Publicity is like money, the more you have the more you make. With two high profile cricket series going on with four out of the top five cricket nations battling, it isn’t surprising to find little mention of equally competitive but a far less glamorous team called Zimbabwe getting back to reckoning. Nevertheless, there are some bright young cricketers in this team too who are making a name for themselves by fighting it out with their more established counterparts from Bangladesh and Pakistan. Not only have they won the one off test match against Bangladesh, their first after the self imposed suspension from Test cricket, and the ODI series against the same team, but their performance against a much stronger Pakistan team on the first day of the Test match raises much hope. Among continued player exodus and debilitating politicization of cricket administration, such positive results are much cherished.
Long back during the hey days of Andy Flower, Heath Streak, Paul Strang and the likes, Zimbabwe used to be a serious ODI unit. In fact, they used to be fairly decent in the test format too. India, in particular, has seen many close skirmishes with the perpetual underdogs and have lost a few too. It is hard to forget the exploits of a fresh Henry Olonga in Sharjah or the resolute and defiant centuries by Andy Flower in the test matches. What is today marketed as the “Dilscoop” was first brought to life by a buccaneering Douglas Marillier hitting none other than the legendary Anil Kumble behind the wicket for fours. That team by no means was pushover. Between 1995 to 2001, they have beaten every major ODI team except for Australia. From that to the chaos that reigns today, it has been one accelerated freefall for the Zimbabweans.
However, the last series against Bangladesh has rekindled a lot of hopes. From a pure statistical angle, the result does not look astonishing. Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have an almost 50:50 win loss record.
But one most look at the result from a relative perspective. Bangladesh in recent past have effected some upsets in the ODIs. As such, one would expect them to have assumed a natural ascendancy over the still regrouping Zimbabwe. But the ODI series proved that they still face considerable inadequacies while under pressure. Even in the Test match, it was Zimbabwe that has shown that the Asian underperformer’s test status is still questionable.
That series has also brought to focus some exciting new prospects for Zimbabwe. The young left arm paceman Brian Vitori took to five for hauls against the visitors in the ODIs. Although it is too premature from a statistician’s point of view but the young man’s record does look impressive after the end of the Bangladesh series.
Similarly, Masakadza and Taylor have helped themselves to handy centuries while Mawoyo has been good in the opening position. Mawoyo has carried forward his good form into the test match against Pakistan with a watchful 82*. His contest with the guile of Saeed Ajmal has drawn hesitant comparison with Alistair Campbell’s handling of Saqlain Mustaq a decade earlier from commentators. You can read one article here. Credit must be given to the Zimbabwe team for holding out against a quality international bowling attack with a decent finish of 245/4 at the end of the first day after being put in to bat.
Zimbabwe’s woe has been the inability to retain talent. The players cannot be blamed for seeking livelihood in the English Counties or the Australian domestic league for there is little to lure them in the cash starved country of their birth. Over the years many promising Zimbabwe players have chosen to seek international glory under foreign flags. May be, the international cricket bosses can make a positive contribution here. One way could be getting some of the top players sign up with the IPL franchises. That will give them the much needed international exposure as well as some financial relief. In turn, they can be asked to stick to their national team. Similarly, arranging an international league of provincial sides where top teams from the emerging nations can complete in the domestic leagues of the test playing nation could be contemplated. After all, if we want to see more competition in the game, nothing would serve the cause better than more number of competitive teams in the fray. This will surely help bottom of the table countries like Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Ireland in preparing their players for the big stage. Meanwhile, best of luck to Zimbabwe in their test match against Pakistan. If they can hold the match to a draw, I guess they would have won a big psychological battle.
Long back during the hey days of Andy Flower, Heath Streak, Paul Strang and the likes, Zimbabwe used to be a serious ODI unit. In fact, they used to be fairly decent in the test format too. India, in particular, has seen many close skirmishes with the perpetual underdogs and have lost a few too. It is hard to forget the exploits of a fresh Henry Olonga in Sharjah or the resolute and defiant centuries by Andy Flower in the test matches. What is today marketed as the “Dilscoop” was first brought to life by a buccaneering Douglas Marillier hitting none other than the legendary Anil Kumble behind the wicket for fours. That team by no means was pushover. Between 1995 to 2001, they have beaten every major ODI team except for Australia. From that to the chaos that reigns today, it has been one accelerated freefall for the Zimbabweans.
However, the last series against Bangladesh has rekindled a lot of hopes. From a pure statistical angle, the result does not look astonishing. Zimbabwe and Bangladesh have an almost 50:50 win loss record.
But one most look at the result from a relative perspective. Bangladesh in recent past have effected some upsets in the ODIs. As such, one would expect them to have assumed a natural ascendancy over the still regrouping Zimbabwe. But the ODI series proved that they still face considerable inadequacies while under pressure. Even in the Test match, it was Zimbabwe that has shown that the Asian underperformer’s test status is still questionable.
That series has also brought to focus some exciting new prospects for Zimbabwe. The young left arm paceman Brian Vitori took to five for hauls against the visitors in the ODIs. Although it is too premature from a statistician’s point of view but the young man’s record does look impressive after the end of the Bangladesh series.
| Bowling averages | Mat | Inns | Wkts | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w |
| Tests | 1 | 2 | 5 | 24.4 | 3.21 | 45.6 | 1 | 0 |
| ODIs | 3 | 3 | 11 | 8.63 | 3.22 | 16 | 0 | 2 |
Zimbabwe’s woe has been the inability to retain talent. The players cannot be blamed for seeking livelihood in the English Counties or the Australian domestic league for there is little to lure them in the cash starved country of their birth. Over the years many promising Zimbabwe players have chosen to seek international glory under foreign flags. May be, the international cricket bosses can make a positive contribution here. One way could be getting some of the top players sign up with the IPL franchises. That will give them the much needed international exposure as well as some financial relief. In turn, they can be asked to stick to their national team. Similarly, arranging an international league of provincial sides where top teams from the emerging nations can complete in the domestic leagues of the test playing nation could be contemplated. After all, if we want to see more competition in the game, nothing would serve the cause better than more number of competitive teams in the fray. This will surely help bottom of the table countries like Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Ireland in preparing their players for the big stage. Meanwhile, best of luck to Zimbabwe in their test match against Pakistan. If they can hold the match to a draw, I guess they would have won a big psychological battle.
Nice that you wrote abt the Zim/B'desh series................I did closely follow that series due to a) India's embarrassing campaign to England b) soft corner for the underdogs...............as you pointed out I agree that Vitori, Taylor, Sibanda and even Mawoyo could really be an exciting find..............unless the IPL grabs them, of course !!!
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