adminAFTER a year on the sidelines, nursing injuries, rookie batsman Ryan Burl is back and ringing bells.
The 22-year-old top order batsman scored his maiden List A century and two fifties against Afghanistan A in the five match one day series which ended last week. That was loud enough to attract the attention of the national team selectors who included Burl in the squad that is to play against Afghanistan.
The Marondera farm boy who has a healthy list A batting average of 41.26 revealed that being sidelined by injury time whetted his appetite for the game.
“It feels really good to be back. You don’t realize how much you love the game until you don’t play it for a long time like I did,” he said. A shoulder injury floored him for four months before a knee injury, sustained during warm up when Zimbabwe was preparing to play India last year, took him away from action for another eight months. “My body is feeling good. My physiotherapist and biokineticist are the ones who really must take credit for everything they have done,” he said.
“When I was injured it just made me even hungrier to get back playing and to not just get back, but to get back and score big runs,” said Burl.
The Mashonaland Eagles player reads situations well and always delivers but appreciates that stepping up into the Chevrons dressing room is a whole new world.
“I think just being mentally tough and really wanting to take responsibility in tough situations makes me succeed.
“Obviously the intensity at Zimbabwe A and international level is different to franchise level – but I don’t really change the way I prepare. I just ensure that I tick all the boxes before and get my head in a good space before any match.”
“Obviously I can’t predict what’s going to happen in the future. “But as always I’ll give it everything I have and let the rest take care of itself. I’m just looking forward to achieving my dream of playing for my country,” said Burl.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter