Zimbabwe rewarded for perseverance in test cricket

It was the moment that the beleaguered local cricket tragedy, so used to the stench of losing, had been waiting for for twelve years. And man, was it sweet.

Zimbabwe – long mocked and scorned – recorded their first home Test win since 2013 as speedy Blessing Muzarabani toppled Khalil Gurbaz to complete a huge innings and 73-run victory over Afghanistan in Harare.

Their biggest ever Test win ended a run of six consecutive defeats in the red-ball format since April. Where are the haters now?

Zimbabwe, a smaller full member state, showed what they are capable of in defeating a talented Afghanistan team, who had emerged triumphant on the same ground earlier this year.

Ben Curran, brother of England cricketers Tom and Sam, led a steely batting display with a maiden Test century, while Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and Brad Evans tore through Afghanistan to cause festive scenes.

It has capped off a very busy stretch of Test cricket for Zimbabwe, who have played 10 matches this year – the most of any country.

Despite being sidelined – along with Ireland and Afghanistan – from the nine-team World Test Championship, meaning most Test nations have little incentive to play, Zimbabwe has fought hard for matches in a bid to improve and climb the ladder.

They think about the long term, hoping to inspire a new generation in a long term, against the fast pace of modern society.

Unlike Ireland and Afghanistan, Zimbabwe does not want to excel only in white-ball cricket, even if the extra exposure exposes them to ridicule, as they recently experienced after big losses to established teams South Africa, New Zealand and England.

The hypocrisy inflicted on Zimbabwe, a country with limited resources and trying so hard just to get a chance to play Test cricket, is laughable but completely predictable for a sport laced with exceptionalism.

There have long been fears about the future of Test cricket surviving outside the powers of India, England and Australia, yet many continue to turn a blind eye when Zimbabwe falls short.

Do these critics want smaller countries to play Test cricket or would they rather see the traditional, five-day format reduced to a handful of teams? How incredibly boring and sad it would be if the latter were the dominant view.

There needs to be a lot more patience and an acceptance that it will take time – and much more broader support – for the likes of Zimbabwe to be consistently competitive in the toughest format of cricket.

It’s not surprising that there is such a divide on the ground, given the wealth inequality outside of it. It costs Zimbabwe $500,000 to host a competition; big sums for a country with a minuscule domestic broadcast of $2.5 million a year, compared to the billion-dollar deals of England, India and Australia.

Yet Zimbabwe continues to hold its ground despite it being a punch line for many. Much of their perseverance has to do with influential Zimbabwean cricket chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani, a key behind-the-scenes administrator in world cricket.

Mukuhlani was part of a working group looking into Test cricket, with a mandate to provide more playing opportunities to smaller countries like Zimbabwe.

The working group has done extensive work for a larger committee investigating the future of international cricket, including whether Test cricket should be split into two divisions.

That is yet to be decided, but Zimbabwe’s determination to continue playing Test cricket is steadfast.

“Playing so many Tests shows a positive intention on our part to grow Test cricket,” Mukuhlani told me on the sidelines of the International Cricket Council’s annual meetings in Singapore in July. “It shows that we are investing money because Test cricket is expensive.

“Some of the attacks and criticism the team has received have been very unfair.”

Far from the trio of powers that demand most of the attention, something fresh and exciting is seeping through in Zimbabwe. The landlocked southeast African country is fast becoming a destination for major cricket events and will co-host the 2027 World Cup.

ForbesZimbabwe is becoming a destination for major cricket eventsBy means of Tristan Lavalette

Make no mistake, they continue to think outside the box in the hope of playing more Test cricket. An attractive option is to entice teams to visit Zimbabwe on their way to neighboring South Africa.

Zimbabwe has the ambition, the patience and, quite clearly, the backbone as the country has put up with far more criticism than they deserve.

Basking in the afterglow of a rare Test victory among their beaming compatriots, with the youngsters on the terraces feeling deeply inspired, Zimbabwe’s tireless players and administrators knew their hard work was well worth it.