Unbiased-Fan
Local Club Star
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2021
- Runs
- 1,997
Zimbabwe was a competitive team in late 90s. Especially in ODIs, they had notable rivalry with India and got some great results against other test playing teams. Some of the best players played for Zimbabwe during this time. Flower brothers, Heath Streak, Neil Johnson, Alastair Campbell were some of the best players for Zimbabwe in this time.
Team got significantly weaker after retirement of these legendary players. Mid 2000s was a low phase Zimbabwe cricket. But still got few good international players in the form of Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Masakadza and Price.
In early 2010s, Zimbabwe cricket was probably at its lowest. Things got improved till late 2010s as they got some good ODI cricketers in the form of Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Graeme Cremer and Sikandar Raza.
It is some up and down journey for the Zimbabwe team. But, now they are getting some positive results and have some promising youngsters like Madhevere, Muzurabani and Jongwe. Hopefully, they can take their team to the glory days of 90s.
Making an all time ODI XI from these very few players was not a big deal. But, i was surprised as the team looks very balanced and competitive.
Lets look at the team,
1.Grant Flower
(6571 runs at 33.52, SR 67.58, 6 tons)
(104 wickets at 40.62, best 4/32)
2.Neil Johnson
(1679 runs at 36.5, SR 70.28, 4 tons)
(35 wickets at 34.85)
3.Brendan Taylor
(6684 runs at 35.55, SR 76.64, 11 tons)
4.Andy Flower (wicketkeeper)
(6786 runs at 35.34, SR 74.59, 4 tons)
5.Sean Williams
(4237 runs at 35.01, SR 82.30, 5 tons)
(76 wickets at 48.52)
6.Sikandar Raza
(3631 runs at 37.05, SR 84.75, 6 tons)
(70 wickets at 44.08)
7.Elton Chigumbura
(4289 runs at 25.37, SR 79.78, 2 tons)
(95 wickets at 42.70)
8. Heath Streak (captain)
(2901 runs at 28.44, SR 73.61, 13 fifties)
(237 wickets at 29.81, SR 39.7, Best 5/32)
9.Graeme Cremer
(119 wickets at 30.22, SR 39.3, Best 6/46)
10. Ray Price
(100 runs at 35.75, SR 53.7, Best 4/22)
11. Tendai Chatara
(102 wickets at 32.68, SR 38.1, Best 4/33)
Unlucky to miss out :-
Tatenda Taibu
Andy Blignaut
Alastair Campbell
Hamilton Masakadza
Prosper Utseya
Eddo Brandes
Guy Whittall
Paul Strang
Henry Olonga
Team looks very balanced.
It has solid openers, reliable middle order, 2 top class all rounders ( Streak and Johnson), 4 four front line bowlers, decent combo of spinners ( one attacking and one economical), 4 more than good part time bowlers (Raza, Williams, Chigumbura, Grant Flower).
Heath Streak is the captain and Andy Flower as wicketkeeper.
Thoughts..
Team got significantly weaker after retirement of these legendary players. Mid 2000s was a low phase Zimbabwe cricket. But still got few good international players in the form of Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Masakadza and Price.
In early 2010s, Zimbabwe cricket was probably at its lowest. Things got improved till late 2010s as they got some good ODI cricketers in the form of Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Graeme Cremer and Sikandar Raza.
It is some up and down journey for the Zimbabwe team. But, now they are getting some positive results and have some promising youngsters like Madhevere, Muzurabani and Jongwe. Hopefully, they can take their team to the glory days of 90s.
Making an all time ODI XI from these very few players was not a big deal. But, i was surprised as the team looks very balanced and competitive.
Lets look at the team,
1.Grant Flower
(6571 runs at 33.52, SR 67.58, 6 tons)
(104 wickets at 40.62, best 4/32)
2.Neil Johnson
(1679 runs at 36.5, SR 70.28, 4 tons)
(35 wickets at 34.85)
3.Brendan Taylor
(6684 runs at 35.55, SR 76.64, 11 tons)
4.Andy Flower (wicketkeeper)
(6786 runs at 35.34, SR 74.59, 4 tons)
5.Sean Williams
(4237 runs at 35.01, SR 82.30, 5 tons)
(76 wickets at 48.52)
6.Sikandar Raza
(3631 runs at 37.05, SR 84.75, 6 tons)
(70 wickets at 44.08)
7.Elton Chigumbura
(4289 runs at 25.37, SR 79.78, 2 tons)
(95 wickets at 42.70)
8. Heath Streak (captain)
(2901 runs at 28.44, SR 73.61, 13 fifties)
(237 wickets at 29.81, SR 39.7, Best 5/32)
9.Graeme Cremer
(119 wickets at 30.22, SR 39.3, Best 6/46)
10. Ray Price
(100 runs at 35.75, SR 53.7, Best 4/22)
11. Tendai Chatara
(102 wickets at 32.68, SR 38.1, Best 4/33)
Unlucky to miss out :-
Tatenda Taibu
Andy Blignaut
Alastair Campbell
Hamilton Masakadza
Prosper Utseya
Eddo Brandes
Guy Whittall
Paul Strang
Henry Olonga
Team looks very balanced.
It has solid openers, reliable middle order, 2 top class all rounders ( Streak and Johnson), 4 four front line bowlers, decent combo of spinners ( one attacking and one economical), 4 more than good part time bowlers (Raza, Williams, Chigumbura, Grant Flower).
Heath Streak is the captain and Andy Flower as wicketkeeper.
Thoughts..
