The Reverse Sweep

Cricket Heroes: Henry Olonga

Henry Olonga was a decent(ish) bowler for Zimbabwe around the time when they reached their peak as a test playing nation at the end of the 1990s, taking 68 wickets at 38.5. But it is not his feats as a slightly wayward fast bowler that make him a Reverse Sweep hero. Nor is it his music, which isn't quite to our taste.

No, Olonga is a real authentic hero for the stand that he took, along with Andy Flower during the 2003 World Cup, which took place in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Their decision to wear black armbands to mark the 'death of democracy' in Zimbabwe was the most memorable moment of what was an overlong and fairly tedious World Cup.

It certainly provoked fury amongst President Mugabe and his shadowy henchmen. Olonga bore the brunt of the repercussions including excommunication from the team, death threats and subsequent exile. But he bore his fate with customary decency and with a smile on his face. As we said, a true hero.

Where next?

Heroes: Andy Flower

Read about our other cricket heroes and zeroes

Check out our Reverse Sweep XIs

Read all our 2011 World Cup posts here

If you like this, follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Heroes: Andy Flower

 
We’ve always admired Andy Flower at the Reverse Sweep. Anyone that averages 51.54 in 63 Tests is obviously a quality batsman. To achieve it whilst mostly keeping wicket and even more so when playing for a Zimbabwean side that was regularly on the receiving end of heavy defeat makes it a staggering feat.

The best example of Flower’s status as a great batsman came in 2001 when he scored 142 (out of 286) and 199 not out (out of 391) against South Africa – Zimbabwe lost by nine wickets but Flower still reigned supreme and at one time was ranked number one in the ICC ratings.

Flower’s brilliance as a batsman was matched by his actions as a human being when together with Henry Olonga he chose to wear a black armband during the 2003 World Cup to mark the ‘death of democracy’ in Zimbabwe.

That courageous action prompted the end of his international career, but after sterling service to Essex, Flower was elevated to the England coaching set-up by then Head Coach Peter Moores.

Since taking the head role from the deposed Moores at the start of 2009, Flower has earned the gratitude of every England supporter for comprehensively winning the international cricket equivalent of snakes and ladders.

There has been the odd snake – Jamaica 2009 (in his first Test at the helm), Headingley 2009 and Johannesburg 2010, but other than that Flower has steered England to climb pretty much every ladder that has come their way.

Other than that initial foray against West Indies, England are unbeaten in seven series since (six wins, one draw), including of course Ashes wins home and away.

Flower’s stamp on England’s limited overs team is arguably even more remarkable. In T20, the team that lost to the Netherlands in the World T20 in England, became champions one year later in the Caribbean.

Whilst in ODI, the improvement since losing 6-1 at home to Australia in 2009 has been incredible with five straight series victories since. As such, hopes are high for the forthcoming World Cup. If Flower leads England to the crown there and takes them to number one in the ICC Test rankings  they should make him Prime Minister.

And if all this wasn’t enough reason to make Flower a Reverse Sweep hero, the fact that he stays out of the limelight and doesn’t try to take credit for the team’s success – are you reading this John Buchanan? – seals the deal.

Andy Flower – a great cricketer, a decent bloke, a brilliant coach and a Reverse Sweep hero.

Where next?

Heroes: Henry Olonga

The Greatest Batsmen Ever: Part 1 (30-21) (featuring Andy Flower), Part 2 (20-11), Part 3 (10-1)

Is Andy Flower the next 'Tinkerman'?

Read our Ashes 2010/11 coverage

Check out all our Reverse Sweep heroes and zeroes including amongst others VVS Laxman, James Anderson, Graeme Swann and John Buchanan

Follow us on Twitter @thereversesweep

Is it time Zimbabwe was readmitted to test cricket?

Yesterday was a day for the little guys. Whilst Bangladesh launched a spirited fightback at Lord's, Zimbabwe were beating an admittedly under-strength India by six wickets in the first match of a triangular one day series also involving Sri Lanka in Bulawayo.

India thus joined Australia, Pakistan and West Indies as teams beaten by Zimbabwe in Twenty 20 and/or one day internationals in 2010. No doubt this will provoke more debate as to whether Zimbabwe should be fully readmitted to the ICC fold and once again join the test playing nations of the world. This is likely to prove as contentious an issue as that currently surrounding the appointment of John Howard as ICC President in waiting.

Zimbabwe's last test was in 2005, when India completed an easy 2-0 series victory by ten wickets in Harare. By this time, the problems in the country had led to the enforced retirement of most of its leading players like Andy Flower, Murray Goodwin and Henry Olonga and the side was a shell of the one that had actually been quite competitive at the turn of the century. No cricket fan will ever forget Olonga and Flower donning black armbands to protest against the "death of democracy" in Zimbabwe during the 2003 World Cup; for each it was the last time they represented their country, and for Olonga in particular it meant vilification from the regime and exile from his homeland.

In terms of competitiveness and cricket infrastructure, Zimbabwe is probably on a par with Bangladesh and could actually be stronger in test cricket given that a first-class set-up has been in place for a much longer period. New coach Zimbabwe Alan Butcher certainly believes that they will be ready for test cricket in a couple of years as this piece on Cricinfo explains. But we should perhaps be wary of people with vested interests. 

Indeed, has the political situation changed to such an extent that it merits Zimbabwe's re-admission? Especially when considering that Robert Mugabe will undoubtedly use it to legitimise his corrupt and despotic regime. Despite Mugabe's power sharing agreement with Morgan Tsvangirai and the fact that the US dollar is now the nation's currency, which consequently means that the supermarkets are stocked with food again, is this enough for the ICC to welcome Zimbabwe back into the fold?

Ideally, sport and politics shouldn't mix but this would appear to be a legitimate exception. Is Mugabe still subjugating his people and syphoning off most of its wealth to an elite few whilst crushing any sign of dissent with overwhelming force? Will the farmers that have had their homes forcibly taken be allowed to return? And will Mugabe use the return of test cricket in Zimbabwe to legitimise his vile regime? The answers to these three questions are probably yes, never and of course, which should give the ICC plenty to ponder.

It is perhaps understandable that South Africa, grateful to Mugabe for his support and shelter to the ANC during the Apartheid era, is loathe to withdraw its support for his regime. As such Cricket South Africa will inevitably come down on the side of Zimbabwe's readmission. But the English, Australian and New Zealand representatives at the ICC will no doubt block this under pressure from their respective governments. It will certainly be a long, drawn out and bitter debate. One hopes that brave men like Olonga will be considered by the power brokers before they make their decision.

For now though, whatever the outcome, it is great to see a resurgence in Zimbabwe cricket even if it would appear to be far too early for them to play test cricket again. That perhaps should wait until Mugabe is either no longer at the helm or has at least been completely marginalised by a more open and democratic leadership.