Tour of  Sri Lanka 1997-98          Captain: Alistair Campbell

Zimbabwe’s sixth Test tour

Second Test-playing tour of  Sri Lanka by Zimbabwe

  (December 1997 -

             January 1998 )

The touring party arrived optimistic that the new leg-spinning find Adam Huckle, who had just taken 16 wickets in his debut Test series, and fellow leg-spinner Paul Strang could match the Sri Lankan spin bowlers who had overwhelmed them in the two Test match defeats on the previous visit in 1996. 

Zimbabwe appeared to be heading for victory in Sri Lanka, only to have it snatched from their grasp. Coach Dave Houghton felt certain that they were robbed of victory by umpires who had been subjected to much press criticism for decisions they had made against the home team, and would no longer give out batsmen who declined to walk. With 200 runs still needed to win and only the tailenders to come, Zimbabwe would almost certainly have won, had appeals against de Silva and Ranatunga been given out during their record breaking partnership of 189.

All-rounder Guy Whittall was fined 50 percent of his match fee for dissent during the final day's play but otherwise the players kept their feelings in check.  Although the Zimbabwe authorities made an official complaint to the International Cricket Council about the umpiring, the match and the series were by then lost

Three sets of brothers - the Flowers (Andy and Grant), Rennies (Gavin and John) and Strangs (Bryan and Paul) - represented Zimbabwe on the tour as well as cousins Andy and Guy Whittall.  Bryan Strang was sent home over a matter of poor behaviour in Sri Lanka which set back his international career.

Other Zimbabwe tours

Previous tour

Pakistan 1996-97

Next tour

New Zealand 1997-98

Next tour of Sri Lanka

2001-02

Members of the Test tour party (15)

Opening batsmen :Grant Flower, Gavin Rennie (in Tests), Craig Wishart (in ODIs)

Middle order:  Murray Goodwin, Guy Whittall, Alistair Campbell.

Wicket-keeper:  Andy Flower

Spin bowlers:Andy Whittall, Adam Huckle,  Paul Strang

Fast bowlers:Heath Streak, Henry Olonga, Pommie Mbangwa, Everton Matambanadzo, Bryan Strang, (plus John Rennie (reinforcement for ODIs)

District representation   

Mat   - Matabeleland

Msh   - Mashonaland

Msh A  - Mashonaland A

CD -  Country Districts

Average age of team at time of first Test match

(7 January 1998):

    25 yrs  0 months

Test Appearances made before the tour

Campbell 24,   A Flower 24,   G Flower 24,   G Whittall 20,   Streak 17,  P Strang 15,  B Strang 11,  Olonga 7,  Wishart 6,  J Rennie 4,  A Whittall 3,  Matambanadzo 2,  G Rennie 2,  Huckle 2,  Mbangwa 1,  Goodwin 0.

Tour Officials

Selectors

John Traicos (convenor), ....................

Selection

A squad of 20 players assembled in Harare for a training camp between 8 and 12 December 1997.

Unavailable:  Dave Houghton (retired from playing  - niggling injuries persuaded him that he would not be fit to tour Sri Lanka);  Eddo Brandes (injured).

Tour Party Announced :  15 December 1997.

Murray Goodwin was included in the team whilst his Zimbabwe citizenship application was processed.

Not selected :   Stuart Carlisle, Craig Evans, Dirk Viljoen.

It was planned that John Rennie would join the team later during the one-day internationals.

Time between selection and departure from Zimbabwe  

  13 days

(15 December  -  28 December)

Travel

Harare   Q London   Q Colombo

Both Heath Streak and Adam Huckle passed late fitness tests on rib-muscle injuries before the team departed Harare late on Sunday night 28 December 1997.

The Zimbabwe players arrived, via England and India, in Colombo on Wednesday 31 December 1997.

They were met on arrival at Banderanaike Airport by Sri Lankan Cricket Board official M.Rajasingham and their liaison officer.  Next day they travelled to Matara to begin a three-day match.

A sixteenth player John Rennie joined the touring party on 17 January for the one-day series.

Time spent in Sri Lanka

   29 days

(31 December -  28 January)

On-tour selection

Reinforcements

John Rennie joined the team for the one-day internationals.

Fixtures/Results

KANDY   

SRI LANKA   First Test

LOST 8 w

COLOMBO (SSC)  

SRI LANKA   Second Test  

LOST 5 w

†Moratuwa 

Sri Lanka Board XI    

Lost 4 w

§ Colombo (SSC)

Sri Lanka (1st ODI)  

Lost 5 w

§ Colombo (RPS)

Sri Lanka (2nd ODI)  

Lost 5 w

§ Colombo (SSC)

Sri Lanka (3rd ODI

Lost 4 w

SSC: Sinhalese Sports Club      RPS  R Premadasa Stadium

§  ODI  Series

ϯ not first-class

Time spent in Sri Lanka before First Test: 

    7 days

(31 December  -   7 January)

Test appearances on tour

2  -   Campbell,  A Flower,  G Flower,  Goodwin,  G Rennie,  P Strang,  Streak,  A Whittall,  Wishart

1  -   Huckle,  Mbangwa,  B Strang,  G Whittall

Match appearances

Highlights

•   Murray Goodwin scored two half-centuries in the Test series and topped it with a maiden one-day century at Colombo (RPS).

•   Guy Whittall lost half his second Test match fee for running off to celebrate a wicket before checking the result of his appeal.

Tour Summary

Departure from Sri Lanka

Colombo   Q 

Bryan Strang had his jaw broken in a fight with door staff while trying to force his way into a Colombo nightclub, and was sent home. 

The team left Colombo on  28 January 1998, flying on to New Zealand to play a two Test series and five ODIs.

Time away from Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka and New Zealand

    72 days  

(28 December to  10 March)

Finances

Accounts of the tour

Postscript