In limited-overs cricket, you'd expect the relative minnows of international cricket to snatch a victory over the big guns every now and again, and so maybe it's a surprise that it has taken Zimbabwe so long to beat Australia since that sensational first encounter at the 1983 World Cup.
31 years ago, the Aussies were in transition, but still boasted the likes of Lillee, Thomson, Lawson, Border, Hogg and Hughes. However, chasing only 240 to win at Trent Bridge, the favourites fell 13 runs short. Star batsman (69 not out) and bowler (4-42) were one and the same man, Duncan Fletcher. I wonder what happened to him!
As in many sports, home advantage comes into play and Zimbabwe had few opportunities to compete with Australia at Harare or Bulawayo. They lost their first three matches in 1999 fairly heavily, then again in a home World Cup tie in 2003. The next year, the nations met seven times, home and away, but the results were the same.
Nevertheless, Zimbabwe came perilously close to gaining that elusive second victory in 2001 at the WACA in Perth. Led by Damian Martyn's 144, the Aussies made 302-5 but a 187-run partnership between Stuart Carlisle and Grant Flower took them within 24 with 15 balls still remaining. With fifteen to get from eight balls, Flower and Streak were dismissed in successive balls, but with Dougie Marillier on strike, his side made it to 301-6 and a heartbreaking loss by a single run.
It was a 91-run margin of defeat at the 2011 competition, and in the current triangular tournament in Zimbabwe, the hosts got off to another poor start. An 198-run defeat is embarrassing anywhere, but at the Harare Sports Club, it must have been hard to take, even allowing for some swashbuckling innings by Maxwell, Marsh and Finch.
However, six days later, somehow everything came together for the Zims. Even allowing for the absence of Watson and Warner, to restrict Clarke and co to 209-9 was confidence-building, especially as there was no Mitchell Johnson to face with a new ball. Wickets fell regularly but the required rate was always on the board. However, at 156-7, it was looking decidedly dodgy. Captain Elton Chigumbura then played a great innings, helped by the more attacking number nine, Prosper Utseya, and triumph was theirs with two overs to spare.
31 years of hurt, now all they need to do is make a splash at next year's global event Down Under. Evoking a mix of Perth 2001 and Harare 2014 could at least cause a few shocks.
Showing posts with label Zimbabwe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zimbabwe. Show all posts
Tuesday, 2 September 2014
Monday, 18 November 2013
Andy Flower's best bloom - thirteen years on
All this talk about Matt Prior's 'will he, won't he' situation ahead of the First Ashes Test is wrapped up in glowing praise for his dressing room value and batting prowess. As a wicketkeeper usually batting at seven, Prior's average of 42 is undeniably excellent. Nineties England opener Alec Stewart averaged only 35 when playing as designated 'keeper. Kumar Sangakkara has one of the best Test averages of any player in history (just shy of 57) but in games when he donned the gloves, it's actually below that of Prior. Adam Gilchrist was up in the high 40s, but even he is eclipsed by one man.
So who's the best wicketkeeper-batsman of the past forty years or so? Look no further than the aforementioned England dressing room: it's Andy Flower. Had he represented one of the major cricketing nations, instead of Zimbabwe, he'd have been a true world superstar. Thirteen years ago, he started a 13-month sequence of eleven Tests in which he accumulated a whopping 1,466 runs with a staggering average of 133.27!! Beat that, Tendulkar!
In that run, Zimbabwe won just four - three against Bangladesh - lost three and drew four. However, even in defeat, Andy Flower, often well supported by brother Grant, usually shone brightly, dominating his side's scorecard. In the first match in November 2000, the wicketkeeper struck 183 not out and 70 in Delhi, yet was on the receiving end of a seven wicket drubbing. Thank you, Rahul Dravid, whose unbeaten 200 and 70 eclipsed even the 32 year-old Zimbabwean's stunning performance.
A week later, Dravid compiled another big hundred but Tendulkar's 201 not out took India to 600. Zimbabwe followed on, and Andy Flower's undefeated 232 saved the match. Two more half-centuries followed in New Zealand then against Bangladesh before a feeble 23 in Harare. He passed fifty twice in the defeat by India then his side claimed a rare success against Ganguly's men althiough this time it was brother Grant who top-scored.
In September 2001 Gibbs, Kirsten and Kallis smashed Zimbabwe's attack all over the shop and it was another follow-on situation. Andy F just got on with the job and contributed 341 runs all by himself. Sadly for him, all it achieved was to take the game into a fifth day which became one of the most infamous dates in history: 11th September 2001, aka 9/11. 67, 14 not out and 28 came from the next two fixtures, against SA and Bangladesh, before another unbeaten hundred, in Chittagong, took his sequence to five centuries, 7 fifties and that massive aggregate of runs. Oh, and 30-odd dismissals, too.
Let's not forget Andy Flower is still only 45. If the selectors are really so scared of handing the gloves to Jonny Bairstow they could do no worse than turning to the coach. Like Prior, he was even born in South Africa, always a plus on the CV of an England hopeful! Well, maybe it wouldn't be allowed, but we should place the impressive stats of the incumbent in the context of his coach, possibly the greatest Test 'keeper-batsmen since the Second World War.
So who's the best wicketkeeper-batsman of the past forty years or so? Look no further than the aforementioned England dressing room: it's Andy Flower. Had he represented one of the major cricketing nations, instead of Zimbabwe, he'd have been a true world superstar. Thirteen years ago, he started a 13-month sequence of eleven Tests in which he accumulated a whopping 1,466 runs with a staggering average of 133.27!! Beat that, Tendulkar!
In that run, Zimbabwe won just four - three against Bangladesh - lost three and drew four. However, even in defeat, Andy Flower, often well supported by brother Grant, usually shone brightly, dominating his side's scorecard. In the first match in November 2000, the wicketkeeper struck 183 not out and 70 in Delhi, yet was on the receiving end of a seven wicket drubbing. Thank you, Rahul Dravid, whose unbeaten 200 and 70 eclipsed even the 32 year-old Zimbabwean's stunning performance.
A week later, Dravid compiled another big hundred but Tendulkar's 201 not out took India to 600. Zimbabwe followed on, and Andy Flower's undefeated 232 saved the match. Two more half-centuries followed in New Zealand then against Bangladesh before a feeble 23 in Harare. He passed fifty twice in the defeat by India then his side claimed a rare success against Ganguly's men althiough this time it was brother Grant who top-scored.
In September 2001 Gibbs, Kirsten and Kallis smashed Zimbabwe's attack all over the shop and it was another follow-on situation. Andy F just got on with the job and contributed 341 runs all by himself. Sadly for him, all it achieved was to take the game into a fifth day which became one of the most infamous dates in history: 11th September 2001, aka 9/11. 67, 14 not out and 28 came from the next two fixtures, against SA and Bangladesh, before another unbeaten hundred, in Chittagong, took his sequence to five centuries, 7 fifties and that massive aggregate of runs. Oh, and 30-odd dismissals, too.
Let's not forget Andy Flower is still only 45. If the selectors are really so scared of handing the gloves to Jonny Bairstow they could do no worse than turning to the coach. Like Prior, he was even born in South Africa, always a plus on the CV of an England hopeful! Well, maybe it wouldn't be allowed, but we should place the impressive stats of the incumbent in the context of his coach, possibly the greatest Test 'keeper-batsmen since the Second World War.
Monday, 9 July 2012
Taibu and Boucher: A Day of Two Keepers
Nobody likes to see a player suffering a bad injury during play, especially when it's a freak accident. However, when a bail spun up from Gemaal Hussein's shattered wicket and caught Mark Boucher in the eye, it wasn't immediately obviously apparent how serious it was.
The day's play in Taunton should have been about the South Africans' practice for the forthcoming Test series against England, or at least by Peter Trego's brave dismantling of Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis. The Somerset all-rounder's blitz of an innings deserved to take the headlines but instead, it could be that Boucher, set to end his magnificent 15-year Test career this summer, may be forced to bring forward that retirement. Let's hope that surgery on the eye laceration is successful and there is no lasting damage. Donning the gloves and standing up to Imran Tahir again would be a bonus.
Meanwhile, another long-standing wicketkeeper has announced his immediate exit from the international scene. Tatenda Taibu has been part of Zimbabwean cricket for a decade. He's been through two major player revolts, the first black captain of his country (succeeding Heath Streak) and one retirement and now, aged just 29, he has chosen to quit such a quiet life to focus on working for the church. While never a global household name because of his country, he wasn't a bad player at all. His Test batting average of just above 30 was almost identical to Boucher's, albeit from far fewer matches. It would have been interesting to see what would have transpired had Tibbly's attempts to secure qualification for South Africa had been pursued to the end. Might he have deposed the legendary Boucher? We'll never know because Taibu returned to Zimbabwean colours after a two-year break in 2007.
Zimbabwe don't get to play many Tests but Taibu managed to play at least two against each of the top nations. His only century and only victories came in home fixtures against Bangladesh but he made some feisty fifties in other contests, notably facing Pakistan and the West Indies. However, he made only ten in his debut against a second-string Windies attack in 2001 and six in his last match, a humbling defeat by New Zealand.
He made more of a mark in limited overs cricket, representing his country in 150 ODIs. Two centuries came not against Bangladesh or the 'Associates' like Ireland or Canada but the mighty South Africa. His 107 not out at more than a run a ball came in a near impossible run chase five years ago, which ended just 28 runs short despite the attentions of Pollock, Ntini, Morkel and a young Philander. His next hundred was struck in a similar situation two years later, but again in a losing cause. Indeed, he enjoyed only 33 ODI victories, a third of them versus Bangladesh. In the famous triumph of Trent Bridge in 2003, he contributed only four runs and the dismissal of Michael Vaughan but it must have been a great day for the tiny 'keeper then aged barely 20.
Good luck to both African wicketkeeper-batsmen over the coming days, weeks and years. They have served their nations well and Boucher deserves to retire on his own terms, just as Taibu has done in his own unusual way.
The day's play in Taunton should have been about the South Africans' practice for the forthcoming Test series against England, or at least by Peter Trego's brave dismantling of Morne Morkel and Jacques Kallis. The Somerset all-rounder's blitz of an innings deserved to take the headlines but instead, it could be that Boucher, set to end his magnificent 15-year Test career this summer, may be forced to bring forward that retirement. Let's hope that surgery on the eye laceration is successful and there is no lasting damage. Donning the gloves and standing up to Imran Tahir again would be a bonus.
Meanwhile, another long-standing wicketkeeper has announced his immediate exit from the international scene. Tatenda Taibu has been part of Zimbabwean cricket for a decade. He's been through two major player revolts, the first black captain of his country (succeeding Heath Streak) and one retirement and now, aged just 29, he has chosen to quit such a quiet life to focus on working for the church. While never a global household name because of his country, he wasn't a bad player at all. His Test batting average of just above 30 was almost identical to Boucher's, albeit from far fewer matches. It would have been interesting to see what would have transpired had Tibbly's attempts to secure qualification for South Africa had been pursued to the end. Might he have deposed the legendary Boucher? We'll never know because Taibu returned to Zimbabwean colours after a two-year break in 2007.
Zimbabwe don't get to play many Tests but Taibu managed to play at least two against each of the top nations. His only century and only victories came in home fixtures against Bangladesh but he made some feisty fifties in other contests, notably facing Pakistan and the West Indies. However, he made only ten in his debut against a second-string Windies attack in 2001 and six in his last match, a humbling defeat by New Zealand.
He made more of a mark in limited overs cricket, representing his country in 150 ODIs. Two centuries came not against Bangladesh or the 'Associates' like Ireland or Canada but the mighty South Africa. His 107 not out at more than a run a ball came in a near impossible run chase five years ago, which ended just 28 runs short despite the attentions of Pollock, Ntini, Morkel and a young Philander. His next hundred was struck in a similar situation two years later, but again in a losing cause. Indeed, he enjoyed only 33 ODI victories, a third of them versus Bangladesh. In the famous triumph of Trent Bridge in 2003, he contributed only four runs and the dismissal of Michael Vaughan but it must have been a great day for the tiny 'keeper then aged barely 20.
Good luck to both African wicketkeeper-batsmen over the coming days, weeks and years. They have served their nations well and Boucher deserves to retire on his own terms, just as Taibu has done in his own unusual way.
Sunday, 30 October 2011
Player of the Week: Malcolm Waller
Two completed Tests, five ODIs and the concluding match of the mini-tour of India by England his week, long with some competitive first-class games in South Africa and Australia in particular.
In the Super Sport series, wicketkeeper Dane Vilas struck an unbeaten 161 at almost a run a ball as well as taking six catches as the Cape Cobras thumped the Titans. In the Sheffield Shield, Ryan Harris demonstrated again why he is the man for the Australian national side, claiming match figures of 9-83 for Queensland against a Ponting-less Tasmania. At 32, he may be a late bloomer but he has a career first-class bowling average of only 28 and he has made an excellent start to Test cricket in the past year or so.
On the international stage, Harris' ODI rivals wrapped up a 2-1 series win over South Africa but it was the home side's players who took the individual plaudits this week, especially Jacques Kallis and Morne Morkel. In India the two spinning Ravis, Ashwin and Jadeja looked accomplished one-day and T20 bowlers, while Kohli, Raina and Dhoni excelled with the bat as the home nation completed a whitewash of England in the 50-over series. In today's T20, Kevin Pietersen escaped an early reprieve from a dropped catch to strike a match-winning 53.
In Dubai, Saeed Ajmal looked the pick of the bowlers as Pakistan got the better of Sri Lanka. He took 8-113 in the Second Test, conceding only two runs an over as SRi Lanka battled to stay in the game, a fight they eventually lost despite dogged defending by Paranavitana, Sangakkara and Mathews. Rain prevented a result in the First Test between Bangladesh and the West Indies and it's looking close in the Second.
However, my Player of the Week performed in Zimbabwe's exciting win in a high-scoring one-day international in Bulawayo against New Zealand. Ross Taylor and Kyle Williamson each slammed centuries and shared a 195-run partnership on the way to a formidable total of 328-5. However, Zimbabwe kept up with the run rate and it was left to their number six, Malcolm Waller to steer them home brilliantly. As the tail collapsed around him, he managed to hold on and strike the winning run off the penultimate ball with just one wicket remaining. He failed by just one run to register his first ODI hundred but as compensation he wins my award. In first-class cricket, the 27 year-old has made three figures five times, led by the 174 he scored for the Rhinos just three weeks ago. His average stands above 40 but his occasional off-spin has proved more successful in the one-day game. Nevertheless he could be pressing for a Test place at some point soon.
In the Super Sport series, wicketkeeper Dane Vilas struck an unbeaten 161 at almost a run a ball as well as taking six catches as the Cape Cobras thumped the Titans. In the Sheffield Shield, Ryan Harris demonstrated again why he is the man for the Australian national side, claiming match figures of 9-83 for Queensland against a Ponting-less Tasmania. At 32, he may be a late bloomer but he has a career first-class bowling average of only 28 and he has made an excellent start to Test cricket in the past year or so.
On the international stage, Harris' ODI rivals wrapped up a 2-1 series win over South Africa but it was the home side's players who took the individual plaudits this week, especially Jacques Kallis and Morne Morkel. In India the two spinning Ravis, Ashwin and Jadeja looked accomplished one-day and T20 bowlers, while Kohli, Raina and Dhoni excelled with the bat as the home nation completed a whitewash of England in the 50-over series. In today's T20, Kevin Pietersen escaped an early reprieve from a dropped catch to strike a match-winning 53.
In Dubai, Saeed Ajmal looked the pick of the bowlers as Pakistan got the better of Sri Lanka. He took 8-113 in the Second Test, conceding only two runs an over as SRi Lanka battled to stay in the game, a fight they eventually lost despite dogged defending by Paranavitana, Sangakkara and Mathews. Rain prevented a result in the First Test between Bangladesh and the West Indies and it's looking close in the Second.
However, my Player of the Week performed in Zimbabwe's exciting win in a high-scoring one-day international in Bulawayo against New Zealand. Ross Taylor and Kyle Williamson each slammed centuries and shared a 195-run partnership on the way to a formidable total of 328-5. However, Zimbabwe kept up with the run rate and it was left to their number six, Malcolm Waller to steer them home brilliantly. As the tail collapsed around him, he managed to hold on and strike the winning run off the penultimate ball with just one wicket remaining. He failed by just one run to register his first ODI hundred but as compensation he wins my award. In first-class cricket, the 27 year-old has made three figures five times, led by the 174 he scored for the Rhinos just three weeks ago. His average stands above 40 but his occasional off-spin has proved more successful in the one-day game. Nevertheless he could be pressing for a Test place at some point soon.
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
You've got that Losing Feeling....
Last week I wrote a piece in memory of the late Graham Dilley. He was a top-class international fast bowler in the 1980s yet with him in the side England won only two out of 41 Tests. I was interested to read an article on Cricinfo that he did not have the worst win:loss ratio of layers with good personal career averages.
Of course, nations go through bad patches in between the good times, while others are destined always to languish in the international cricketing doldrums. Many fine players have represented Zimbabwe over the past twenty years but with not enough quality running through the side, they have won precious few matches. Andy Flower was one of the greatest batsmen in the world in the 1990s but won only seven out of 63 Tests. Compatriots Murray Goodwin, David Houghton and Heath Streak shared similar fates.
Back in the 1970s and 1980s, West Indies reigned supreme as the likes of Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Malcolm Marshall et al won series after series in fine style. However, it took a while to reach that pinnacle and a lot less time to nosedive to their current position in the world rankings. Either side of World War 2, George Headley was known as the 'Black Bradman', finishing on a Test average of more than 60, but the Windies won only five out of 22 Tests in which he played. Incidentally. it must be in the genes because his grandson Dean won a mere two and lost ten in the England cause in the late '90s! At that time, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara were making names for themselves and have since compiled mountains of runs, yet almost half the occasions being in a losing cause. New boys like Kemal Roach and Darren Sammy barely know what it is like to win a Test at all! No wonder they prefer to focus on one-dayers as the law of averages alone is enough to guarantee a number of wins each year.
New Zealand were also for many years the 'whipping boys' of the Test scene, rarely given a lengthy series but frequently beaten when they were. Bert Sutcliffe played 42 Tests, one more than Dilley and, despite a batting average a shade above 40, failed to muster a single victory. Not one! The Kiwis perked up in the '80s, featuring the Crowes and Richard Hadlee, but in the previous decade, the excellent opener Glenn Turner featured in only six wins compared with 18 defeats. More recently Ross Taylor and Jesse Taylor have also failed to secure the team success their individual talent has deserved.
I think Robin Smith once headed the world Test rankings but, after the Dilley era, lost twice as many games as he won with England. Aravinda de Silva was probably Sri Lanka's first truly world-class player but, as he stood out amongst relatively ordinary team-mates in his country's first decade on the international stage, wins were hard to come by. He was on the victorious side only 19 times in 93 outings.
On the same continent, the Pakistan Mohammads, Amir and Asif, may have seamed quickly from personal success to disgrace but their country has also dipped into the doldrums. The two bowlers have each lost at least twice as many Tests as they have won.
Finally, I must mention two of the greatest Indian spin bowlers of all time. Bishan Bedi and Bhagwath Chandrasehkar twirled away tirelessly through the '60s and '70s while suffering the misfortune of watching their own batsmen being taken apart by the opposition, especially overseas, resulting in a win:loss ratio of about 3:5. How MS Dhoni could have done with them this summer, although given the gap in class with England I rather fancy Bedi and Chandra would have preferred to have been reborn in time to represent India a few years ago instead.
Of course, nations go through bad patches in between the good times, while others are destined always to languish in the international cricketing doldrums. Many fine players have represented Zimbabwe over the past twenty years but with not enough quality running through the side, they have won precious few matches. Andy Flower was one of the greatest batsmen in the world in the 1990s but won only seven out of 63 Tests. Compatriots Murray Goodwin, David Houghton and Heath Streak shared similar fates.
Back in the 1970s and 1980s, West Indies reigned supreme as the likes of Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Malcolm Marshall et al won series after series in fine style. However, it took a while to reach that pinnacle and a lot less time to nosedive to their current position in the world rankings. Either side of World War 2, George Headley was known as the 'Black Bradman', finishing on a Test average of more than 60, but the Windies won only five out of 22 Tests in which he played. Incidentally. it must be in the genes because his grandson Dean won a mere two and lost ten in the England cause in the late '90s! At that time, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Brian Lara were making names for themselves and have since compiled mountains of runs, yet almost half the occasions being in a losing cause. New boys like Kemal Roach and Darren Sammy barely know what it is like to win a Test at all! No wonder they prefer to focus on one-dayers as the law of averages alone is enough to guarantee a number of wins each year.
New Zealand were also for many years the 'whipping boys' of the Test scene, rarely given a lengthy series but frequently beaten when they were. Bert Sutcliffe played 42 Tests, one more than Dilley and, despite a batting average a shade above 40, failed to muster a single victory. Not one! The Kiwis perked up in the '80s, featuring the Crowes and Richard Hadlee, but in the previous decade, the excellent opener Glenn Turner featured in only six wins compared with 18 defeats. More recently Ross Taylor and Jesse Taylor have also failed to secure the team success their individual talent has deserved.
I think Robin Smith once headed the world Test rankings but, after the Dilley era, lost twice as many games as he won with England. Aravinda de Silva was probably Sri Lanka's first truly world-class player but, as he stood out amongst relatively ordinary team-mates in his country's first decade on the international stage, wins were hard to come by. He was on the victorious side only 19 times in 93 outings.
On the same continent, the Pakistan Mohammads, Amir and Asif, may have seamed quickly from personal success to disgrace but their country has also dipped into the doldrums. The two bowlers have each lost at least twice as many Tests as they have won.
Finally, I must mention two of the greatest Indian spin bowlers of all time. Bishan Bedi and Bhagwath Chandrasehkar twirled away tirelessly through the '60s and '70s while suffering the misfortune of watching their own batsmen being taken apart by the opposition, especially overseas, resulting in a win:loss ratio of about 3:5. How MS Dhoni could have done with them this summer, although given the gap in class with England I rather fancy Bedi and Chandra would have preferred to have been reborn in time to represent India a few years ago instead.
Monday, 8 August 2011
Zimbabwe Back with a Win
In their first Test match since September 2005, Zimbabwe rounded off a great win against Bangladesh today. After all the political troubles, player boycotts and retirements, it was good for cricket to see the African nation return to the five-day international scene almost six days after India gave them a drubbing in Harare, when Irfan Pathan took twelve wickets.
OK, so Bangladesh didn't exactly provide them with strong opposition, but the mainly young and inexperienced team acquitted themselves well on home territory. Four Zimbabweans made their Test debuts and the remaining seven commanded only about eighty caps between them. Wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu is a 'veteran' of 28 Tests, while spinner Ray Price, who impressed during the World Cup is, at 35, by far the oldest member of the side.
Put in to bat by Shakib, Zimbabwe made an excellent start. The top four batsmen all made runs, led by centurion Hamilton Masakadza and at one stage were 304-2. To Bangladesh's credit, they fought back to dismiss the home side for 370, but their batting was too inconsistent and debutant Brian Vitori took 4-66, He's so new he doesn't even have a photo on Cricinfo, but hopefully the 21 year-old's face will become better known soon! Zimbabwe added salt into the wounds by declaring and setting Bangladesh 375 to win, waiting until captain Brendan Taylor reached three figures for the first time. Seven years after his Test debut at 18, he's had to be patient, although he has notched more than a hundred ODIs and aggregated over 3000 runs. Another bowler making his first Test appearance, Kyle Jarvis also claimed four wickets as Bangladesh capitulated again, with the exception of a spirited T20-style onslaught from Abdur Razzak.
The winning margin was a healthy 130 runs. Healthy for Zimbabwe, that is. Things aren't looking too promising for Bangladesh, whose improvement over the past decade seems to have stalled and possibly even reversed. The African nation may have nobody of the calibre of Andy Flower, Heath Streak or Andy Blignaut but by forging multicultural team spirit, free of political control, they can start to build slowly in one- and five-day cricket. Masakadze, Taylor and Elton Chigumbura are useful players. The latter has demonstrated some talent at T20 and is a former Player of the week when at Northants last season. However, the all-rounder has disappointed in the longer formats and needs a few big innings and/or wicket hauls to make a mark at international level.
Next up for Zimbabwe are five ODIs against the same opposition, then a brief visit by Pakistan next month. They get to tour New Zealand for another one-off Test and a few ODIs and T20Is early next year to see how they get on away from home territory. If they can manage the occasional victory over these more established, if not world-leading teams, the confidence will do them a world of good. So they may be a million miles from challenging India, England and South Africa but a good showing in the next T20 World Cup or the proper 50-over tournament can only benefit world cricket.
OK, so Bangladesh didn't exactly provide them with strong opposition, but the mainly young and inexperienced team acquitted themselves well on home territory. Four Zimbabweans made their Test debuts and the remaining seven commanded only about eighty caps between them. Wicketkeeper Tatenda Taibu is a 'veteran' of 28 Tests, while spinner Ray Price, who impressed during the World Cup is, at 35, by far the oldest member of the side.
Put in to bat by Shakib, Zimbabwe made an excellent start. The top four batsmen all made runs, led by centurion Hamilton Masakadza and at one stage were 304-2. To Bangladesh's credit, they fought back to dismiss the home side for 370, but their batting was too inconsistent and debutant Brian Vitori took 4-66, He's so new he doesn't even have a photo on Cricinfo, but hopefully the 21 year-old's face will become better known soon! Zimbabwe added salt into the wounds by declaring and setting Bangladesh 375 to win, waiting until captain Brendan Taylor reached three figures for the first time. Seven years after his Test debut at 18, he's had to be patient, although he has notched more than a hundred ODIs and aggregated over 3000 runs. Another bowler making his first Test appearance, Kyle Jarvis also claimed four wickets as Bangladesh capitulated again, with the exception of a spirited T20-style onslaught from Abdur Razzak.
The winning margin was a healthy 130 runs. Healthy for Zimbabwe, that is. Things aren't looking too promising for Bangladesh, whose improvement over the past decade seems to have stalled and possibly even reversed. The African nation may have nobody of the calibre of Andy Flower, Heath Streak or Andy Blignaut but by forging multicultural team spirit, free of political control, they can start to build slowly in one- and five-day cricket. Masakadze, Taylor and Elton Chigumbura are useful players. The latter has demonstrated some talent at T20 and is a former Player of the week when at Northants last season. However, the all-rounder has disappointed in the longer formats and needs a few big innings and/or wicket hauls to make a mark at international level.
Next up for Zimbabwe are five ODIs against the same opposition, then a brief visit by Pakistan next month. They get to tour New Zealand for another one-off Test and a few ODIs and T20Is early next year to see how they get on away from home territory. If they can manage the occasional victory over these more established, if not world-leading teams, the confidence will do them a world of good. So they may be a million miles from challenging India, England and South Africa but a good showing in the next T20 World Cup or the proper 50-over tournament can only benefit world cricket.
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