Campbell looks to raise pace (23 May 1999)

23 May 1999

Campbell looks to raise pace

Steve James

As they proved at Worcester yesterday, Zimbabwe, by their own admission, are not firing on all cylinders, but their progress so far in the World Cup will have alerted England, whom they face at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe's 5-1 advantage in the total number of one-day internationals between the two countries has been well documented and England's players are probably fed up with having such figures rammed down their throats. However, the ill-fated tour of 1996-97 and the comments associated with it will probably only be truly extinguished from the memory if Alec Stewart's men can reverse the form and win comprehensively.

England may also feel that it is time to exorcise the ghost of Eddo Brandes, that most famous of chicken farmers, who always seems to reserve his best for them and, especially, his old Prince Edward schoolmate, Graeme Hick.

Zimbabwe coach David Houghton has already gone on record as being very confident about the England game, saying before the tournament that England would have to win three other games if they wanted to progress to the Super Sixes.

You will not, however, hear such psychological warfare from captain Alistair Campbell, the man they call Kamba, which is a Shona word meaning 'tortoise', with clear reference to a perceived lack of speed in the field.

Unnecessary words of bravado are not the way of the son of Iain 'Pol' Campbell, a former headmaster of Lilfordia, a renowned Zimbabwean school. Words of wisdom yes, because his father is a highly respected cricketing man who encouraged his son to bat left-handed despite his natural right-handedness. The desired result of top-handed control has seen Campbell become one of the more attractive stroke-makers in a strong Zimbabwean batting line-up.

Consistency has been a problem and it must irk the Zimbabwe captain that his highest Test score is still only 99, despite three one-day centuries.

To say that his promotion to the captaincy was a surprise would be an understatement, given his previous reputation of a precocious talent but suspect temperament and laid-back attitude.

Andy Flower had tired of his triple role and his brother Grant politely declined the reins, so it was left to their great friend to take over.

He has warmed to the task, leaning on the advice of the Flowers and coach Houghton, as well as adding self-discipline to his own life and cricket. He is well respected and with his easy-going personality copes with the media glare with aplomb.

He sees the England clash as just another game in Zimbabwe's seemingly never-ceasing conquest to prove themselves at the highest level and to achieve their stated aim of reaching the Super Sixes. He has some thoughts about selection for the game and if the wicket suits, may well introduce former Eastern Province leg-spinner Adam Huckle to join forces with Paul Strang and prey on England's recent lack of confidence against such exponents.

Such a decision will pale into insignificance when compared with the one to use Henry Olonga in that now-famous over at Leicester. The safer cricketing option was to bowl Guy Whittall, but a gut feeling took over and all we could do was sit back and applaud as Zimbabwe's first black cricketer surely made himself a true hero for the masses of his country.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)