Australia's rich history in Zimbabwe

Australia has touched down in Harare in search of their first win in more than four months, with the T20 side set to take on hosts Zimbabwe and Pakistan in a tri-series beginning Sunday.

But with the series comes a sense of unknown as this visit is just the fifth time Australia has toured Zimbabwe. 

While T20 world No.1 ranked-Pakistan pose a huge challenge for the Aussies, Zimbabwe are severely undermanned with five of their best players opting out of the tour due to a pay dispute with their governing body.

The Australians will be looking to rectify their last performance in Harare, where they lost to both the hosts and South Africa in an ODI tri-series in 2014. Only Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Kane Richardson remain from that series four years ago.

Below is a look at Australia’s past performances in Zimbabwe.

Australia v Zimbabwe, 1999, one Test, three ODIs

Playing for the Southern Cross Trophy, a powerhouse Australian side thumped Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in a one-sided affair before the turn of the millennium.

Australia’s bowlers rampaged through the hosts; Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne picked up six wickets apiece for the match, while Colin Miller claimed three wickets with a mix of off-spin and medium pace.

Steve Waugh’s unbeaten 151 and Mark Waugh’s 90 set Australia up to post a mammoth 422. Paceman Heath Streak was the only bowler to offer any resistance as he claimed five wickets before Zimbabwe were rolled for 232 to leave the tourists needing just five runs in the final innings to claim victory.

Image Id: 5CC406048A424EE1921B5E17A894629F Image Caption: A comfortable win in what was Ian Healy's (third from R) last Test // Getty

The Aussies then moved on to a three-match ODI series where Ricky Ponting was the standout, thumping 185 runs in three innings, while Mark Waugh carried on his Test form bringing up his 13th ODI century in Bulawayo. Damien Fleming, who claimed six wickets in the first two matches with his swing bowling, was a major factor in Australia’s 3-0 series whitewash.

Australia v Zimbabwe, 2003, World Cup Group Stage

On their way to 27 consecutive World Cup match victories, Australia defeated Zimbabwe in the 2003 group stage after the hosts were restricted to 9-246 thanks in large to Brad Hogg’s three wickets and Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie’s demolition of the top order.

In reply, Australia’s top five all passed 30 with Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn and Darren Lehmann reaching half-centuries and easily accounted for Zimbabwe by seven wickets before eventually going on to lift their third ICC World Cup Trophy.

Image Id: F19E110879AD4616B0D544095A21B11D Image Caption: That's about a 4/10 on the Hoggy celebration scale // Getty

Australia v Zimbabwe, 2004, three ODIs

Australia returned less than 12 months after their World Cup triumph, with the same results for the Ricky Ponting-led side, who claimed a 3-0 series whitewash.

Ponting scored a blistering 91 in the opening match before demoting himself as low as No.8 in the final two matches, opting to back youngster Michael Clarke, who would score the first of his eight ODI centuries, at the top of the order.

Image Id: DF56B8BFF89D486BB050A3214883CB01 Image Caption: The first of many centuries for Australia // Getty

Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz and Glenn McGrath were unstoppable as they consistently put Zimbabwe under early pressure with the new ball, but the bowling performance of the series came from part-timer Darren Lehmann, who claimed 4-7 from 27 balls to obliterate the hosts' lower order and stamp the tourist’s authority.

Zimbabwe Triangular Series, 2014, five ODIs

After eight consecutive victories in Zimbabwe, Australia came back full of confidence a decade after their last visit but faced a revamped home side and a ruthless Proteas outfit.

Mitch Marsh and Glenn Maxwell combined for 182 runs as Australia posted 6-350 in the opening match before the visitors bowled Zimbabwe out for 152, with Steve Smith’s leg-spin accounting for three wickets, to take Australia's winning streak to nine.

But their domination was halted after Aaron Finch’s 102 in Harare was trumped by twin tons to Faf Du Plessis and AB de Villiers in a 206-run stand, who helped the Proteas chase down 328 with more than three overs to spare.

Remarkably, just six days after beating Zimbabwe by 198 runs, Michael Clarke’s return to the side was soured when the hosts stunned Australia to claim victory by three wickets.

Only Clarke could pass 50 in the tourist’s 9-209, but the bowlers looked to have the job done when Zimbabwe slumped to 7-156 as Nathan Lyon claimed four wickets.

But a late surge from Elton Chigumbura and Prosper Utseya brought Zimbabwe back to life, who won with two overs to spare in just their second ever ODI victory over Australia and their first in 31 years.

Mitch Marsh found form late against South Africa in the fourth ODI with seven sixes in a 51-ball 86, as du Plessis’ 126 wasn’t enough to stop the Australians claiming victory and a passage through to the final.

Celebrations were short lived though, as Dale Steyn rollicked through the tourists with four wickets and du Plessis’ 96 the key hands in the Proteas tri-series final victory.

Qantas Tour of Zimbabwe

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Pakistan squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Haris Sohail, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan Shinwari, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sahibzada Farhan.

Zimbabwe squad: Cephas Zhuwao, Chamu Chibhabha, Brian Chari, Tarisai Musakanda, Malcolm Waller, PJ Moor, Tendai Chisoro, Kyle Jarvis, Brandon Mavuta, Blessing Muzarabani, Chris Mpofu, Ryan Burl, Solomon Mire, Hamilton Masakadza, Wellington Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Ryan Murray

July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

July 8: Final