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New Zealand was unlikely to be troubled by Zimbabwe during their two-Test tour that ended in victory by an innings and 294 runs in Harare and by an innings and 46 runs in Bulawayo.� The first Test lasted almost two days and the second Test ended in just under three days.�
Zimbabwe was only 'well placed' at one point in the series, when they had New Zealand at 5 for 113 just after lunch on the first day at Harare.� However, New Zealand went on to post 9 declared for 452 after hitting 219 runs in one session.
New Zealand fielded their strongest side for some time with the return of Shane Bond, Scott Styris and Daniel Vettori for this series.� The pace of Bond was clearly an advantage for the Kiwis with 13 wickets coming from his bowling at an average 9.2 runs.� Added to this, Vettori, a world-class spinner, was able to tie up one end and took 11 wickets at an average of 13.7 runs.�
New Zealand retains seventh place in the ratings with 1036 points.� New Zealand is now just 13 points behind sixth placed Sri Lanka and eleven points short of their all time national highest rating of 1047 points.� With their series in South Africa now delayed until April and the New Zealand Government's refusal to grant visas to Zimbabwean players, New Zealand faces a prolonged break from Test cricket until they play West Indies at Auckland in March.
The series from a Zimbabwean perspective was an unmitigated disaster.� Zimbabwe had fielding their strongest possible line up for the first time in 16 months.
Zimbabwean cricket has not fared well in recent years.� An increasing number of white players have permanently departed for international destinations, including Andy and Grant Flower, Neil Johnson and Murray Goodwin.� This situation was made worse when a player's dispute began with administrators over selection policies in 2003.
However, a recent reconciliation between players and administrators saw the return of many talented players that should have lifted the performance of the side overall.� Heath Streak, the former captain whose sacking triggered the dispute, was appointed vice captain.� Despite all the available talent on hand, Zimbabwe suffered what was their worst defeat in history and New Zealand's biggest winning margin in the first Test at Harare - a Test that lasted barely two days.
The Harare Test also saw the Zimbabweans bowled out twice on the same day, a feat not managed since India suffered the same humiliation against England on a damp pitch in 1952 at Manchester.� In the first innings, Zimbabwe barely passed their previous worst total of 53 against South Africa earlier this year.
Zimbabwe remains locked in ninth place in the ratings and have now fallen further behind eighth placed West Indies.� Zimbabwe's rating of 855 points is their lowest rating in history.� Zimbabwe now trails West Indies by 101 points and their lead over last placed Bangladesh has narrowed to 65 points.
The immediate outlook does not look any better for Zimbabwe.� They next face fourth placed India in a two Test series in mid September, a series in which they would be even less likely to even draw a Test.� All of this will result in increased pressure on Phil Simmons, the former West Indies player who now coaches Zimbabwe.��
In addition, there are increasing calls for a review of Test status for both Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. The focus, however, is moving more tightly on Zimbabwe.� The Zimbabwean Government's, at best, questionable record on human rights and generally dysfunctionality leading to the apparent persecution of their own people is also not helping.
An increasing range of players, former players, administrators, statisticians and national leaders (England, Australia and New Zealand), are all calling for Zimbabwe to be banned from Test cricket.� The mounting call can only be resisted for a limited time before some other solution appears on the horizon - perhaps some rebel takeover of international cricket nations of a certain capability and above?� After all, discontent allowed Mr Packer to set up shop in the late 1970s.
If only Zimbabwe had oil reserves then the Americans might have solved the problem years ago ......
�
The latest Test cricket ratings are: 1. Australia (1252); 2. England (1132); 3. South Africa (1124); 4. India (1077); 5. Pakistan (1063) ; 6. Sri Lanka (1049); 7. New Zealand (1036); 8. West Indies (956); 9. Zimbabwe (855); 10. Bangladesh (794).
