CRICKET:Zimbabwe's recent cricket history

JUNE 1983

In the opening game of the third World Cup, a Zimbabwe team led by current England coach Duncan Fletcher turn over the mighty Australians. Fletcher scores 69 off 84 balls against an attack including Lillee, Thomson, Rodney Hogg and Geoff Lawson. The quiet man at the top of English cricket then takes four wickets as Australia are bowled out 13 runs short.

OCTOBER 1992

A historic first Test match, Zimbabwe manage a draw against India at Harare.

FEBRUARY 1995

After 11 starts, they win their first ever Test, beating Pakistan by an innings and 64 runs. The Flower brothers (Grant and Andy) hit big hundreds. Henry Olonga makes his debut.

MARCH 1996

Zimbabwe hold England to two draws at home in a controversial series. Chicken farmer Eddo Brandes runs through the England batting line-up. Resentful England coach David Lloyd is quoted as saying "We flippin murdered 'em" in a post-Test press conference.

OCTOBER 1998

A second Test win, this time against India, seals their first ever series win as a Test nation. Olonga takes five wickets in each innings.

1998-99

The team reaches its first One Day International final, in Sharjah, beating India and then world champions Sri Lanka.

SEPTEMBER 2001

Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower is ranked number-one Test batsman in the world.

MARCH 2003

At the World Cup, captain Andy Flower and fast bowler Henry Olonga take to the field wearing black armbands in a protest against "the death of democracy" in Zimbabwe. Olonga receives death threats and is forced in to hiding following the release of an arrest warrant for treason. In the face of vociferous human rights protests, England, under Nasser Hussain, refuse to play their World Cup game in Zimbabwe, one of the hosts with South Africa and Namibia.

MARCH 2004

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union, under the influence of President Robert Mugabe's government, insist upon a quota system, making it the ZCU policy to select five black players in the national team. The core of the side, including star names Heath Streak, Neil Johnson, Alister Campbell and the Flowers' refuse to play.

JUNE 2004

The ICC threatens to suspend Zimbabwe's Test-playing status, and the ZCU withdraw from Tests citing the colonialism of international crickets leaders.

JANUARY 2005

Return to playing Test matches.