Zimbabwe became a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 6 July 1992, thereby gaining the right to play Test matches. It had previously become an associate member of the ICC on 21 July 1981, a year after the country's internationally recognised independence. Before this, Rhodesia had competed in the South African Currie Cup domestic competition. Since joining the ICC, Zimbabwe have had seven Test captains, fourteen One Day International captains and two Twenty20 captains, along with a number of youth captains.

Before becoming a full member of the ICC, Zimbabwe played in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, when, under the captaincy of Duncan Fletcher, they beat Australia, and in the 1987 Cricket World Cup under the captaincy of John Traicos, who had previously played Test cricket for South Africa. Upon full membership, David Houghton captained the side in Zimbabwe's first Test matches, as well as in the 1992 Cricket World Cup. Andy Flower, the most successful batsman Zimbabwe has produced, captained the side to their first Test win against Pakistan in 1995.[1] He was followed as captain by Alistair Campbell. Under his captaincy, the side achieved its first Test series win in 1998 and, in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, passed the first round for the first time.

After Campbell's resignation for "personal reasons",[2] fast bowler Heath Streak became captain. While Test success—except against newcomers Bangladesh—remained elusive, the side once again reached the second round of the 2003 Cricket World Cup, when they co-hosted the tournament. Not long after this tournament, however, the Zimbabwe Cricket Union sacked Streak, prompting 14 other players to walk out, leaving Tatenda Taibu as captain in the age of 20 .[3] During his tenure as captain, the side suffered its first defeat to Bangladesh and failed to win a single Test. Further political problems led to Taibu's resignation in 2006. At this point, Zimbabwe withdrew from playing Test matches.[4] Since the Test withdrawal, several players have captained the one day side, although none has achieved significant success. The side is once again competing in the South African domestic competition under the captaincy of Hamilton Masakadza. Zimbabwe has regained its test status in 2011.

Men's cricket

Test match captains

As of February 2023, 12 cricketers have captained the Zimbabwean cricket team for at least one Test match. The table of results is complete to the second Test against West Indies on 14 February 2023, the last Test in which Zimbabwe have played.[5][6] Where a player has a dagger (†) next to a Test match series in which he captained at least one Test, that denotes that player deputised for the appointed captain or was appointed for a minor proportion in a series.

Zimbabwe played their first Test match, after regaining their Test status, against Bangladesh at the Harare Sports Club in Harare. The only Test started on Thursday 4 August 2011. Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first. Zimbabwe won the Test on day five by 130 runs. Since then they won three Tests more, two against Bangladesh and one against Pakistan.

Number Name Year(s)[nb 1] Opposition Location Played Won Lost Drawn
1 David Houghton 1992/93 India Zimbabwe 1 0 0 1
1992/93 New Zealand Zimbabwe 2 0 1 1
1992/93 India India 1 0 1 0
Total 4 0 2 2
2 Andy Flower 1993/94 Pakistan Pakistan 3 0 2 1
1994/95 Sri Lanka Zimbabwe 3 0 0 3
1994/95 Pakistan Zimbabwe 3 1 2 0
1995/96 South Africa Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0
1995/96 New Zealand New Zealand 2 0 0 2
1999/2000 South Africa Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0
1999/2000 Sri Lanka Zimbabwe 3 0 1 2
1999/2000 West Indies West Indies 2 0 2 0
2000 England England 2 0 1 1
Total 20 1 10 9
3 Alistair Campbell 1996 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 2 0 2 0
1996/97 Pakistan Pakistan 2 0 1 1
1996/97 England Zimbabwe 2 0 0 2
1997/98 New Zealand Zimbabwe 2 0 0 2
1997/98 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 2 0 2 0
1997/98 New Zealand New Zealand 2 0 2 0
1997/98 Pakistan Zimbabwe 2 0 1 1
1998/99 India Zimbabwe 1 1 0 0
1998/99 Pakistan Pakistan 2 1 0 1
1999/2000 Australia Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0
1999/2000 South Africa South Africa 1 0 1 0
2002/03 Pakistan Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0
Total 21 2 12 7
4 Heath Streak 2000/01 New Zealand Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0
2000/01 India India 2 0 1 1
2000/01 New Zealand New Zealand 1 0 0 1
2000/01 Bangladesh Zimbabwe 2 2 0 0
2001 India Zimbabwe 2 1 1 0
2001 West Indies Zimbabwe 2 0 1 1
2001/02 South Africa Zimbabwe 2 0 1 1
2003 England England 2 0 2 0
2003/04 Australia Australia 2 0 2 0
2003/04 West Indies Zimbabwe 2 0 1 1
2003/04 Bangladesh Zimbabwe 2 1 0 1
Total 21 4 11 6
5 Brian Murphy 2001/02 Bangladesh Bangladesh 1 0 0 1
6 Stuart Carlisle 2001/02† Bangladesh Bangladesh 1 1 0 0
2001/02 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 3 0 3 0
2001/02 India India 2 0 2 0
Total 6 1 5 0
7 Tatenda Taibu 2004 Sri Lanka Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0
2004/05 Bangladesh Bangladesh 2 0 1 1
2004/05 South Africa South Africa 2 0 2 0
2005/06 New Zealand Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0
2005/06 India Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0
Total 10 0 9 1
8 Brendan Taylor 2011 Bangladesh Zimbabwe 1 1 0 0
2011 Pakistan Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0
2011 New Zealand Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0
2012 New Zealand New Zealand 1 0 1 0
2013 West Indies West Indies 2 0 2 0
2013 Bangladesh Zimbabwe 2 1 1 0
2013 Pakistan Zimbabwe 1 1 0 0
2014 South Africa Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0
2014 Bangladesh Bangladesh 3 0 3 0
2021 Pakistan Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0
2021 Bangladesh Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0
Total 16 3 13 0
9 Hamilton Masakadza 2013 Pakistan Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0
2018/19 Bangladesh Bangladesh 2 1 1 0
Total 3 1 2 0
10 Graeme Cremer 2016 New Zealand Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0
2016 Sri Lanka Zimbabwe 2 0 2 0
2016 Sri Lanka Sri Lanka 1 0 1 0
2017/18 West Indies Zimbabwe 2 0 1 1
2017/18 South Africa South Africa 1 0 1 0
Total 8 0 7 1
11 Sean Williams 2019/20 Sri Lanka Zimbabwe 2 0 1 1
2021 Afghanistan UAE 2 1 1 0
Total 4 1 2 1
12 Craig Ervine 2019/20† Bangladesh Bangladesh 1 0 1 0
2023 West Indies Zimbabwe 2 0 1 1
Total 3 0 2 1
Grand total 117 13 75 29

One Day International captains

A man in a yellow shirt with a blue collar, wearing reflective sunglasses and a baseball cap, in front of foliage
Grant Flower, captain for a single ODI in 2001

As of January 2023, 23 cricketers have captained the Zimbabwean cricket team for at least one One Day International.The table of results is complete up to the third and final ODI against Netherlands in March 2023.

NO. Name Span Played Won Tied Lost NR
1 Duncan Fletcher 1983 6 1 0 5 0
2 John Traicos 1987 6 0 0 6 0
3 David Houghton 1992/93 17 1 0 16 0
4 Andy Flower1 1993–2000 52 12 2 35 3
5 Alistair Campbell 1996–2002 86 30 2 52 2
6 Heath Streak 2000–2004 68 18 0 47 3
7 Grant Flower1 2001 1 0 0 1 0
8 Guy Whittall 2001 4 0 0 4 0
9 Brian Murphy 2001 4 0 0 4 0
10 Stuart Carlisle 2001/02 12 6 0 6 0
11 Tatenda Taibu 2004–05 29 2 0 27 0
12 Terry Duffin 2006 13 5 0 7 1
13 Prosper Utseya 2006–2010 68 20 1 47 0
14 Hamilton Masakadza 2008–2015, 2018-2019 25 0 0 24 1
15 Elton Chigumbura 2010–2016 62 18 0 44 0
16 Brendan Taylor 2011–2015, 2021 37 9 0 28 0
17 Graeme Cremer 2015–2018 35 12 2 20 1
18 Peter Moor 2019 4 4 0 0 0
19 Chamu Chibhabha 2020 4 0 1 3 0
20 Sean Williams 2020 2 0 0 2 0
21 Craig Ervine 2021-Present 14 5 0 7 2
22 Regis Chakabva 2022 8 3 0 5 0
23 Sikandar Raza 2022-2023 2 0 0 2 0
Grand total 559 146 8 392 13

1Andy Flower and Grant Flower are brothers.

Twenty20 International captains

Two cricketers have captained the Zimbabwean cricket team for at least one Twenty20 international.The table of results is complete up to the third and final match against Ireland in January 2023.

No. Name Year Played Won Tied Lost NR
1 Prosper Utseya 2006–2010 10 3 1 6 0
2 Elton Chigumbura 2010-2015 18 2 0 16 0
3 Brendan Taylor 2011–2014, 2021 18 4 0 14 0
4 Sikandar Raza 2015, 2021 4 2 0 2 0
5 Hamilton Masakadza 2016-2019 19 5 1 13 0
6 Graeme Cremer 2016-2018 5 1 0 4 0
7 Sean Williams 2019-2020,2021 11 3 0 8 0
8 Chamu Chibhabha 2020 3 0 0 3 0
9 Craig Ervine 2021–Present 33 18 0 14 1
10 Regis Chakabva 2022 2 0 0 2 0
Grand total 123 38 2 82 1

Youth cricket

Test match captains

Two cricketers have captained the Zimbabwean Under-19 cricket team for at least one under-19 Test match.

Number Name Year[nb 1] Opposition Location Played Won Lost Drawn
1 Brian Murphy 1995/96 England Zimbabwe 3 0 2 1
2 Bertus Erasmus 1997 England England 3 0 2 1
Grand total 6 0 4 2

Youth One-Day International captains

Ten cricketers have captained the Zimbabwean Under-19 cricket team for at least one Under-19 One Day International.

No. Name Year Played Won Tied Lost NoR
1 Brian Murphy 1996 1 0 0 1 0
2 Bertus Erasmus 1997 2 0 0 2 0
3 Mark Vermeulen 1997 6 2 0 4 0
4 Mluleki Nkala 2000 3 0 0 3 0
5 Travis Friend 2000 4 3 0 1 0
6 Tatenda Taibu 2002 8 6 0 2 0
7 Tinotenda Mawoyo 2004 6 3 0 3 0
8 Sean Williams 2005/06 10 3 0 7 0
9 Prince Masvaure 2008 6 1 0 5 0
10 Dylan Higgins 2009/10 12 3 0 9 0
11 Tinotenda Mutombodzi 2009 5 0 0 5 0
12 Peter Moor 2010 5 0 0 5 0
13 Godwill Mamhiyo 2011 4 0 0 4 0
14 Roy Kaia 2011 1 0 0 1 0
15 Matthew Bentley 2012 10 2 0 8 0
16 Ryan Burl 2012 1 0 0 1 0
17 Luke Masasire 2012 1 0 0 1 0
18 Malcolm Lake 2014 11 2 0 9 0
19 Joylord Gumbie 2014 1 1 0 0 0
20 Brandon Mavuta 2015-2016 10 3 0 7 0
21 Liam Roche 2017 2 0 0 2 0
22 Jonathan Connolly 2017 3 1 0 2 0
23 Ryan Murray 2017 1 0 0 1 0
Grand total 113 30 0 83 0

ICC Trophy

The ICC Trophy is the leading one-day tournament from non-Test teams, and Zimbabwe participated in the tournament before they gained Test status in 1992. Two cricketers captained Zimbabwe in the ICC Trophy.

Number Name Trophy[nb 1] Played Won Tied Lost No result Note(s)
1 Duncan Fletcher 1982 7 7 0 0 0 Winners
2 David Houghton 1986 8 8 0 0 0 Winners
1990 8 8 0 0 0 Winners
Grand total 23 23 0 0 0

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Cricket seasons are generally referred to using the summer in which matches are played. Hence a Northern Hemisphere season is encapsulated in a single year (e.g. 1986) while a Southern Hemisphere season spans two years (e.g. 1986/87).

References

General
  • "Zimbabwe Captains' Playing Record in Test Matches". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 8 February 2008.[dead link]
  • "Zimbabwe Captains' Playing Record in ODI Matches". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 8 February 2008.[dead link]
  • "Zimbabwe Captains' Playing Record in Youth Test Matches". Cricket Archive. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
  • "Zimbabwe Captains' Playing Record in Youth ODI Matches". Cricket Archive. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
  • "Zimbabwe Captains' Playing Record in the ICC Trophy". Cricket Archive. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
Specific
  1. ^ "Pakistan v Zimbabwe, 1st Test, Peshawar". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Players and Officials – Alistair Campbell". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
  3. ^ "Probe clears Zimbabwe over racism". BBC Sport. 17 October 2004. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
  4. ^ "Zimbabwe revokes 2006 Test status". BBC Sport. 18 January 2006. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  5. ^ "Cricinfo – Brown eyes Zimbabwe Test return". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 February 2008.
  6. ^ "Zimbabwe confident of Test return". BBC Sport. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
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