line ups

Heath StreaK: A top class opening bowler, at one time ranked in some systems in the top 5 in the world, and an effective wicket taker at the highest level. Combining pace, aggression and late movement, when fully fit he can trouble any batsman in the world.

Grant Flower: Zimbabwe's one tried and tested opening batsman, an anchorman capable of stabilising the innings and batting for hours on end.

Alistair Campbell: An elegant left-hander, Alistair Campbell showed great early promise. Often compared to that other elegant left-hander, David Gower, he plays a wide range of shots, generating power without apparent effort.

Stuart Carlisle: He has failed to establish himself in the Test side as an opener - he is probably still a little limited in his strokeplay and finds it difficult to dominate the bowlers. He has always been a superb fielder and this has kept him on the fringes of the one-day side.

Murray Goodwin:

He sometimes bowls economical medium paced swing or flighted leg breaks, but he is primarially a batsman. He prefers to bat at 3, but has been flexible since gaining a place in the national team.

Neil Johnson:

Neil Johnson has rapidly made himself an integral part of Zimbabwe's squad after opting for Zimbabwe nationality last year. He often bats number 3 in one day games but drops down the order in Tests.

Mpumelelo Mbangwa: One of Zimbabwe's promising young pace bowlers, whose rise to prominence is all the more remarkable as he has no family background in cricket. A little short of the top pace, but Pom sees himself primarily as a line-and-length bowler, using both seam and swing, with the away-swinger his stock ball.

Mluleki Nkala: He is currently studying for his O levels at Falcon College Esigodini where he plays 1st XI Cricket, 1st XV Rugby and is in the Athletics team. Mluleki has represented Zimbabwe age group teams since 1992.

Henry Olonga: The first black cricketer and youngest-ever player to represent Zimbabwe at international level, Henry Olonga has come back from being called for throwing in a Test in early 1995 and rebuilt his action completely. At full pace he is rated as the fastest bowler in the country but still tends to be rather inaccurate, with a tendency to bowl more no-balls and wides than most. He also has had difficulties with injury. His ability as a strike bowler was shown in the 1998-99 tour of Pakistan when he ripped thorugh the experienced Pakistan top order to set up a win in the first Test.

Bryan Colin Strang: Military medium seamer who is in the team for his great economy. Bryan Strang's role is to tie up an end, in the manner of Ewen Chatfield, forcing the batsmen to attack the strike bowler at the other end. Described by one New Zealander as "the most boring bowler in the world" he carries this role out well, making wickets for others and taking a few himself.

Paul Strang: A fine all-rounder, combining top class leg-spin bowling with useful lower order batting, and superb fielding. As a bowler he has a wide repertoire - regular leg-breaks, googly, top-spinner and flipper - and his control has improved considerably during the last couple of seasons. Paul is one of the best fielders in an outstanding fielding side, often seen in the covers or backward point area. He is at his best as a batsman when the pressure is on and runs are needed urgently, as he proved while scoring his Test century.

Dirk Peter Viljoen: A highly promising young all-rounder, much is expected of Dirk Viljoen, who earned a place in Zimbabwe's World Cup squad through some fine performances against England A in 1998-99. As a batsman, he has a very good technique and excellent footwork, enabling him to play both fast and spin bowling equally well. When bowling, he has a good variation of pace and loop, with a good arm ball.

Guy James Whittall: Guy Whittall is an aggressive middle-order batsman who can score useful runs, even centuries, at Test level, and a nippy medium-pace change bowler with the knack of taking useful wickets, besides being a very good outfielder with a fine throw. Originally selected for his batting, his bowling has developed and he is a useful fourth seamer, combining away swing with nip off the pitch.