English cricket team in Zimbabwe in 1996–97#1st Test

{{Infobox cricket tour

| series_name = English cricket team in Zimbabwe in 1996–97

| team1_image = Flag of Zimbabwe.svg

| team1_name = Zimbabwe

| team2_image = Flag of England.svg

| team2_name = England

| from_date = 15 December 1996

| to_date = 3 January 1997

| team1_captain = Alistair Campbell

| team2_captain = Michael Atherton

| no_of_tests = 2

| team1_tests_won = 0

| team2_tests_won = 0

| team1_tests_most_runs = Alistair Campbell (135)

| team2_tests_most_runs = Alec Stewart (241)

| team1_tests_most_wickets = Paul Strang (10)

| team2_tests_most_wickets = Robert Croft (8)

| player_of_test_series =

| no_of_ODIs = 3

| team1_ODIs_won = 3

| team2_ODIs_won = 0

| team1_ODIs_most_runs = Alistair Campbell (126)

| team2_ODIs_most_runs = Alec Stewart (96)

| team1_ODIs_most_wickets = Eddo Brandes (7)

| team2_ODIs_most_wickets = Darren Gough (7)

| player_of_ODI_series =

}}

The English cricket team toured Zimbabwe for a two-match Test series and a three-match One Day International (ODI) series between 15 December 1996 and 3 January 1997. The Test series was drawn 0–0{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/engine/series/60638.html |title=England in Zimbabwe Test Series 1996/97 / Results |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2 January 2011 }} and Zimbabwe won the ODI series 3–0.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/engine/series/60997.html |title=England in Zimbabwe ODI Series 1996/97 / Results |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2 January 2011 }} It was England's first senior tour of Zimbabwe.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wcm/content/story/135697.html |title=Wisden Cricket Monthly / Features / Not in their widest dreams |publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2 January 2011 }}

Test series

=1st Test=

{{Test match

| date = 18–22 December 1996

| team1 = {{cr-rt|ZIM}}

| team2 = {{cr|ENG}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 376 (137.5 overs)

| runs-team1-inns1 = Andy Flower 112 (331)

| wickets-team1-inns1 = Chris Silverwood 3/63 (18 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 406 (151.4 overs)

| runs-team2-inns1 = Nasser Hussain 113 (278)

| wickets-team2-inns1 = Paul Strang 5/123 (58.4 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 234 (101 overs)

| runs-team1-inns2 = Guy Whittall 56 (184)

| wickets-team1-inns2 = Phil Tufnell 4/61 (31 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 = 204/6 (37 overs)

| runs-team2-inns2 = Nick Knight 96 (117)

| wickets-team2-inns2 = Paul Strang 2/63 (14 overs)

| result = Match drawn

| venue = Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

| umpires = Steve Dunne (NZ) and Ian Robinson (Zim)

| motm = Nick Knight (Eng)

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/63734.html Scorecard]

| toss = Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat.

| rain =

| notes = This was the first Test in history to finish in a draw with the scores level. England needed three runs to win off the final ball of the match, but Nick Knight was run out attempting the third run.

}}

=2nd Test=

{{Test match

| date = 26–30 December 1996

| team1 = {{cr-rt|ENG}}

| team2 = {{cr|ZIM}}

| score-team1-inns1 = 156 (83.1 overs)

| runs-team1-inns1 = John Crawley 47* (169)

| wickets-team1-inns1 = Guy Whittall 4/18 (16 overs)

| score-team2-inns1 = 215 (105 overs)

| runs-team2-inns1 = Grant Flower 73 (255)

| wickets-team2-inns1 = Darren Gough 4/40 (26 overs)

| score-team1-inns2 = 195/3 (93 overs)

| runs-team1-inns2 = Alec Stewart 101* (267)

| wickets-team1-inns2 = Paul Strang 2/42 (26 overs)

| score-team2-inns2 =

| runs-team2-inns2 =

| wickets-team2-inns2 =

| result = Match drawn

| venue = Harare Sports Club, Harare

| umpires = KT Francis (SL) and Russell Tiffin (Zim)

| motm = Grant Flower (Zim)

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/63735.html Scorecard]

| toss = Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field.

| rain = No play on day 5 because of overnight rain.

}}

ODI series

=1st ODI=

{{Limited overs matches

| date = 15 December 1996

| team1 = {{cr-rt|ENG}}

| score1 = 152 (45.5 overs)

| score2 = 153/8 (43.5 overs)

| team2 = {{cr|ZIM}}

| runs1 = Nasser Hussain 49* (87)

| wickets1 = John Rennie 3/27 (8 overs)

| runs2 = Andy Waller 48 (71)

| wickets2 = Alan Mullally 2/24 (10 overs)

| result = Zimbabwe won by 2 wickets

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64534.html Scorecard]

| toss = Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field.

| venue = Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

| umpires = Quintin Goosen (Zim) and Russell Tiffin (Zim)

| motm = Alistair Campbell (Zim)

| rain =

}}

=2nd ODI=

{{Limited overs matches

| date = 1 January 1997

| team1 = {{cr-rt|ZIM}}

| score1 = 200 (48.5 overs)

| score2 = 179/7 (42 overs)

| team2 = {{cr|ENG}}

| runs1 = Andy Flower 63 (114)

| wickets1 = Darren Gough 4/43 (8.5 overs)

| runs2 = John Crawley 73 (109)

| wickets2 = Paul Strang 3/24 (9 overs)

| result = Zimbabwe won by 6 runs (D/L method)

| report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64535.html Scorecard]

| toss = England won the toss and elected to field.

| venue = Harare Sports Club, Harare

| umpires = Graeme Evans (Zim) and Ian Robinson (Zim)

| motm = John Crawley (Eng) and Paul Strang (Zim)

| rain = Rain reduced the England innings to 42 overs, with a revised target of 185 runs.

| notes =This match was the first use in international cricket of the D/L method.{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/06/28/frank-duckworth-cricket-duckworth-lewis-method-obituary/ |title=Frank Duckworth, statistician who co-devised the Duckworth-Lewis Method of deciding cricket matches – obituary |work=Daily Telegraph |date=28 June 2024 |access-date=28 June 2024 |quote=The Duckworth-Lewis Method had its first outing during a one-day international in Harare between Zimbabwe and England in January 1997: Zimbabwe had made 200, but the tourists, having lost eight overs to rain, were given a D/L target of 185, which they failed to reach.}}

}}