The Southern Cross is a constellation that is seen from the Southern Hemisphere. Countries like Australia and Zimbabwe are able to appreciate this constellation in the night sky that is at the southern end of the Milky Way. Both nations are also bound by cricket, with both having attained the test-status.
The test series between the two nations was named the Southern Cross Trophy. The first test series between Australia and Zimbabwe was held in 1999. It was organized by the Cricket Australia and Zimbabwe Cricket and was a one-off match. The second series between the two nations was held in Australia as a two-match series in 2003.
Ever since 2003, the Southern Cross Trophy has not been held. Australia has won all three test matches till date. Steve Waugh was the man of the match in the 1999 one-off match. Matthew Hayden scored 380 in one of the innings in the 2003 series which was then an all-time record of the highest individual score in international test matches. Hayden was also the man of the series.
Hayden has scored 501 runs in the Southern Cross Trophy, making him the highest scorer in the series. Trevor Gripper’s tally of 179 runs is the most that a Zimbabwean has scored in the Southern Cross Trophy. Australia’s Andy Bichel has taken 10 wickets in the Southern Cross series. The leading wicket-taker for Zimbabwe in the series is Heath Streak with 7 wickets. The best individual figures for a bowler is 6/90 which was recorded by Glenn McGrath in the 1999 test.
