ODI Record: Matches - 219; Runs -
6,536; Average - 33.69; Highest Score - 142 not out; 100s - 6.
2. ALISTAIR CAMPBELL: Born 23/9/1972.
An upright right-hander, strong-driver, puller and cutter;
in short, an elegant entertainer who took a while before registering
his first Test century.
Of cool temperament, many of his best innings have been made under
great pressure -- and he also bowled tidy, slow-medium.
He also captained his country.
An ideal No. 2 who could withstand pace and spin on difficult
tracks.
Test Record: Matches - 60; Runs - 2,847; Average - 27.11;
Highest Score - 103; 100s - 2.
ODI Record: Matches - 188; Runs - 5,185; Average - 30.50; Highest
Score - 131 not out; 100s - 7.
3. DAVE HOUGHTON: Born 23/6/1957.
In many a Zimbabwean opinion, Houghton was and has strong
claims to be regarded as his country’s finest-ever batsman.
Although he was 35 and in the twilight of his career when Test
status arrived in 1992, he made a century in the inaugural match
against India and registered the highest score in Test by a Zimbabwean:
266 vs Sri Lanka at Bulawayo in 1995.
He was a county pro with Worcestershire and also a Test wicket-keeper.
It is said world cricket was the poorer for not having seen this
man bat in more Tests in his prime.
Test Record: Matches - 22; Runs - 1,465; Average - 43.08;
Highest Score - 266; 100s - 4.
ODI Record: Matches - 63; Runs - 1,530; Average - 26.37; Highest
Score - 142; 100s - 1.
4. ANDY FLOWER: Born 28/4/1968.
Elder brother of opening batsman Grant Flower, a stylish,
tough left-handed batsman who sold his wicket dearly.
An excellent timer of the ball and particularly strong against
spin bowling -- his returns in India in 2000 were incredible!
Has served as captain, ace bat and wicket-keeper.
Andy remains Zimbabwe’s most prolific run-scorer in both
Tests and One Dayers; he is a technically sound player, one of
only two from his country to amass 6,000 ODI runs.
Test Record: Matches - 63;
Runs - 4,794; Average - 51.05;
Highest Score - 232 not out;
100s - 12; Catches - 151; Stumpings - 9.
ODI Record: Matches - 213;
Runs - 6,786;
Average - 35.34;
Highest Score - 145; 100s - 4;
Catches - 141; Stumpings - 32.
5. GUY WHITTALL: Born 5/9/1972.
Cousin of Andrew Whittall, the tall off-break bowler
who gained nine caps for Zimbabwe.
Guy is one of a handful of his countrymen to make 2,000 Test runs.
A pint-zip all-rounder with a brilliant double-century to his
name.
Also a one-time big game hunter -- bowled steady and nippy inducers/seam,
and a fine fielder at covers or in the deep.
Guy made valuable runs for Zimbabwe at crucial and key times and
was the ideal man in the middle for his country.
Test Record: Matches - 45; Runs - 2,192; Average - 30.03;
Highest Score - 203 not out; 100s - 4; Wkts. - 52;
Average - 40.96.
ODI Record: Matches - 147; Runs - 2,705; Average - 22.54; Highest
Score - 83; Wkts. - 88; Average - 39.54.
6. MURRAY GOODWIN: Born 11/12/1972.
Dubbed “the Ace in the Hole”, a former Rhodesian,
he went to Perth in Australia at 12.
A dumpy character, he was in the same academy as Glenn Mc Grath
and Ricky Ponting.
After returning to Harare, he emerged upon the retirement of Houghton,
as a hard-hitting stroke-maker, equally at home -- opening or
at number three.
Goodwin boasts an impressive data sheet and some fine Test hundreds.
He has one of the best averages also by a Zimbabwe player.
Test Record: Matches - 19; Runs - 1,414; Average - 42.84;
Highest Score - 166; 100s - 3.
ODI Record: Matches - 71; Runs - 1,818; Average - 27.13; Highest
Score - 112 not out; 100s - 2.
7. NEIL JOHNSON: Born 24/1/1970.
Johnson’s all-round game/skill was honed in South
Africa, where he played for Natal.
In 1998, he turned out for Zimbabwe.
An aggressive left-handed batsman (who opened in One Dayers) and
very lively swing bowler, he was a vital cog and member of the
team, and had a brilliant 1999 World Cup.
He claimed the great man, Tendulkar’s wicket twice on debut,
which he says remains the highpoint of his Test career.
Test Record: Matches - 13; Runs - 532; Average - 24.18;
Highest Score - 107; 100s - 1.
ODI Record: Matches - 48; Runs - 1,679; Average - 36.50; Highest
Score - 132 not out; 100s - 4; Wkts. - 35;
Average - 34.85.
8. HEATH STREAK: Born 16/3/1974.
Streak is far and away his country’s all-time
premier bowler.
He is the only one to claim 200 Test and One Day International
wickets for Zimbabwe.
As a fast bowler, he moved the ball in the air and off the pitch.
Big, bold and burly, this broad-shouldered man was an aggressive
competitor of genuine world class material.
He struck the ball very hard and fell just 10 runs short of completing
the double of 2,000 runs and 200 wickets in Test cricket.
Test Record: Matches - 65; Runs - 1,990; Average - 22.11;
Highest Score - 127 not out; 100s - 1; Wkts. - 216; Average -
28.14.
ODI Record: Matches - 183; Runs - 2,752; Average - 27.79; Wkts.
- 234; Average - 29.45.
9. PAUL STRANG: Born 28/7/1970.
Elder brother of Bryan Strang.
Small, neat and lithe, Paul was an automatic selection until Huckle
appeared on the scene.
A fine leg-spinner, he bowled with a low-strung action, similar
to Stuart MacGill.
Strang had good control and was very handy at both levels.
In the opinion of many fine analysts, Paul is the best spin bowler
yet produced by Zimbabwe (forget Price).
Test Record: Matches - 24; Runs - 839; Average - 27.06;
Highest Score - 106 not out; 100s - 1.
Wkts. - 70; Average - 35.28; Best Bowling - 8/109.
ODI Record: Matches - 95; Runs - 1,090; Average - 22.24; Wkts.
- 96; Average - 33.06.
10. BRYAN STRANG: Born 9/6/1972.
Younger brother of Paul Strang (world class leggie),
Bryan proved a rarity in the game in his time -- a genuine left-arm
swing bowler.
What he lacked in pace, he more than made up in control and variation.
He also honed his skills in South Africa and proved to be one
of the best Zimbabwe bowlers in their brief Test history.
Test Record: Matches - 26; Wkts. - 56; Average - 39.33.
ODI Record: Matches - 49; Wkts. - 46; Average - 37.34;
Best Bowling - 6/20.
11. HENRY OLONGA: Born 3/7/1976.
A Zambian, a.k.a. “Spiderman”, Olonga was
the first Black player to represent Zimbabwe at International
cricket.
A decent, soft-spoken articulate man, he is a fine specimen of
an athlete.
He clocked-in at 90 m.p.h., and his duels with Tendulkar were
“one to remember” as he said in many interviews.
He suffered tremendously at the hands of the great man, but did
nab his wicket on occasion.
He rates Tendulkar as the best he’s seen of all.
He is an out-and-out hostile fast bowler -- the fastest in Zimbabwe.
Test Record: Matches - 30; Wkts. - 68; Average - 38.53.
ODI Record: Matches - 50; Wkts. - 58; Average - 34.08;
Best Bowling - 6/19.
