Did ZIM take anyone big down in 2003? I know they beat Australia in 2006 (WT20) and in 1983, and ENG in 1999 I believe. So I think they've got the 3 scalps in world cups.
Beat both India and SA in 1999. England was in 1992.
Zimbabwe only beat Namibia & Netherlands at the 2003 World Cup, England refused to play the game in Harare and the Pakistan game was washed out which put Zimbabwe through.
I actually though Zimbabwe had a really good side that tournament but the behind the scenes happenings really hurt them I feel. Losing to Kenya was embarrassing.
The one thing I never understood was why England refused to play that crucial Group match in Zimbabwe but then toured in 2005 for 5 ODI’s ??? That tour was meangingless and against a post rebel Zimbabwe side which was severely under strength. If they won that World Cup Match they would have went through and likely beat Kenya there by possibly making a World Cup Semi.
Beat both India and SA in 1999. England was in 1992.
1999 campaign is quite impressive. 2 big wins from just 5 group games. Did ZIM make the super 6s in 99? They should have also beaten the Associate qualifer in their group which was Kenya, putting them in on 6 points and an excellent chance to progress to the knockouts/super 6 stage.
1999 is really the only decent World Cup we have had since we became full members. 1996, 2003, 2007, 2011, and 2015 really just brought the expected victories over minnows and expected losses to the big boys.
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes
It is an absolute myth that we had a good team in 2003/4.
There has been one and one only genuinely decent team zim has produced and that was 1999.
The Johnson/flower/flower/Goodwin/Houghton/Campbell/marillier/strang/streak/brandes/olonga- lineup.
Although they often had a token black fast bowler in there at 11 for political reasons.
Moreso the batting being the driver.
We also had wishart/Carlisle/Brent/hammy/price in the wings so a bit of depth there, and mbangwa would keep the run rate down if needed.
Cricinfo profile of the 'James Bond' of cricket:
FULL NAME: Angus James Mackay
BORN: 13 June 1967, Harare
KNOWN AS: Gus Mackay
The 2003 side was a good side for Zimbabwe standards it still had both the Flower brothers and Heath Streak plus Andy Blignaut and Dougie Hondo. Young players like Taibu, Vermulean & Sean Ervine were emerging as well plus solid players around them like Ebrahim, Whittal, Wishart Friend etc.
I'd take that 03 side over any side Zimbabwe has put on the park since.
Note that the 2003 side was stronger than the 2004 side which are used together interchangeably and really shouldn’t (no flower, Campbell or Whittal in 2004).
My memory of the 2004 side;
Carlisle was starting to peak as a player (or just liked Aussie tracks)
Vermeulen was surprisingly good. He was generating a lot of big scores up until his headknock. He was on the trajectory of being a BT. He had already had a couple of centuries in the 12 months before and a lot of 50s and had his Test average welll into the thirties, which carried weight as we had lighter bats, stronger opponents and dare I say better bowlers in general.
There was a reason he was our number 3/4 batsman I that 2003/4 era. What a waste.
Ervine was emerging nicely in 2004.
On the flip side;
Fringe players like ebrahim and early Sibanda were atrocious.
Hondo was nowhere near as good as how people talk about him here. Same level as mpofu.
We had no wicket taking spinner. Just price and flower who kept run rate in check.
Blignaut could be very expensive
Taibu, at that point, was completely overrated as a bat.
A typical scorecard would be zim making 220 and then another team pulling it down in 45 at 3/222
Just look at the CUB tri series in Australia scorecards.
Cricinfo profile of the 'James Bond' of cricket:
FULL NAME: Angus James Mackay
BORN: 13 June 1967, Harare
KNOWN AS: Gus Mackay
It is an absolute myth that we had a good team in 2003/4.
There has been one and one only genuinely decent team zim has produced and that was 1999.
The Johnson/flower/flower/Goodwin/Houghton/Campbell/marillier/strang/streak/brandes/olonga- lineup.
Although they often had a token black fast bowler in there at 11 for political reasons.
Moreso the batting being the driver.
We also had wishart/Carlisle/Brent/hammy/price in the wings so a bit of depth there, and mbangwa would keep the run rate down if needed.
Those we the golden days
Grant flower
Gavin Rennie
Murray Godwin
Andy Flower
Alistar Campbell
Guy Whithall
Neil Johnson
Paul Strang
Heath Streak
Eddo Brandes / Henry Olonga
Adam Huckle / Andy Whithall
