Online Reporter
Brandon Moyo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
BRIAN BENNETT, the Chevrons’ emerging talent, is being hailed as the next Andy Flower by Steve Mangongo, head of the Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) High Performance Programme and former national team coach. This high praise follows Bennett’s outstanding performance against England in a historic one-off four-day Test at Trent Bridge last week.
The 21-year-old sensation notched a brilliant 139 in the first innings, making him only the third Zimbabwean to reach triple figures against England in Tests, a feat previously achieved by Flower and Murray Goodwin. This stellar knock is just one of many performances that have emphatically cemented Bennett’s status as the Chevrons’ most thrilling prospect, with Mangongo particularly impressed by his impactful arrival on the international cricket scene.
“He just reminds me of a very simple Andy Flower with the way he goes about his batting business. He plays simple cricket but knows the scoring areas, he finds those gaps pretty well which is a marvel to see. Andy ended up becoming the master of the reverse sweep because of that. Brian is the same, simple but very effective which, for a boy his age, is marvellous and impressive to see,” said Mangongo.
Mangongo, the Chevrons’ development stalwart, wasn’t surprised by Bennett’s stellar international performances, especially in England, as he’s long been aware of the youngster’s talent. Mangongo coached Bennett at last year’s African Games in Accra, Ghana, where Zimbabwe Emerging secured a gold medal. The coach credits Bennett’s success to his diligent approach and predicts he’ll be a long-term mainstay of Zimbabwe’s batting lineup.
“Brian is a genuine talent, he is a special player. He came through the system, he did not cut any corners and that is the hallmark of a good player. His performance was not a surprise at all because we have seen him at formative level.
We saw him play for the Under-13s as an 11-year-old. His technique and work ethic is commendable.
“This is one of the success stories of the Zimbabwe Cricket system. At the African Games, his consistency and professionalism was commendable. He will be the engine of Zimbabwe’s batting for a long time. With some of the seniors close to retiring, this is the new revolution,” said Mangongo.
Bennett’s rise to the Zimbabwe senior squad has been remarkably swift. After excelling at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup as Zimbabwe’s leading run-scorer with 273 runs at an average of 45.50, he made his first-class debut for Mountaineers just ten months later as a concussion substitute.
His T20 debut followed quickly in February 2023, where he impressed with a rapid 41 off 22 balls, earning his senior T20I cap against Ireland within another ten months. In May 2024, Bennett notched his maiden international half-century in the fifth T20I against Bangladesh, contributing significantly to Zimbabwe’s sole win of the series.
Bennett’s maiden first-class century arrived in only his fifth game, but it was his unbeaten 264 against Eagles in February 2024 that truly brought him into the spotlight. That monumental innings saw him smash 33 fours and three sixes from just 259 balls, propelling Mountaineers to a colossal 631/7 in 108 overs. This standout performance earned him a maiden Test call-up for a one-off Test against Ireland in July 2024.
To date, Bennett boasts impressive international figures. In seven Test matches for the Chevrons, he’s amassed 460 runs at an average of 38.33, including two centuries and two half-centuries, with a high score of 139. He also has nine
One Day International (ODI) caps, scoring 327 runs with one century at an average of 36.33.
In T20 Internationals, Bennett has played 30 matches for Zimbabwe, accumulating 692 runs at 24.71 with three half-centuries and a career-best of 91. Beyond his batting, he has also claimed 12 international wickets, evenly split with six in Tests and six in T20Is, including a career-best 5/95 against Afghanistan at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
@brandon_malvin
