pts 7 6 0 1 4 3 2 2 1 Matabeleland Tuskers 9 5 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 38 2 Mid West Rhinos 9 4 1 3 1 0 0 0 0 35 3 Mashonaland Eagles 9 3 1 3 1 0 0 1 0 30 4 Mountaineers 9 2 0 5 0 0 1 1 0 18 576 Zimbabwe in 2014/15