Smells like team spirit

The low point: An innings defeat in the Lord's Test

News Online's Thrasy Petropoulos reflects on the resilience of Zimbabwe in the face of a wage dispute and bad news from home.

Zimbabwe's most traumatic Test series ended on a high note as England, and the many critics who had anticipated another crushing defeat for the tourists, were made to eat humble pie at Trent Bridge.

If truth be known, had it not rained for the bulk of the second Test, England might just have been there for the taking. So much for going for the throat and showing no mercy.

Zimbabwe's belated, though ultimately futile, resurgence should not surprise us. Largely by force of circumstance they are the most resilient of the 12 Test nations.

A quick look at the highs and lows of their troubled tour of England reveals as much:

Alistair Campbell: Good start

April 23 The squad arrives in the midst of political and economic turmoil at home, but captain Andy Flower insists the distractions will have no bearing on his team's performance on the field.

April 27-30 An encouraging start, particularly for Alistair Campbell. Hampshire are bowled out for 131 and Zimbabwe reply with 364 for seven declared, with Campbell scoring 150 not out. Match drawn.

May A pay dispute erupts between the Zimbabwe Cricket Union (ZCU) and the players. It is reported that their £45 meal allowance from the England and Wales Cricket Board is more than their tour salaries in England. They are banking what they can.

The players hear that their coach driver was the best paid member of the squad. At the same time Paul Strang, who was not selected for the tour, is earning substantially more than any tour member turning out once a week for Haslindon in the Lancashire league.

Paul Strang: Lucrative deal

There is talk in the dressing-room of abandoning the tour.

May 3-6 An abject performance against Kent sees Zimbabwe go down by an innings and 163 runs.

May 7 Peter Chingoka and David Ellman-Brown, respectively president and chief executive of the ZCU, hold emergency talks with the players during the Kent match. The threat to abandon the tour is withdrawn and players' salaries are slightly improved.

May 18-21 Zimbabwe's worst four days in their eight years of Test cricket. They lose all 20 wickets in 68.2 overs at Lord's, and watch England rack up 415.

Former Zimbabwean Graeme Hick scores his sixth Test century and England win by an innings and 209 runs.

Alistair Campbell hears that his father-in-law's farm has been occupied by squatters during the Test match, although the settlers later move on. Heath Streak, Gary Brent and Dirk Viljoen also have family on farms.

Andy Flower admits that the situation back home is affecting the concentration of his players.

May 24-27 Zimbabwe dig deep to overcome a watered-down Yorkshire at Headingley. Having been dismissed for 68 in their second innings, Zimbabwe respond by bowling Yorkshire out for 147 and winning by 32 runs.

Tatenda Taibu, only days after his 17th birthday, was going to make his Test debut at Trent Bridge, but his lack of experience keeping to the swinging ball was badly exposed. He later flies home immediately after the second Test to return to school.

Campbell retains his place for the second Test, despite managing just four runs at Lord's and getting a "king pair" at Headingley.

Henry Olonga has not recovered from an ankle injury.

Tragic news from home. Tony Oates, father of former Zimbawe A batsman Jason, is murdered in a robbery. The team will wear black armbands during the second Test.

Mluleki Nkala: A real find

June 1-5 The "success" of the second Test. Mluleki Nkala makes his Test debut at 19 and does not disgrace himself with the new ball. After watching Mike Atherton score a century, Murray Goodwin helps himself to one of his own.

With so much time lost to rain, Andy Flower declares 90 runs behind on the final morning. England are bowled out for 147. Match drawn.

More bad news from home. Julia Whittall, aunt of Guy and Andrew, loses her battle against cancer, and Gary Brent's mother dies unexpectedly of a heart attack during the Test match.

For such a tight-knit community of players, their resilience and purpose on the field was extraordinary.