ZIMBABWE have appointed the former England batsman Alan Butcher as their new head coach with the target of returning the country to Test cricket in 2011. The appointment of an Englishman is further evidence that this ravaged country is returning to normal after the abandonment last year of the worthless Zimbabwe dollar in favour of the American dollar and South African rand.

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Butcher, 56, has been given an unexpected chance at international level after losing his job at Surrey after their relegation from Division One of the LV Championship in 2008. Former Zimbabwe Test players Grant Flower, at the end of the year, and Heath Streak are to work alongside Butcher as specialist batting and bowling coaches, and he will be assisted by Stephen Mangongo. Dave Houghton, another former Test player, has been lined up to assist him during the forthcoming trip to the West Indies.

Zimbabwe Cricket managing director Ozias Bvute said: "In the past we have relied on one coach, but this time we have four individuals and are confident they will deliver."

Zimbabwe withdrew from Test cricket in January 2006 after embarrassing results stemming from a policy of selecting mainly inexperienced black players after the alienation and consequent exit of some many white players.  The ICC ruled in 2007 that allowing them to make an early return could risk "undermining the integrity of Test cricket". But last October former captain Alastair Campbell, now chairman of selectors, confirmed that policy had been abandoned and predicted that they would be ready to play Test cricket again "in two or three years".

THE ECB chairman Giles Clarke paid tribute to Vodafone during the fourth Test against South Africa at The Wanderers, the final match of their 12-year sponsorship of the England team.

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The partnership began with England’s tour of West Indies in 1998 and encompassed a period of significant achievement, including two Ashes triumphs in 2005 and 2009 and Test series wins abroad in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, New Zealand and West Indies.

Clarke, hosting a thank-you dinner attended by representatives of Vodafone in Johannesburg, said: "We are extremely grateful to Vodafone for their unstinting support. The partnership has been one of the longest enjoyed by any team sport in the UK and it has brought enormous benefits to the wider game throughout England and Wales."

It was a pity Vodafone could not bow out on a winning note.

THE island of Grenada has opened a Caribbean cricket heritage centre in the south stand of the magnificent National Stadium in St George's.

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This is a private venture by a West Indies cricket fanatic, Philip Daniels, chairman of the High Five energy products company, in partnership with the West Indies Players' Association. The exhibition contains rare West Indies cricket artefacts dating back to the late 19th century, including bats, caps and letters, as well as medals, photos and tour brochures to explore the social history of the sport in the Caribbean.

Tillman Thomas, the prime minister of Grenada, officially opened the attraction in October. Daniels said: "We are now embarking on our regional and international marketing plans to place High Five firmly on the cricket map."

Charlie says: Another attraction at this interesting island. I would certainly recommend a holiday there, as St George's is a nice town albeit still suffering from old hurricane damage. The whole island is very good for exploring by car -- better scenery than Barbados without the St Lucia traffic jams -- and the Grand Anse beach is great for a relaxing time.

THE England women batsman Ebony Rainford-Brent has been drafted into the Surrey Academy for 2010 as the only female among six players.

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Rainford-Brent joins Zafar Ansari, Matthew Dunn, George Edwards, Shaun Cousens and Freddie Vanden Burgh as the new intake at the Pemberton Greenish Academy, having risen in prominence as a member of a successful squad who won the World Cup, the World Twenty20 and retained the Ashes this year.

Surrey disclosed that for the first time, from the start of this year’s winter training programme, the academy would be fully integrated with Surrey’s professional programme, so that eminent former England and Surrey players such as Graham Thorpe, Alec Stewart, Chris Adams, Ian Salisbury and Martin Bicknell will be coaching. The Academy director is Gareth Townsend.

Gus Mackay, Surrey's cricket managing director, said: "We are proud to announce this squad, who we see as the future of Surrey cricket. It is important that we continue to develop home- grown talent as we work on rebuilding the club. This is one of the most important group of players we have here and hopefully, with the changes we have made within Surrey Cricket over the last 12 months, they can now see a much clearer pathway to becoming professional cricketers."

DUBAI is still building recreational cricket grounds, despite the appalling recession in the Gulf emirate. The first all-turf ground at Al Dhaid Sports Village was officially inaugurated during the Afghanistan versus Saudi Arabia match of the ACC Twenty20 Cup by the father of cricket in the United Arab Emirates, Abdulrahman Bukhatir.

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Al Dhaid, with seven grounds in total, was first started in November 2006 and its artificial pitches have been operational for two years. The grass pitch has taken six months to complete, and apart from a slightly uneven outfield, it is apparently in perfect playing condition.

The four-acre site, 40 miles outside the Dubai metropolis, has been a personal project for Emirates Cricket Board administrator, Mazhar Khan. "There was and is a constant need for cricket pitches considering the level of activity in the UAE," said Khan. The ground at Al Dhaid will also host the MCC and a Bangladesh Port Cricket League next year.

Bukhatir, the television tycoon behind Dubai Sports City said: "Even though sports infrastructure projects are not profit-making centres, the purpose of a multi-sport project like this at Al Dhaid is to give youngsters a chance to play, get noticed and get ahead. It takes people, organisations and institutions for support and this is what we are hoping for the future. And we hope it benefits the society in Dubai and the whole world."

"The business plan has not been worked out for this, we are still in the process of forming a same. Al Dhaid is just starting, but like the youngsters who will play here, it is full of promise. There are enough grounds here to have major tournaments at any point of time," he added.

THE former Devon captain Hiley Edwards, has died at the age of 58 after many years of ill health.

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He was a stylish Torquay left-hander batsman and athletic fielder who led Devon to their first cup final at Lord's in 1991, a defeat by Staffordshire and his final game in an 18-year career with the county he loved. He started his club career with Cockington Corinthians before moving to Torquay and finally Paignton at the end of his county days. In 17 seasons with Torquay he scored more than 16,000 runs, captaining for four years. He made 86 Minor Counties Championship appearances.

LOCAL residents at Edgbaston have accused Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby of being taken in by "disingenous cant"� from Warwickshire County Cricket Club, according to a Birmingham Mail report.

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The Cannon Hill Neighbourhood Forum, seeking to overturn planning permission for a £32 million ground enhancement scheme at the High Court, said the city council were wasting money by approving a £20 million loan.

Forum chairman Leo Nation said Warwickshire had backtracked on promises to engage with residents through a liaison group and he repeated his claim that the club's stance that permanent floodlighting was required to protect Test match status was not justified.

A council report highlighted the importance of promoting Birmingham as a "great international city" and pointed out that international cricket would secure wide television exposure across five continents.

ANOTHER brewery has launched a beer with a cricket theme. This time it is the former England and Yorkshire fast bowler Fred Trueman who is being honoured by a new real ale by Copper Dragon in Skipton.

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The brew is being developed for launch early in 2010 to coincide with the unveiling of a bronze statue of Trueman in the town. The first 200 bottles will be individually signed and numbered by head brewer Gordon Wilkinson and made exclusively available to guests attending a gala dinner next March in aid of the Freddie Trueman statue appeal, created and supported by train operator Northern Rail.  Trueman's widow Veronica said: "Fred would be overjoyed that a real Yorkshire brewer is behind this. He loved his cricket and his beer as well as the wonderful scenery in this part of North Yorkshire where he lived out his final years."

Established in 2002, Copper Dragon supplies its hand-crafted Best Bitter, Golden Pippin, Scots 1816, Challenger IPA and Black Gold cask ales to more than 2,000 pubs across the UK.

BEN COX, the Bromsgrove School wicketkeeper, has signed a four-year contract with Worcestershire as his meteoric rise into the professional game continues.

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Cox, 17, scored 61 in the championship match against Somerset at Taunton on his county debut, and he bagged Marcus Trescothick as his first dismissal. He appears to be a ready-made successor at Worcester to Steven Davies, one of Surrey's new signings.

Director of cricket Steve Rhodes, himself a former wicketkeeper, said: "Ben will finish his A levels next summer and then join us on a full-time professional contract. He is a very good athlete and has chosen cricket as his future sport - a decision we are delighted about. He is a product of our Academy under the guidance of Damian D'Oliveira. He showed real character on his debut and I look forward to working with him over the next few years."