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Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field in the 1st ODI in Harare today, and while Zimbabwe got off to a decent start, reaching 121/4, the loss of 7 wickets for just 3 runs (the three runs going to not-out batsman Tatenda Taibu - the 7 men out all failed to score) brought the famous Zimbabwe Collapse™ to new levels. Taibu was the top-scorer on 36*, but that was no consolation in a truly dismal display. Murali, who Proser Utseya claimed before the match was "no threat", took 4/14 from just 4 overs, while Mendis chipped in with 3/26, leaving Sri Lanka with an eminently chasable target.

In reply, Sri Lanka lost a wicket before a run was even on the board as Upul Tharanga was run out thanks to Chris Mpofu's quick reflexes, giving hopeful fans the thought of the wickets continuing to tumble through Sri Lanka's innings, but sadly that wasn't to be. While Zim did the best they could to contain Sri Lanka, with such a small target to bowl to they were always on the losing end of the battle and, after an innings that's not likely to be remembered for being entertaining cricket, the visitors reached their target with 100 balls remaining. Sangakkara's unbeaten 50 was the to Sri Lankan score, while Price's 2/24 was the highlight of an economical if unthreatening performance by Zim's bowlers.

If there's hope to be taken from this match, it's from the bowling and fielding performances - as ever, it's the batsmen who have let us down once again. Scorecard & innings commentaries for this match are below the cut - next match is on Saturday. See you then.
Zimbabwe 127 (31/50 overs; Taibu 36*, Muralitharan 4/14), Sri Lanka 130/4 (33.2/50 overs; Sangakkara 50*, Price 2/24). Sri Lanka win by 6 wickets.

ZC have announced their squad for the 1st ODI versus Sri Lanka - it may be the squad for the full series, but the announcement is typically vague and I certainly hope it isn't. Notable inclusions are Tatenda Taibu (who has other worries that cricket and, according to CricInfo, has been locked in a pay & conditions dispute with ZC as well) and Ed Rainsford, who returns from the international wilderness to bring some pace to the side. One very noticeable absence is Sean Williams, who despite having Walter Chawaguta chasing him to make himself available manages to miss out on selection in a frankly mystifying decision. It's a decent squad, though, and should be reasonably competitive if they can perform to their capabilities.
Squad: Prosper Utseya (captain), Chamunorwa Chibhabha, Elton Chigumbura, Keith Dabengwa, Timycen Maruma, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Christopher Mpofu, Tawanda Mupariwa, Forster Mutizwa, Raymond Price, Edward Rainsford, Vusimuzi Sibanda and Tatenda Taibu.

An ICC fact-finding team, led by Dr Julian Hunte (president of the WICB) has arrived in Harare to gauge the current state of Zimbabwean cricket. With this year's National League competition having apparently been cancelled and there now being a continuing player drain at the lower levels of the sport in Zim, it may not be the best timing from ZC's point of view. The ICC team will also be looking at the policies and arrangements that ZC have in place with regard to working towards a return to Test cricket. Their report is unlikely to be glowing, I would have thought - but I'll be very surprised if any report, no matter how negative, makes any difference to how ZC are running the game...

Bangladesh Cricket Board have released the schedule for Zimbabwe's tour to the country in January, with the surprise being the inclusion of a Tri-Series including Sri Lanka. Seems we just can't avoid playing Sri Lanka at the moment... The full schedule is:

Tour Match
Tue 6 - Thu 8 Jan       Bangladesh Cricket Board Academy v Zimbabweans

Tri-Series
Sat 10 Jan      Bangladesh v Zimbabwe
Mon 12 Jan      Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe
Wed 14 Jan      Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
Sat 17 Jan      Final

ODI Series
Mon 19 Jan      1st ODI
Wed 21 Jan      2nd ODI
Fri 23 Jan      3rd ODI

All ODIs will be held at at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur; the venue for the first-class tour match is to be confirmed.

Just days after telling the media that he was not longer available to play for Zimbabwe, CricInfo reports that Sean Williams has announced that he is now available for the Sri Lanka series. The announcement comes after Walter Chawaguta told papers in Harare that he had approached both Williams and Brendan Taylor about playing - while the Taylor approach doesn't appear to have borne fruit, he does appear to have persuaded Williams, who is arguably the most talented player currently in the Zimbabwean setup. Given Chawaguta's comments, it seems unlikely that Williams would now be overlooked for selection.
CricInfo - Williams backtracks once again

CricInfo reports that Douglas Hondo has been approached about filling the post of Assistant Coach to the Zim national side - although ZC are awkwardly asking him to apply to the job, despite apparently being the only man on their shortlist. Hondo originally quit international cricket in an argument over dreadlocks (ZC ordered him to cut his locks off, he declined), before his chance of a return were ended by a back injury. Since then he's been coaching, and now Walter Chawaguta has indentified him as the ideal bowling coach for the side. No news yet on whether Hondo intends to take the offer, but there could certainly be worse choices.
CricInfo - Zimbabwe want Hondo as assistant

No result from yesterday's one-day tour match between Zimbabwe A and Sri Lankans, as rain intervened at lunch and prevented Zimbabwe's batsmen from getting a knock. Sri Lankans won the toss and elected to bat, probably hoping for some additional batting practice after their first-innings knockabout in the four-day tour match, but to their credit Zimbabwe A's bowlers managed to restrict them to what would have been a chasable 235 all out. Opener Upul Tharanga (71) and Jehan Mubarak (88*) did the bulk of the work for the visitors, with no-one else managing to pass 20, while Ed Rainsford marked his return to form with 3/29. Admire Manyuma and Malcolm Waller also chipped in with 3 wickets apiece, giving Zimbabwe A the look of a competitive side.

There was to be no upset thanks to the weather, but at least the A side's performance gave some reason for hope. Next up: the first ODI on Thursday 20th November. Full scorecard for this match is below the cut.
Sri Lankans 235 (48.1/50 overs; Mubarak 88*, Rainsford 3/29), Zimbabwe A did not bat. Match abandoned (rain) - no result.

Brendan Taylor has confirmed to the Melbourne Leader that, while he's keen to continue playing international cricket for Zimbabwe, he won't be doing so while the current ZC board is in place, citing a lack of any development opportunities and falling standard caused by the board's mismanagement:

"There’s too many of the wrong people running cricket in Zimbabwe ... it’s very frustrating because for the last four years there has been no development at all. There’s no first-class or league structure. We’ve got a very talented, up-and-coming side, but it will take at least five years before there’s any improvement, because there is no development taking place. I guess I’m in a fortunate situation in that I am still young and there isn’t a lot to choose from at the moment, so if we do get back, hopefully I get an opportunity again."

Taylor is currently playing for North Melbourne in the Victorian Premiere League.
Melbourne Leader - Keen, but out of Africa

The absence of up-and-coming player Alester Maregwede from recent Zimbabwean sides has raised a few eyebrows - now we may know why. Maregwede, who has been in Australia on a sporting visa, was been bailed back in March on rape charges. Over to the Sunraysia Daily:

Alester Maragwede, 26, who played last season with Mildura Settlers in the Sunraysia Cricket Association competition, has been charged with the rape of a 38-year-old woman earlier this month. Yesterday he appeared in Mildura Magistrates’ Court where he was also ordered to surrender his passport, not to contact witnesses and report to police three times a week.

Police allege the rape took place in the early hours of Friday, March 21, however further details have not been put to the court. Mr Maragwede has been in Australia on a sporting visa for the past six months. As well as playing for Mildura Settlers, he also represented Sunraysia in the Melbourne Country Week cricket tournament.

That report is dated March 2008 - I haven't yet been able to track down any more recent information on the case, but will update this article if I do.

Zimbabwe Select's 4-day match against the Sri Lankans may have ended in a draw, but don't let that fool you into thinking that the home side put up a fight - Sri Lanka were fully in control of this match, and it was only their apparent desire for batting practice in their only innings that stopped them form comprehensively winning the game. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Select gave us an wonderful demonstration of the Zimbabwe Collapse™ in their first innings as the Sri Lankan bowlers, led by Ajantha Mendis (4/59), cut easily through the batting lineup. Elton Chigumbura's 33 was the top score as a number of key players managed to play themselves out before really getting started. With no real partnerships to anchor the innings, Select were bowled out for just 159 - not nearly good enough if Zimbabwe are trying to persuade the ICC that they're ready to return to Test cricket.

In reply, Sri Lankans score 567/4 before calling it a day and declaring, with both Kumar Sangakkara (174) and Chamara Kapugedera (150) scoring big centuries as Select simply failed to bother them with their bowling. Three other players scored half-centuries. The declaration gave Sri Lankans a chance to push for a win, especially if Select repeated their first-innings performance, but to their credit Zimbabwe at least put up a fight to force the draw, let by good performances - and not before time - from Hamilton Maskadza (72) and Stuart Matsikenyeri (71). Mendis again proved a thorn in Select's side, this time taking 4/86, but Select were able to hold out until close of play, ending the final day on 238/5 and claiming a draw that they really didn't deserve.

Zimbabwe's weaknesses have now been clearly exposed, and the side has a lot of work to do before the 1st ODI if a humiliating whitewash is to be avoided. The next match is a one-day tour match on 17 November, where we'll all be looking for signs of major improvement. Full scorecard below the cut.
Zimbabwe Select 159 (Chigumbura 33, Mendis 4/59) & 238/5 (H Masakadza 72, Mendis 4/86), Sri Lankans 567/4 decl (Sangakkara 174, Utseya 3/133). Match Drawn