Zimbabwe v Australia

At Harare, May 25, 2004. Australia won by seven wickets. Toss: Zimbabwe.

Three days after the Test series should have started, the Australians finally played a game of international cricket. They expected to take out their frustrations on the field, but found it hard to lift themselves against this second-string opposition: they dropped four catches and missed two run-outs. Taylor, the 18-year-old opener who was one of only two white Zimbabweans playing, made the most of his fortune to etch a fifty, and the captain, Taibu, followed suit. In his first international since ankle surgery in August 2003, McGrath struggled for rhythm but returned respectable figures. Though Hayden went first ball, Ponting and Martyn added 144 in 150 balls and Australia cruised to victory with more than ten overs to spare.

Man of the Match: R. T. Ponting.