Wasting water is just not cricket – as players from Durham County Cricket Club have proved. When asked to support World Environment Day on Saturday, they certainly weren’t stumped and have pledged to take showers instead of baths – each saving enough water a week to make 2,000 mugs of tea.”Durham County Cricket Club is always keen to help a good cause and what better than the environment around us,” said James Bailey, the club’s marketing manager. “We’ll be bowled over if people can do their bit for World Environment Day by making a small pledge.””We are fortunate to live in the north east where we have a plentiful supply of water, but it is still a precious resource that we should take care of,” added Lorraine Coulson, water efficiency manager for Northumbria Water. “A shower uses less than half the water needed to run a bath and if a family of four took showers instead of baths for a year they would save two road tankers full of water.”
As the Logan Cup resumed for the final three rounds, all four teams wereweakened by the unexpected appearance of Zimbabwe in the Sharjah final.Most had hoped they would return in time to play, although Matabeleland wereplanning to rest them from this match.It was a warm, cloudless autumn day in Kwekwe as Barney Rogers, stand-inMatabeleland captain, won the toss and decided to bat on what looked like angood batting pitch with the potential to take spin. There was some movementin the air and off the seam early on, but Midlands did not have the bowlerscapable of taking advantage of it.Charles Coventry is one of Zimbabwe’s most promising and confident youngbatsmen, and an outside possibility for the tour of England if he has a goodLogan Cup season. Opening the batting for his native Matabeleland, he racedto 24 off 21 balls before being caught off David Mutendera, who is stillstruggling to recover from his appalling bowling form of earlier in theseason. Basically a one-day player, Coventry still has to develop into agenuine batsman in first-class cricket.There followed a sound partnership between Mark Vermeulen, back after hishead injury in the World Cup, and Ryan King, back in the Matabeleland sideafter a prolonged period of poor form. King was doing well until beinggiven out under controversial circumstances. Vermeulen pushed a single toreach his fifty, and after completing the run King thoughtlessly startedback the pitch to congratulate his partner, only to find wicketkeeperAlester Maregwede removing the bails and appealing along with Don Campbell.Umpire Ahmed Esat raised his finger in accordance with the laws of the game,but many felt this dismissal was not in the spirit of the game. Mr Esatlater described King’s indiscretion as `silly’ and said there was no mercyto be expected in the first-class game, but did say he queried with theMidlands team whether they really wished to claim his wicket in this way.They insisted they did, but Midlands chief executive Ken Connelly was nothappy about it, and neither were the spectators. King did earn himself somecredit, as he walked off quietly without histrionics or unduly harsh wordseither on the field or in the dressing room.Campbell himself, a former wicketkeeper, had a bad day in the slips, and atleast three chances went down in that region, which was no encouragement forthe long-suffering bowlers on a sound but rather slow pitch. Vermeulen forthe most part seemed to set his stall out for a major score to enhance hisEngland chances, playing few flamboyant strokes but accumulating steadily.However, he ran himself out just before lunch in a mix-up with his partner,turning for a third to find Barney Rogers uninterested, and the throw fromthe boundary just found him adjudged short of his crease. Unlike King, heflung his bat twenty metres on being given out and swore audibly. Bothrun-out incidents this morning showed the need for a match referee; althoughhe would not have overturned the King decision, he could at least have giventhe players some insights into the spirit of the game. Legal it undoubtedlywas, but it does the game no good when certain methods of dismissal causeoutrage among opposing players and spectators.The Matabeleland middle order made Midlands suffer in the sun during theafternoon session, as a big partnership between Andre Hoffman (79 not out)and Gavin Ewing (65 not out) flourished, taking the total to 342 for four atthe tea interval.Rogers moved smoothly to his fifty soon after lunch, but was then dismissedfor 52, trying to shoulder arms to medium-pacer Vusi Sibanda but onlymanaging to nick the ball to the keeper.Andre Hoffman, after a slow start, suddenly decided he liked the look ofDirk Viljoen’s left-arm spin and hit him for two successive sixes, overlong-off and long-on. He continued his enterprise beyond his fifty, whileGavin Ewing was just as aggressive and when Mutendera returned to bowl hisfirst over went for 21 runs. A couple of difficult chances were missed, butthe weak and inaccurate bowling suffered severely and there was no respitefor the home side.The partnership realized 192 before Hoffman, having just reached hiscentury, fell for 102. It was the first delivery with the second new ball,bowled by Vusi Sibanda – debutant Anthony Ireland took the other end – afterthe dismal failure of Mutendera and Sherezad Shah with the first. The extrapace and bounce apparently took Hoffman by surprise and, going for the cut,sliced a catch to Viljoen at slip. Matabeleland were now 382 for five.Shortly afterwards Ewing reached his century with a bold straight six offIreland. Keith Dabengwa, whose batting at first-class level has rarelymatched his ability, enjoyed the experience of playing a tired, weak bowlingline-up on a lifeless pitch and played some good-looking drives, while Ewingshowed no signs of laxity. They saw Matabeleland through to the close, whenthe team was an imposing 498 for six wickets, Ewing on 154 and Dabengwa 33.
Tim Lamb, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has extinguished Australian hopes of returning home with the real Ashes.Australian captain Steve Waugh, speaking after the tourists had wrapped up the series with their Test win at Trent Bridge, said that his “personal point of view” was that: “We have won 3-0. We have won the series, and I think we should get the Ashes — the original. You are playing for the trophy, so why not get it?”It is the ultimate prize in cricket, they say. But you cannot get near it. It is not much of a prize really if you cannot see it or cannot touch it."And England chairman of selectors David Graveney sympathised by admitting: “I can understand where he’s coming from."However, Lamb has pointed out that the logistics of transporting such a valuable trophy half way round the globe makes it impossible for Australia to take home the treasured urn.He said: “There is absolutely no question of the original Ashes urn leaving Lord’s – it belongs at Lord’s.”There have been a number of replicas which have been used over the years – but the MCC would never let the original out. It is in the museum at Lord’s and it stays there.”The Australian Cricket Board realise that if anything happened to it then it would be gone forever."The winners of the Ashes instead receive a Waterford Crystal replica of the Ashes urn, which will be presented to Waugh after the Fifth Ashes Test at the Oval. Lamb pointed out that the production of the crystal replica as a “perpetual trophy” in 1998 had been supported by the ACB.Lamb admitted that, “It’s something completely different — but at least there is a trophy for one of the teams to keep. It will be presented to Australia – and we hope to be bringing it back in 18 months’ time."The Ashes may seem to be in the perpetual possession of Australia at the moment, but for the foreseeable future the urn itself will stay at Lord’s.
West Bromwich Albion manager Ryan Mason had some of the pressure taken off him after his side claimed a 2-0 win over Sheffield United in the Championship at the weekend.
Prior to that clash, Football Insider reported that the club’s away form has caused serious concern behind the scenes and that the manager’s future will be evaluated if they get dragged into a relegation battle.
The report added that the board, with owner Shilen Patel, remain in support of the former Tottenham Hotspur coach, but that the situation could change if they fall down the table.
Why West Brom should sack Ryan Mason
Despite a 2-0 win over the Blades last time out, Patel should ruthlessly part ways with Mason because the Baggies have regressed under his watch in comparison to last season.
Manager Focus
Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.
Whilst it must be noted that Tom Fellows left to join Southampton, the English head coach was given new signing Aune Heggebo, who has scored eight goals in 17 league starts, per Sofascore.
Despite that impressive addition, whilst also having the likes of Isaac Price, Mikey Johnston, Karlan Grant, and Josh Maja at his disposal, Mason has been unable to improve the team’s attacking play.
West Brom’s regression under Mason
Stat
24/25 (rank)
25/26 (rank)
Points per game
1.39 (9th)
1.31 (15th)
xG
58.7 (9th)
25.3 (14th)
xA
47.1 (4th)
24.4 (7th)
xGD
+11.6 (6th)
+0.9 (12th)
League position
9th
15th
Stats via FBref
As you can see in the table above, West Brom are worse defensively, offensively, and overall as a team since the English tactician took the job in the summer, which is why the club should make a decision on his future.
If the Baggies do decide to part ways with Mason, Gary O’Neil is one out-of-work manager who could come in as an upgrade in the dugout, having been touted for the role in the summer.
Why West Brom should appoint Gary O'Neil
In what would be a controversial move, given his time at Wolves, the English boss could come in and provide West Brom with a boost to lift them up the Championship table.
Prior to Mason’s appointment, EFL pundit Joe Jacobson tipped the club to appoint O’Neil, saying: “At Wolves, it was tough but I think he is a very, very good manager and that’s exactly what West Brom need right now, a freshness, someone with some fresh ideas, someone who’s obviously very motivated and wants to prove himself again.”
The former Wolves and Bournemouth boss was viewed as somone who could come in with ‘fresh ideas’ and motivation to push West Brom forward, and that is still what they need six months later, as they have regressed under Mason.
O’Neil, as shown in the clip above, has shown that he can motivate a group of players to achieve success, having guided Bournemouth and Wolves to safety in the Premier League in his first two seasons as a manager.
O’Neil’s first 2 Premier League seasons
Championship
22/23
23/24
Games managed
34
38
Wins
10
13
Draws
6
7
Losses
18
18
Points
36
46
League finish
15th
14th
Stats via Transfermarkt
The 42-year-old tactician showed that he has the capabilities as a coach to deliver decent enough performances at that level, even if his second season at Wolves, losing 11 of 16 league games, was a disappointment.
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He has been out of a job since December of last year, which means that he has had plenty of time off to reflect and learn from his experiences so far, and could come in with real motivation to succeed, as Jacobson said.
O’Neil could be an upgrade on Mason because he has shown promising signs, with his first two seasons at the level, as a manager in the Premier League, whilst the Baggies boss has seemingly made a Championship side worse in his first senior posting.
That is why Patel should seriously consider sacking the former Spurs coach in favour of bringing O’Neil in to lead the club forward in the coming months and, hopefully, seasons.
He'd revive Price: West Brom could hire "insanely talented" Mason upgrade
West Bromwich Albion could soon replace an under-fire Ryan Mason with this fresh manager, who might get even more out of Isaac Price.
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum has declared day-night Test cricket “here to stay” after the conclusion of the inaugural floodlit match at Adelaide Oval, a popular success despite its meagre three-day running time.A crowd of 123,736 poured into the ground across those three days, and similarly strong television audiences made it a spectacle to delight broadcasters and administrators alike. But the verdict of the players was always going to be critical to the future of the concept, and in the glowing words of McCullum and his opposite number Steven Smith there was ample evidence that the game’s elite practitioners will be comfortable with doing this kind of thing more often.The only reservation raised by both McCullum and Smith was the amount of grass left on the Adelaide Oval pitch, which they agreed was the major factor in the game’s short time span. But they were equally adamant that players would be able to adapt with greater experience, with the added incentive now of having played a Test match in front of such a celebratory and voluminous gathering.”It’s a great concept,” McCullum said. “As pink ball cricket evolves as I am sure it will grow into a global game and I think we will see the pitches probably won’t have quite as much grass on it. The thing about day-night Test cricket is it is meant to allow Test match cricket to be played at night time, it is not meant to be to change how Test cricket should play.”There was a fraction too much grass on it, I think we saw under lights that the pink ball probably responded a little bit much, but I would say that because I am a batter. Overall it was a roaring success and 120,000 people over three days, people are voting with their feet and I think it’s here to stay, which is great.”In general, spectators would want see results in games. And will want to see captains start to try and force results. Sitting in changing room after hard fought Test win that’s what’s most memorable as a cricketer. Sometimes fighting draws are great and I think we’ll find captains will try and push home some advantage to get Test victories.”Smith was naturally relieved after seeing out a series victory over a fast-finishing New Zealand, and he had little hesitation in describing the contest as a “great” one. “The whole Test match was a great innovation, it was a great spectacle,” he said. “To get 120,000 people through the gates in three days is absolutely amazing. I thought it was a great spectacle and a great Test match.”It was a game that was dominated by the bowlers. New Zealand’s bowlers bowled just as well as ours. But it was one of those games – if you got yourself in you could still score runs, it just wasn’t to be this game for a lot of the batters, we got starts and couldn’t go on with it. I think the contest is there if you’re willing to have a game plan and bat some time you can certainly score runs.”Like McCullum, Smith noted the thick grass coverage presented for the pink ball, but was happy enough to live with that after finishing the match as a narrow winner. “I think the wicket here compared to the two Shield games that have been played on it and particularly the pink ball shield game we played, it looked like the grass was a bit more lively,” he said. “I think it was the same height as the grass in the Shield game but it was probably just a tad greener.”That created a little bit more movement for the bowlers and kept the ball together and swinging for a long period. But I think it was great to see something different, the first two Test matches were dominated by the bat, so it’s great to see something different and see the bowlers coming into their own.”
Kevin Pietersen wants to be a member of an England side that ‘demolishes’ Australia in two years time after the team’s 5-0 Ashes humbling. Despite scoring 490 runs during the series, including 158 in Adelaide, he could do nothing about the eventual result.But Pietersen has promised the memory of their recent thrashing will inspire the team to success when the Ashes are next up for grabs, in England, in 2009. “People are still hurting from the winter. But I don’t think it did England too much harm, this winter,” he told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme on Sunday.”Yes, we got hammered in Australia and the World Cup (where England failed to reach the semi-finals) wasn’t good for us, but we are hurting. Inside, we are hurting and it is the same sort of pain we want to inflict on a lot of countries that tour England, and it is the same pain we want to inflict on the Australians in 2009, so it wasn’t all that bad.”The way we are playing our cricket now is the way we want to play and the way we want to demolish the Australians in 2009.Michael Vaughan spoke of England needing to be ruthless ahead of the fourth Test against West Indies and Pietersen echoes those opinions. “I just basically think it’s that killer instinct, that ruthlessness that the Australian team showed us in Australia this winter.”They were at our throats – that’s what we want to do, we want to be mentally right, we want to be physically right and we just want to keep asking questions ball after ball, session after session,” explained Pietersen, who said new coach Peter Moores wanted the side to have a hard edge.”A team has to back down at some stage and that is something Peter is very, very positive about and keen on doing. As soon as you turn up at the ground, you are in the right frame of mind, you have got positive energy, positive vibes chucking around the dressing room Positive energy breeds positive performances.”
Kevin Pietersen was adamant that he would be fit to resume his innings on the second day of the third Test between England and Pakistan at Headingley, after retiring hurt with cramp shortly after recording his fifth Test century.”I’m facing the first ball tomorrow unless something drastic happens to me this evening,” Pietersen confirmed, after the late dismissal of Matthew Hoggard left England handily placed on 347 for 6 at stumps. “I was [scheduled to go] in before Hoggard and after [Chris] Read,” he added, “but then we used the nightwatchman for the last five overs.”Pietersen enjoyed a charmed life in his innings, surviving a clear-cut appeal for caught-behind on 2 followed by a dismissal off a no-ball, and then, on the stroke of his eventual retirement, he was dropped at midwicket by Salman Butt.”It did inconvenience me because that’s why I came off the field,” explained Pietersen, who had called for treatment on his forearm three times in a single over as he raced through the 90s with a series of typically bombastic shots. “Instinct and adrenalin took over,” he added, “but after each shot, [my forearm] would freeze into a certain position. It wasn’t fun and it’s certainly never happened before.””I couldn’t grip the bat as well as I should have done,” he continued. “I had some treatment but I had to come off. I’ve had it needled and massaged and hopefully with some rest and more treatment, I’ll be able to face the first ball tomorrow.”Pietersen was satisfied with his performance in typically tough, overcast conditions at Headingley. “I was happy to get out there and play,” he said. “Other batsmen have been fantastic this series, so it’s nice to get another hundred. I’m really satisfied with this one, especially after getting 20,30, 40 in my last innings. Hopefully, if Ian [Bell] and I can bat for an hour or more in the first session, we can get a score in excess of 400.””That’s the first time I’ve ever suffered with cramps in my life,” claimed Pietersen. “I think the problem today was that I didn’t have lunch, I don’t generally eat when I’m batting, and I had breakfast at 8am. It’s probably just my salt levels, because my fluids were perfect and my urine was crystal clear.”
Carl Gazzard and Keith Parsons both scored centuries as Somerset Seconds drew their two day match against Sussex at North Perrott.Chasing the visitors total of 433, Somerset lost Piran Holloway for 27 when he was run out before Parsons joined Gazzard.The second wicket pair added 140 in quick time before the young Cornishman was out for a hard hit 112.Parsons then shared in stands with Wes Durston (36) and Arul Suppiah (28) before the game ended by which Somerset had moved onto 449 for 7, and the all rounder remained unbeaten on 108.
ScorecardPreview – A time to riseDay 1 Bulletin – Bashar leads the way for BangladeshDay 2 Bulletin – Rafique century frustrates West IndiesDay 3 Bulletin – Bangladesh rue missed chancesDay 4 Bulletin – Bangladesh secure first-innings leadDay 5 Bulletin – Khaled Mashud defies West Indies News – Best fined 75% of match fee
FULL NAME: Gary Bazil Brent BORN: 13 January 1976, at Sinoia (now Chinhoyi) MAJOR TEAMS: Mashonaland Under-24/Young Mashonaland (1994/95-1995/96); Mashonaland (1996/97-1998/99), Manicaland (1999/2000 to date). Present club teams: Old Hararians, Mutare Sports Club. KNOWN AS: Gary Brent. Nickname: GB. BATTING STYLE: Right Hand Bat BOWLING STYLE: Right Arm Fast Medium Bowler OCCUPATION: Professional cricketer FIRST-CLASS DEBUT: Mashonaland Under-24 v Mashonaland Country Districts, (Harare South), 16 September 1994 TEST DEBUT: 18-22 November 1999, Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka (Queens Sports Club). ODI DEBUT: 30 October 1996, Zimbabwe v Pakistan (Quetta). BIOGRAPHY (updated March 2003)Gary Brent is a medium-pace bowler, and also a useful batsman, who has been on the fringe of the Zimbabwean national side for several years now without being able to break through and earn a permanent place in the team.Gary comes from a strong cricketing background, and his uncle Jon Brent was an all-rounder, like himself, who represented Zimbabwe between 1988 and 1990. His earliest memories of cricket are of his father bowling to him on the lawn at home when he was very young.Although Gary is now primarily a bowler who can bat, his bowling was a later development in his career. Although born in Chinhoyi, his family soon moved near Harare and he attended Highlands Primary School there. He won his place in the large school’s Colts team, which consisted mainly of Grade 5 players, while still in Grade 3, as a batsman and later also as wicket-keeper. This was a role he was to fulfill until late in his high-school career.He scored his first fifty for the school first team while in Grade 7 and was sent for trials for the national primary school tournament, but did not make the final side. He progressed to Eaglesvale High School, where he was in the same year as the Matambanadzo twins, Darlington and Everton. At first he continued to keep wicket and either opened the batting or went in at number three. It was here that he was coached by Barry Lake, whom he names as the main influence in his cricketing career.It was Mr Lake who encouraged Gary to develop his bowling. Gary soon became a useful seam bowler, aiming to hit the seam and with the inswinger as his stock delivery. In his final year he hit 108 against the English school Dean Close at the Prince Edward Cricket Festival, in a partnership of over 300 with Doug Marillier, who scored a double-century. He was selected for the national schools team as an all-rounder.During this year he also played club cricket for the first time, joining Old Hararians who offered free membership to players from schools such as Eaglesvale. He had further encouragement from some of the leading players, and pays tribute especially to Paul and Bryan Strang who gave him a great deal of help, especially on the mental side of the game, and also Dirk Viljoen for his advice with his batting.After leaving school he started work for his father on the family farm in Norton, which earned him a qualification for Mashonaland Country Districts. During the off season he travelled to England to play for the club at Burridge, where he found the play of quite a good standard, better than Zimbabwean second-league standard he thinks.After some useful performances at club level, mainly as a bowler, he made his first-class debut in the Logan Cup for Mashonaland Under-24 against Mashonaland Country Districts. Although he took only one wicket, he did play an innings of 40 against an attack containing Test players Gary Crocker, Steve Peall and Paul Strang, which was to remain his highest first-class score for five years. In his team’s next match, against Mashonaland, he took the wickets of Test players Craig Evans (twice), Andy Flower and Gavin Briant.Gary also had some good performances to his credit for the Zimbabwe Board XI in matches not ranked as first-class against South African teams, most notably eight wickets against Free State B. It was largely as a result of these performances that he was chosen to tour Pakistan with the national side in 1996/97, a surprise choice even though Zimbabwe’s pace-bowling reserves were very thin at that time.It was a memorable tour for Gary, even though most of his time was spent doing twelfth-man duties. He was particularly struck by the dryness of the country and the poverty of so many of the people there, and also felt very much in awe of the great crowds that filled the stadiums and the noise they created. A great deal of time was also spent driving from place to place in not the most comfortable of conditions. He did play in one international match, making his one-day debut at Quetta, where he scored just one run and bowled five rather innocuous overs. He was clearly not international material yet, and was overlooked for more than a year after this by the national selectors.His career took an important step forward when he was selected to attend the MRF Pace Foundation coaching course with Dennis Lillee at Madras just before he returned to international cricket in April 1998. He worked hard at his action, especially in putting his feet down in the right places, and feels the coaching was of great benefit, an experience he would be eager to repeat given the opportunity. He feels Lillee’s advice on playing in big matches also made a positive impression on him: "Stop, look, and take in the atmosphere."Gary’s second one-day international was no more successful than his first with the ball; playing against India in Cuttack, he again bowled only five rather expensive overs without success, but he did score a useful 24 with the bat, hanging on while Grant Flower reached his century at the other end as Zimbabwe made a late but unsuccessful bid for victory.The following season he attended the Commonwealth Games, playing in two matches against Malaysia and Sri Lanka, taking one and two wickets respectively in the unofficial internationals. He again played in just one official one-day international during the season, another unsuccessful match against India, but at least he had the satisfaction of a wicket this time, dismissing Rahul Dravid.Shortly after this he was given a place in the first intake of the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy, a position he had been aiming for as he hopes to become a fully-fledged professional cricketer. He had his first taste of captaincy at first-class level when, in the absence of Dirk Viljoen, he led the academy against the visiting Australian Cricket Academy team, which was to be a rather torrid experience, as the tourists had in their ranks Brett Lee, a bowler of express pace who literally frightened some of the local Academy players. Gary himself showed his unselfishness in the second innings by promoting himself in the batting order, when on a `pair’, to face the fury of Lee when he could have waited until the bowler was rested. He weathered the storm and made a valiant 37, but the team was heavily defeated.He also played in the one-day series for Zimbabwe A against the touring England A team, and impressed with some attacking accurate bowling. He had recently shortened his run-up and found it made a considerable difference to his bowling; this, he thought, was perhaps the best spell of bowling he had ever done. In his ten overs he took two wickets for 21 runs, by some way the best bowling return for his team.The 1999/2000 season was a major one for Gary, as to the surprise of many he played in two Test matches, with fair results, and played regularly for the national one-day team. He played a couple of one-day matches against Australia with no great success, and he himself was rather surprised to be selected to make his Test debut against Sri Lanka in the First Test at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.This came on the back of his best career bowling figures, six for 84 while playing for the Academy against the Sri Lankans at Kwekwe. That Test was badly affected by rain, but Gary was by far the most economical of the Zimbabwean bowlers, taking two wickets (Jayawardene and de Saram) for 55 runs in 32 overs. Against that, he was out first ball with the bat.He kept his place for the Second Test at Harare, where he was less successful with the ball, until the second innings, when Sri Lanka needed just 35 to win. Gary gave them a shock by taking three quick wickets, but still lost his place for the final Test, when Eddo Brandes returned to the team.Gary went on to have a most successful Logan Cup season. After completing his year at the Academy, he was posted to Manicaland, where he became the backbone of their attack in their most successful first year in the competition. He took 15 wickets in his first two matches for them, although he trailed off after that, and they missed him badly in the final which they lost the Mashonaland, as he was touring with the national side in the West Indies.Gary played in 17 one-day internationals during the season, taking 24 wickets at an average of 30, although conceding five runs an over. Eight of the wickets were in consecutive matches against Sri Lanka, so that remains his favourite series.He played in the triangular tournament in South Africa, against England at home, toured West Indies and finally was included in the World Cup squad for England in 1999. He played in only one World Cup match, though, the final one at The Oval against Pakistan, when he was as unsuccessful as the best of the team.Then it was back to domestic cricket for 2000/01, as he was not even selected for the Zimbabwe Board XI. He had another good season for Manicaland, taking 23 wickets in their four matches, but he did not even get a single game in the national one-day side.Then suddenly, the following season, he found he was in favour again. Regaining his one-day place, he was Zimbabwe’s most accurate and economical bowler against the South Africans, and continued to bowl steadily against England in the home one-day series. Sharjah followed, with seven wickets in four matches.The came the tour to Bangladesh, where Gary was given another chance at Test cricket, in the Second Test at Chittagong. He was disappointed to take only one wicket for 88 runs against weak opposition, but he took five wickets in two one-day internationals, which helped to keep him in the side for Sri Lanka.More disappointments were to follow, as he played one unsuccessful one-day match there and another disappointing Test match. He was given what was to be a final chance on the tour to India, but took just two expensive wickets in three one-day internationals.Since then Gary has been out in the cold as far as international cricket is concerned. He returned to live in Harare, although still playing for Manicaland and Mutare Sports Club in the national league, while rejoining Old Hararians for the Vigne Cup competition. He took 10 wickets at 14.20 each in his two Logan Cup matches in 2001/02, but his 2002/03 season did not go well. He cannot put his finger on the problem, but he tended to be more expensive in domestic cricket and so failed to challenge for a place in the World Cup squad.Gary’s batting steadily improved, and he has learned to be a better starter and contribute more consistently without producing any really high scores. He plays straight and scores the bulk of his runs from drives, while he is also able to play safe and keep an end up if that is in the interests of the team. He scored his first fifties for Old Hararians and also for the Zimbabwe Board XI in 1998/99. He felt particularly pleased with an innings of about 60 on a dodgy pitch in a Vigne Cup match, while his best first-class innings has been 72 not out when strengthening a CFX Academy XI against the Indian tourists of 2000/01.A modest man who perhaps still needs to work on the confidence factor, Gary’s international future is uncertain, but he could still return with plenty of hard work and mental strength. The next season or two should determine the future of his career as he seeks a return to the national side.