In his first column for Wisden Online, the man who guided South Africa to many a one-day victory gives the lowdown on the Harare Sports Club, where England play Zimbabwe on October 3, 6 and 7 Monday, October 1, 2001

England have arrived in Zimbabwe determined to get their preparations right for the 2003 World Cup. Six new players, who demonstrated their one-day skills during this last season in England, come in.

On paper England should be the better side. But they have suffered by playing much less international limited-overs cricket than most other countries. Sometimes players you'd hardly think of as Test cricketers turn out to be better equipped for the one-day game, and it's only by trying them out that you discover this. England need to unearth a nugget or two on this trip. It is a wonderful opportunity for them to build for the World Cup in what is, despite its troubles, a lovely country.

Zimbabwe are going through a redevelopment stage, but they have had the Indian sign over England in one-day cricket in the past. They are a side not to be underestimated. The ground
Harare Sports Club is a beautiful ground, surrounded by purple-flowered jacaranda trees and with a charming Dutch-gabled pavilion. It is a great place to play cricket. On my last visit there the practice facilities were excellent. Indeed, Warwickshire's most productive season came after touring Zimbabwe early in 1994. The rainy season is not due for a couple of months so it should be warm and extremely pleasant for cricket.

The pitch
Ever since 1992, when Zimbabwe started playing international cricket in earnest, batting first at Harare meant getting through the first few overs on a slightly damp surface, against sideways seam-movement. There was also occasionally steep tennis-ball bounce, because there was a slightly uneven area at the end further away from the pavilion. Recent games would suggest that Test-match batting is much better in these dryer conditions ... South Africa 600-3! The second one-dayer the other day proved a nightmare for the side batting second, as it dusted and turned. Mark Boucher had to wear a helmet to protect himself from the uneven bounce. If conditions remain the same, batting first is a real option.

The figures
Before this year sides batting second had nearly as much success as the side batting first. Out of 33 one-dayers at Harare, 17 have been won by the team batting first and 15 by the one batting second, with one tie. For all ODIs the figures are 49% wins if you bat first, 51% if you're chasing. Looking at the current surface I would think that a score of 250 will ensure a win. For England, therefore, Nasser Hussain's luck with the toss will have to change – and if it doesn't they will be under severe pressure to restrict Zimbabwe to less than 180 if they are to stand much chance of winning.

The time of year
Zimbabwe have started to play in what was previously their off-season – their winter and the dry season. So the square at Harare Sports Club is a lot drier than normal. What used to be an essentially seamer-friendly surface is now powdering and dry, and the spinners will play a bigger part. The fast bowlers' slower balls – especially the offbreak – will cause a lot of problems. James Kirtley certainly has this type of delivery in his armoury, and I expect England's other bowlers do too. If they don't, they need to add it quickly.

The atmosphere
The Zimbabwe crowd will remember England's fractious 1996-97 tour with not very fond memories. With any luck Duncan Fletcher – the local boy – will be able to smooth things out. The crowds tend to become slightly louder and less polite as the day wears on and the amber nectar hits its mark. But the Zimbabweans are extremely friendly people, and will be very grateful for the chance to be distracted from the extreme pressures the country is suffering.

The key players
Zimbabwe's front-line batsmen are Andy Flower and Alistair Campbell, backed up by Grant Flower (although his recent form has been patchy), Guy Whittall and Stuart Carlisle. And there are high hopes for Hamilton Masakadza. The bowling relies a lot on Heath Streak, who is dangerous and a class act. Henry Olonga, their fastest bowler, seems to have gone out of favour, although he did play for Zimbabwe A today. Streak's participation in the series is threatened by a back injury, just one of a number of niggles which have beset the Zimbabwean bowling attack recently. That's a problem for a side drawing from a small pool of players anyway. Their other bowlers have been less successful – Gary Brent, Mluleki Nkala and Travis Friend are all relative newcomers, still finding their feet.

Bob Woolmer is director of coaching at Warwickshire CCC and former coach of South Africa. He is a member of the editorial board of Wisden Cricket Monthly, and has just been appointed ICC's first High Performance Manager.

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