Australia’s shock one-day international defeat to minnows Zimbabwe has stunned the nation barely 5 months before the world cup.
Coming off a long break following test series wins against England and South Africa, Australia arrived in Harare for the triangular one-day tournament with South Africa refreshed and optimistic, but the three-wicket loss to Zimbabwe will have done little for the team’s confidence after defeat to the Proteas and an injury to captain Michael Clarke.
Sunday’s loss was Australia’s first in 30 years to Zimbabwe and the nation’s media ranked it highly among the country’s deepest cricketing humiliations.
“There’s one word that’s been used more than any other to describe Australia’s defeat at the hands of Zimbabwe on Sunday,” one critic wrote on a News Ltd website on Monday.
“Embarrassing!”