Looking back at Zimbabwe cricket: Part 1

He shrewdly capitalized on this unusual bowling action by rendering it unplayable to the vulnerable opening batsmen. He was well supported by John Harcourt ‘Jackie’ du Preez, who was yet another gifted all-rounder. A leg spinner, who played a whopping 113 matches for Rhodesia, du Preez was amongst the few players to score close to 4000 runs and take 279 wickets. These outstanding players solidified the team and how! When you hear the name of Travis Friend, there’s nothing friendly about this fiery fast bowler who was one of the fastest in the world, in the league of Dennis Lilee and Curtly Ambrose.

In 1980, we saw Ian Smith being replaced by Abel Muzorewa and a complete upheaval took place in the cricket department. The Currie Cup breathed its last and the team was now known as Zimbabwe-Rhodesia. With the end of White rule in 1980, began a new era as the cricketing world embraced this new born Zimbabwean baby with open arms. It was on July 21, 1981 that Zimbabwe was elected as an associate member of the ICC. Remember Salisbury cricket club? That’s Harare Cricket Club for you, in modern times.

Happy Times

Nov 1992: Portrait of Andy (left) and Grant Flower of Zimbabwe during the 1st Test against New Zealand in Bulawayo.

Things were now looking up for these young minnows. Their first World Cup in 1983 saw them registering a convincing win over Australia. After playing in the 1983 and 1987 Cricket World Cups, they attained test status in 1990. It was during this period that the Flower brothers, Andy and Grant made their debuts. Their first Test match was against India and to their credit, they astounded the world by holding on to a draw.

The team was built around the first Test captain of Zimbabwe, Dave Houghton, who partnered Andy and built many a formidable opening partnerships. Also lending support was the all-rounder and the only Zimbabwean to take a hat-trick in a Test match against Bangladesh, Andy Blignaut. The right-handed batsman Robin Brown, who incidentally became the coach of the side later on and pace bowler Eddo Brandes, who played in four World Cups and is famous as the hot headed bowler who was the oldest player to take an ODI hat-trick at the age of 33, also played during this time.

With time emerged bowler Henry Olonga, who was also incidentally Zimbabwe’s youngest ever player and first black Test player, the ODI opener Alaistair Campbell, who played 188 matches and captained 86 of these and all rounders Neil Johnson and Paul Strang and fast bowler Heath Streak who took 100 wickets in both Tests and ODIs. Undoubtedly, he was one of the legends of the game with his outswingers at good pace and his ability to whack the ball out of the park, providing handy knocks.

He also has the distinction of playing in a domestic match in 1995 with his father, becoming one of the few father-son duos to play alongside each other. Power packed performances from these talented players with the bat and ball as well as their blistering fielding exploits convinced those who felt that Zimbabwe had been granted pre-mature Test status and the world, that this team was here to stay. During only their third World Cup, in 1999, they showed their true class by finishing fifth place in the Super Sixes and barely losing out on a semi-final place to New Zealand.