New Zealand cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2005

Background

Concerns overs human rights violations in Zimbabwe, in particular the slum clearances known as Operation Murambatsvina, prompted calls by the New Zealand's Green Party and human rights advocates including Amnesty International for the cricket team to boycott the tour. The New Zealand Government made it clear that the scheduled return visit of the Zimbabwean cricket team to New Zealand in December 2005 would not occur as entry to New Zealand would be denied to the Zimbabwean players.

The Black Caps were obliged to tour by the International Cricket Council (ICC), and faced a fine of over NZ$3 million if they did not tour. The ICC was asked to waive this fine but refused. It was also claimed that a withdrawal from the tour would greatly harm New Zealand's chances of co-hosting the 2011 World Cup with a potential loss of $NZ20 million. Two opinion polls showed a majority of New Zealanders opposed the tour. The TVNZ/Colmar Brunton poll taken on 30 June found 77 percent opposed, and a Fairfax New Zealand/ACNielsen poll on 18 July showed 53 percent opposed, (NZ Herald). Parliament voted with a substantial majority on 26 July to ask the Black Caps to abandon the tour. Only ACT and the Māori Party voted against the resolution. A month ahead of the tour, New Zealand Cricket and the players were unanimous in their decision of willing to tour.

The two Tests against Zimbabwe were being followed by a tri-nations One Day International (ODI) series, with India making up the threesome.

Schedule (Zimbabwe leg)

• 4 August : Practice match in Harare
• 7 August: First Test starts (Harare)
• 15 August: Second Test starts (Bulawayo)
• 24 August: 1st ODI New Zealand v Zimbabwe (Bulawayo)
• 26 August: 2nd ODI India v New Zealand (Bulawayo)
• 29 August: 3rd ODI Zimbabwe v India (Harare)
• 31 August: 4th ODI New Zealand v Zimbabwe (Harare)
• 2 September: 5th ODI New Zealand v India (Harare)
• 4 September: 6th ODI Zimbabwe v India (Harare)
• 6 September: Final (Harare)

Squads

The New Zealand squad for the tour was announced on 22 June 2005. Shane Bond, who was out of international cricket for two years owing to a back injury, made both Test and ODI squads. Daryl Tuffey and Chris Harris were excluded after failing to recover from their injuries. Spinner Jeetan Patel was the only new inclusion to either team; he made the ODI squad.

Zimbabwe announced their 14-member Test squad on 3 August. Tatenda Taibu was retained as captain and Heath Streak was appointed his deputy.

Results

Matches against Namibia

Namibia v New Zealand, 30 July

:New Zealand won by 29 runs. Craig Cumming made 116 to lift the tourists to 330 for 6 in their first match at Windhoek against Namibia, a team coming off a disappointing ICC Trophy tournament, where they finished seventh and did not qualify for the 2007 World Cup. In reply, Namibia crashed to 75 for 5, but recovered to 301 all out, despite economical bowling from fast bowler Shane Bond who was returning from injury and took two for 20 in 10 overs. Cricinfo scorecard

Namibia v New Zealand, 31 July

:New Zealand won by 148 runs. The Black Caps batted first again and made 326 for 5. Brendon McCullum scored 84 not out and Nathan Astle an unbeaten 73, to help amass a fine 50 over total. This time, though, the Namibians weren't allowed to get away to a high score, as Shane Bond and Chris Martin took two wickets each and helped them collapse to 178. Daniel Vettori polished off the tail with three for 24. Cricinfo scorecard

Test series

First Test

| score-team1-inns1 = 452/9d (89 overs) | runs-team1-inns1 = Daniel Vettori 127 (98) | wickets-team1-inns1 = Blessing Mahwire 3/115 (26 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 59 (29.4 overs) | runs-team2-inns1 = Stuart Carlisle 20* (66) | wickets-team2-inns1 = James Franklin 3/11 (5 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = | runs-team1-inns2 = | wickets-team1-inns2 =

| score-team2-inns2 = 99 (49.5 overs) (f/o) | runs-team2-inns2 = Hamilton Masakadza 42 (79) | wickets-team2-inns2 = Daniel Vettori 4/28 (13.5 overs)

• Zimbabwe batsman Chris Mpofu recorded identical dismissals in both innings – stumped by Brendon McCullum off the bowling of Daniel Vettori for a duck, after facing 7 deliveries.
• Zimbabwe became only the second team to be dismissed twice in a single day's play since India in 1952.

Second Test

| score-team1-inns1 = 231 (79 overs) | runs-team1-inns1 = Tatenda Taibu 76 (157) | wickets-team1-inns1 = Shane Bond 6/51 (17 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 484 (111.1 overs) | runs-team2-inns1 = Nathan Astle 128 (217) | wickets-team2-inns1 = Heath Streak 4/73 (22 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 207 (61.1 overs) | runs-team1-inns2 = Brendan Taylor 77 (129) | wickets-team1-inns2 = Shane Bond 4/48 (14 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = | runs-team2-inns2 = | wickets-team2-inns2 =

• Blessing Mahwire scored the fastest half-century by an Zimbabwe player (34 balls).
• Shane Bond surpassed Chris Martin to become the quickest New Zealand bowler to claim 50 wickets (12 Tests).

One-day internationals

Please see Videocon Tri-Series 2005 for a full treatment of the one-day international matches with Zimbabwe and India.

Notes

References

References

1. [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Seasons/ZIM/2005-06_ZIM_New_Zealand_in_Namibia_and_Zimbabwe_2005-06.html CricketArchive – tour itinerary] {{Webarchive. link. (6 November 2012 . Retrieved on 14 December 2010.)
2. (23 June 2005). "New Zealand players unanimous in their decision to tour". ESPNcricinfo.
3. (3 August 2005). "Streak named vice-captain against New Zealand". ESPNcricinfo.
4. (22 June 2005). "Bond returns for Zimbabwe tour". ESPNcricinfo.
5. "Hopeless Zimbabwe crushed inside two days". ESPNcricinfo.
6. "New Zealand seal win as Zimbabwe capitulate". ESPNcricinfo.
7. (18 August 2005). "'I'm fitter, stronger, and a smarter cricketer'". ESPNcricinfo.