The Zimbabwe cricket team that we see now and the team in the 90s were poles apart. Zimbabwe was one of the most challenging and competitive teams to play against. Their team could beat anyone on their day and did so many times on the international stage against big teams. In the below given article, we shall list some of Zimbabwe’s longest-serving players in One-Day International (ODI) cricket and their achievements.
1. Grant Flower
Grant Flower, a right-handed batter and a left-arm off-spinner from Harare, is the first to appear on our list. Grant began his one-day international career in 1992 against India in Harare. Until 2010, he featured in 221 ODIs for Zimbabwe and scored 6571 runs at an average of 33.52, with six hundred and 40 fifties to his name.
2. Andy Flower
Next, we have Andy Flower, Grant Flower’s elder brother and one of Zimbabwe’s best batters ever. Andy Flower was born in Cape Town in South Africa. He started playing for Zimbabwe in ODI cricket in 1992. Until 2003, he played in 213 matches and scored 6786 runs at an average of 35.34.
3. Elton Chigumbura
Elton Chigumbura is a former Zimbabwe captain who played as a right-handed batter and bowled right-arm fast medium. In 2004, Chigumbura made his one-day international debut against Sri Lanka at Bulawayo. He scored 4340 runs at an average of 25.23 and took 101 wickets. In 2018, he played his last ODI against Bangladesh.
4. Hamilton Masakadza
Hamilton Masakadza was a right-handed top-order batter from Harare who also used to bowl right-arm medium occasionally. Having made his ODI debut for Zimbabwe in 2001, Masakadza played until 2019 in 209 matches. He amassed 5658 runs at an average of 27.73, with five centuries and 34 fifties to his name.
5. Brendan Taylor
Brendan Taylor played as a right-handed wicketkeeper batter and is one of the most prolific batters Zimbabwe has ever produced. Taylor started his ODI career in 2004 and played until 2021, before announcing his retirement. In 205 matches, he gathered 6684 runs at an average of 35.55 with 11 centuries to his name.
6. Alistair Campbell
Alistair Campbell was a left-handed opening batter from Harare. Campbell began his ODI journey in 1992 and continued until 2003. He played in 188 ODIs, scoring 5185 runs at an average of 30.50, including seven hundred and thirty fifties, with the highest score of 131 against Sri Lanka.
7. Heath Streak
Heath Streak was one of Zimbabwe’s best fast bowling all-rounders who had great vigour and passion for the game. Heath made his ODI debut in 1993 against South Africa. Until 2005, he played in 189 matches, picking up 239 wickets at an average of 29.82. He also scored close to 3000 ODI runs.
8. Prosper Utseya
Prosper Utseya was a right-arm off-spinner from Harare and is one of the only genuine spinners to feature in our list. In 2004, he played his first ODI against Sri Lanka at Bulawayo. Until 2015, he played in 164 ODIs for Zimbabwe and picked up 133 wickets at an average of 46.90.
9. Tatenda Taibu
Tatenda Taibu was a right-handed wicketkeeper batter from Harare. Taibu is also a former Zimbabwe captain and one of their finest wicketkeepers ever. He began his ODI career in 2001 against the West Indies and, until 2012, played in 150 matches. He scored 3393 runs at an average of around 30 and got 147 dismissals to his name.
10. Guy Whittall
Guy Whittall, a batting all-rounder from Chipinge, Manicaland, is next on the list. Whittall played as a right-handed batter and bowled right-arm medium. From 1993 to 2003, he featured in 147 ODIs for Zimbabwe and scored 2705 runs in 142 innings. He picked up 88 wickets and the average is 39.55.
