Memories

[maehara]

9 March 1985, Zimbabwe v English Counties XI, Harare Sports Club - the one & only time I was able to see Zimbabwe play in the flesh. I was at boarding school in Marondera at the time, and we'd been bussed in to see the match. I remember that it was a gloriously sunny day, that HSC looked wonderful in the sunshine, and that for all that it wasn't a proper international match (Zim were still an Associate side at this point), there was a good atmosphere at the ground. I couldn't have told you without looking up the scorecard who was playing for either side - I was just appreciating a day off school grounds - but I enjoyed myself, and it was the time I started following the side. I may have left Zimbabwe nearly 20 years ago, but they're still the only cricket side whose fortunes I follow almost religiously.

And your first experience of Zimbabwe cricket was...?

(Footnote: the only other chance I had of seeing Zim play live was when they played Ireland at Stormont in 2003 - Stormont is only 20 minutes away from me - but given the result of that match, I'm kinda glad I missed it...)

[brmtaylor.com admin]

I've only been supporting Zimbabwe for about 5 years, and first saw them live (in a tour match) in 2003. It was a good game, because Zimbabwe won

Good topic

[zimdan]

My first experience was Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka in Bulawayo's innaurgral test match 1994. I went for the first two days and managed to see Houghtons 266, still to this day the highest ever score by a Zimbabwean.

I feel kind of proud to have seen that, if only our country was still ike it was then. You would all be quite suprised though, there are still alot of whites like myself over here, more in Harare however. Harare still has over 20,000 british nationals there whereas here in Bulawayo we have about 12,000.

To be honest, if you have a stable job here you can live quite comfortably so contrary to all the reports, you only ever see the bad side of zimbabwe. It is sad to think ill be watching cricket tomorrow and having a nice meal then just down the road people are sick and unhealthy. but what can i just do?

Dont mean to go off topic, its just saddening. That match however was something else, now i go to every zimbabwe match as bulawayo, but more and more seem to be at Harare now so dammit!

[brmtaylor.com admin]

You would all be quite suprised though, there are still alot of whites like myself over here, more in Harare however. Harare still has over 20,000 british nationals there whereas here in Bulawayo we have about 12,000.

To be honest, if you have a stable job here you can live quite comfortably so contrary to all the reports, you only ever see the bad side of zimbabwe. It is sad to think ill be watching cricket tomorrow and having a nice meal then just down the road people are sick and unhealthy. but what can i just do?

Dont mean to go off topic, its just saddening. That match however was something else, now i go to every zimbabwe match as bulawayo, but more and more seem to be at Harare now so dammit!

I think it is an important point you raised. Everything you see and hear about Zimbabwe in the media is negative, most people don't realise that there are also people that are living comfortably. I get the feeling there are quite a lot of people (both black and white) living in the middle class? (ie. managing to get by despite everything that is happening)

Having said that, it's very saddening that there are also so many people living below the poverty line. We can only hope the entire situation turns around. I think it will, it's just a matter of when.

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Seven years ago on 8th December 2000, Zimbabwe registered its maiden triumph by just 1 wkt over India in India by successfully chasing 284. It was one match where i rated Gobby's allround performance, Nkala's huge six under pressure and Olonga's winning run over and above Tendulkar's blistering 146 & Zaheer's four consecutive sixes.

So, i was pretty excited over the fact that the third ODI was scheduled in Kanpur.I was doing my MBBS in Kanpur at that time.On 9th the teams arrived and Babu Meman was the first one whom i saw. Next day was my memorable one as i saw Streaky, Nkala, Murphy & Pycroft. I took Carl Rackmann's autograph too and he was surprised to know that i was rooting for Zim rather than home team.

On 11th Dec, i saw Zim playing India at Green Park Stadium,Kanpur. I was sitting in press box and there was huge confusion among reporters as who opened with Campbell? Being a fanatic Zimbabwean supporter, i proudly told them it's Madondo. But soon my euphoria evaporated as Zim were all out for 164. Captain Ganguly took 5 wickets and when he opened with Sachin, there were problems aplenty. In split second they put up the 100-run partnership on the board in the 15th over.In 20-plus overs the total become 150/0 and i was the first person in the stadium who eft the stadium quitely. Still, i was happy as i saw my 'team' whom i had been following since 1987 right infront of my eyes.

http://pluslive.cricinfo.com/link_to_da ... C2000.html

[ZIMDOGGY]

Touching stories here,

Mathews why did you leave Africa?
Doc, what made u convert to zim?

[bayhaus]

My first match was when Pakistan came in 1992 I actually came up to Harare with Kevin barbour, and my most vivid memory was seeing the wicket keeper taking position where we would have put a sweeper to stop the balls that had gone past the keeper. Then the keeper at that distance was still taking deliveries at chest at EXPRESS pase courtesy of Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram! Nows when in ZIm always watch matches actually came up to watch the SRI series to see Murali live unfortunately Mallinga didnt make it. Now my next mission is to watch a day night at HSC> Cant wait!

[sloandog]

I was only a boy but i remeber going to watch Zimbabwe vs England at Edgbasten in 2003.
Zimbabwe were bowled out for 90 if i remeber correctly, only Matskinyeri managed to get a decent score (40odd whatever it was). But I'll always remeber Heath Streak getting those 4 early wickets wiyhin the first 3 overs. The top four were clueless

And then Flintoff came in....
Blignaut was bowling sharp, and i mean sharp! But Freddie just bludgened the man all over the park.
It's not until i think back to that game and realise how fast Blignaut actaully was...I'm sure he'd have managed to click up to 90Mph on his day

[maehara]

Mathews why did you leave Africa?

Assuming you mean me, as there's no Mathews here.

Not my choice, I was 15 when my parents "gapped it", as they called it at the time. Brother & sister were old enough to make their own decisions, they stayed behind. If I'd had the option I would have stayed as well - even now, general quality of life in Zim easily beats the UK, as long as you have money in the bank.

Irish wife and kids now so properly settled over here. Might have been a different story if I was still single, though...

[Dr_Situ(ZimFanatic)]

Touching stories here,

Mathews why did you leave Africa?
Doc, what made u convert to zim?

It was the 1987 reliance world cup and i was mighty impressed by Eddo Brandes, Kevin Curran and later by the epic innings of Dave Houghton. I am following Zim ckt religiously since then. Why? If u love something, then u just love. There is no logic.