Zimbabwe Cricket Team – One of the best underdog teams in early 90s to early 2000. They are famous with the tag called “Minnows” throughout cricketing history. But there were cases when this small cricketing nation has produced the rare talent in their batting and bowling division who has set the world on fire with their unreal performances.
The Zimbabwe team has defeated every test playing nation which include India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, England and Pakistan to prove their authority of the best team to have ever played this game of cricket. But their internal political structure is completely absurd which in result has cost Zimbabwe Cricket to lose their values in world Cricket over the years.
Many players in Zimbabwe Cricket History have hung up their boots way earlier in his career due to the absurd political system in their country while some due to the lack of miscommunication between the selectors and players makes the situation complete worse. From batting stalwarts to exceptional bowling talent at once Zimbabwe Cricket has a complete team who could on his day beat any team world. Having said, let us take a look at five Zimbabwe Cricketers of all-time.
Andy Flower:
The Enigma Called Andy Flower. Andy Flower was the torch-bearer for Zimbabwe Cricket team since his debut in 1992-2002. If he had played for any other cricketing nation he could've been more successful then played for Zimbabwe cricket team. Such was his aura and impact during his career. Andy Flower has often been compared to Adam Gilchrist as the best wicket keeper batsman of his era. Apart from the batting Andy Flower with more than 300 dismissal at international cricket proved his wicket-keeping skills with his batting makes the exceptional talent produced by Zimbabwe Cricket.
Born in Cape Town, South Africa. Andy Flower had played first-class cricket for Zimbabwe where he scored 16,379 runs in 223 matches at an average of 54.05 with 49 centuries and 75 half-centuries. Andy Flower was the great player of reverse sweep against the quality spin attack and who forget 2001 series against India when he scored 540 runs in 2 tests with career best knock of 232* and also scored century in his ODI debut match.
Andy Flower featured in 63 tests scored 4794 runs at an unbelievable average of 51.55 with 12 centuries and 27 half-centuries. Anyone could understand that Flower had scored in an era which was dominated by the players like Rahul Dravid, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting. While in 213 ODIs Flower scored 6786 runs at an average of 35.34 with 4 centuries and 55 half-centuries. In the 2003 world Cup Andy Flower raised his voice against his selection board and political structure of his career which was reason of his short cricketing career.
Brendon Taylor:
After the Andy Flower career was ended in a protest against his own country it was the complete difficult time in a Zimbabwe cricket team. Many players have emerged from the small nation after but no could match the calibre of this batsman called “Brendon Taylor”. Since his debut in 2004, Brendon Taylor have been the vital cog for his team throughout the years.
The glimpse of his character was visible when he scored half-centuries against Australia within a short period of his debut. There were many knocks that has played by Brendon Taylor against teams like Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka which proved him a talent of high-class with supreme consistency.
With more 8000 runs at international cricket which include 17 centuries and 49 half-centuries could easily define the batting strengths of this player. In terms of century he has highest centuries in Zimbabwe cricket history.
Heath Streak:
One of the best fast bowlers ever produced by Zimbabwe Cricket. Since his debut against Pakistan in 1993 he had made the statement with 22 wickets under his name in 3 tests for which he was awarded with man of the series. He was the only cricketer to take 100 wickets in test cricket in Zimbabwe history.
In a career spanning 12 years, Heath Streak had performed against every A-list teams to define his bowling strengths which include his unplayable out-swingers to make the batsman dance on his tune. In 65 tests Streak took 216 wickets at an average of 28.14 with 1 hundred and 11 half-centuries while in 189 ODI Streak took 239 wickets at an average of 29.82 with 13 half-centuries and apart from the frontline bowler Heath Streak was great lower batsman who has more than 5000 runs at the international cricket.
In his first-class career Health Streak had 499 wickets at an average of 28.76 in 175 matches with 5684 runs with 6 centuries and 27 half-centuries. It won't be any wrong to say if he had played for any other cricketing nation he could've been more famous and played more games.
Tatenda Taibu:
“Talent hits a target no one else can hit. Genius hits a target no one else can see”.
The most underrated cricketer in Zimbabwe Cricket History. Since his debut at the age of 18 to becoming the youngest test captain at the age 21 in test cricket which was record held by Taibu before Rasid Khan cement his name on the record of the youngest test captain.
Taibu's counter attacking abilities to score runs against A-list teams makes the best batsman with his wicket keeping abilities during his career. Although he had a rough start in both tests and ODIs but the glimpse of his character was witnessed in 2003 world cup when he played some good knocks against A-list teams.
With more than 5000 runs in international cricket which include 3 centuries and 34 half-centuries across the formats proved his authority as the best batsman of the Zimbabwe team. Not having a good political system in his country led to the shocking retirement of Tatenda Taibu at the age of 29.
David Houghton:
Another incredible wicket keeper talent from the small cricketing nation. David Houghton was the first cricketer in Zimbabwe history to reach the milestone 1000 test runs in the 24 innings. In a career spanning 14 years, 1983-1997 Houghton was the best batsman for Zimbabwe before the arrival of Andy Flower. David Houghton also captained his team on his debut test match against team India.
David Houghton holds the record of highest test score 266 in the Zimbabwe Cricket History against Sri Lanka in 1994. In his test career Hougton never got out on duck. Featured in 22 tests Houghton scored 1464 runs at an average of 43.05 with 4 centuries and 4 half-centuries.
While in the limited overs cricket Houghton featured in 63 ODI scored 1530 runs at an average of 26.37 with 1 hundred and 12 half-centuries with a career-best score of 142 that came against New Zealand in 1987 during the reliance cup. Houghton scored 137-ball 142 which featured 13 fours and 6 sixes.