Houghton also said that he thought his captain, Alistair Campbell, previously an under-achiever, would be the batsman of the series. No joke, he did. Spooky, prophetic stuff indeed.
John Traicos, the convener of the Zimbabwean selectors, and a long-time top-class off-spinner, who played in South Africa's last Test match prior to isolation in 1970, said, during yesterday afternoon's play, that the two victories over England in Harare by the President's XI and Mashonaland, had done untold good for the self-belief of his country's cricketers, who were not secure about their rating as part of the Premiership.
It is fair to say that the same two defeats have done untold damage to England's cricketers, who batted as if they were insecure about their own position in the Premiership.
Losing matches that you do not expect to is a desperate, debilitating thing, whatever rust may be in the joints after a twomonth lay-off. But it is two months, after all, not two years. Imagine South Africa or Australia, or the West Indies of the Eighties, losing to Mashonaland. Not likely, not at all.
One wondered, as play stuttered along yesterday, just to whom the result of the match mattered most. Zimbabwe, for the value of victory to the development of a complicated game in a changing, restless nation?
Or England, so that they might keep the hound from their scent? Zimbabwe appeared to be working for their future, England, in their batting though not in their preparation - which looked first-class - have not found the confidence of last summer and appeared to trust that It Will Be All Right On The Night. This is a dangerous trust, for it is unpredictable and can be influenced, flummoxed in fact, by the excellence of the opposition.
And for the first half of the match, Zimbabwe were truly excellent; their fielding caught the breath with its athletic stops, smooth pick-ups and fast, flat throws and all at great speed.
Even South Africa or Australia, or the West Indies of the Eighties could not have fielded better than this, nor appeared to enjoy it more. Nor could they have given their bowlers greater support, nor given their supporters greater pleasure.
When Zimbabwe fielded yesterday morning, we watched the best of sport in its most uncomplicated form. The simple thing done perfectly by slick individuals in harmony as a team. England fielded extremely well, it was just that Zimbabwe were sublime.
As if that were not enough, the Zimbabwe bowlers achieved above themselves, fired, apparently, by the reluctance of the English cricket administration to welcome them to the top flight, by their previous successes against England, and most vividly by their desire to avoid minnowship. They saw England wobbling and resolved to knock them down.
Until, that is, it was clear to everyone that they should win, and then, with the bat, they wobbled themselves. Can we? Do we really? Oh show us how.
And just as was predicted by Horoscope Houghton, their captain accepted his responsibility and showed them how. Campbell played straight and without panic, and stayed in, without error. England bowled well enough, it was just that Campbell clearly had their measure.
This was a day Zimbabwe will not forget. It was a day England will need to.