adminthe batsman should get another chance with the national team.
The 28-year old right handed batsman is currently enjoying rich form as captain of Mashonaland Eagles and has been leading from the front in a flying start this season.
Matsikenyeri last played for the national team during the tour of West Indies last year in March but has shown significant strides in his game after being left in the wilderness for nearly two years.
But Curran believes it’s time the selectors consider to assess him for national team duty after scoring two centuries and two fifties in the few games of the Logan Cup and the limited overs competitions played to date.
“Stuart is coming good. He has been left out of the team for some time but as a coach I think he has been playing with a big spirit and has been taking the responsibilities with the bat.
“Personally, I think he has improved a lot as a player. He’s scored a couple of runs for us and has been a real match winner.
“He is one player who needs to be given a chance to prove himself in the national team. You cannot win matches if you don’t have consistent match winners and that is what is needed in our national team,” said Curren.
Eagles have had a promising start this year and are currently sitting at the top of the tables in both the Coca Cola Pro50 Championship and the first class Castle Lager Logan Cup competition.
Mashonaland Eagles maintained a 100 percent winning record when they crushed Mid West Rhinos by 139 runs in their most recent Pro50 match to make it three out of three at Kwekwe Sports Club last week.
Matsikenyeri who is the leading run scorer in the competition – with 216 from three outings – helped the Eagles home with a fiery 80 from 37 deliveries.
His unbeaten 110 against Mountaineers, which was his first list A century in over 200 matches, remains the biggest individual score at this early stage of the season. Matsikenyeri virtually won that match for Eagles as no other batsman went past 25 runs in the 117-run victory over Mountaineers. Eagles are top of the Logan Cup and the Pro50 competitions with 14 points in each Curran also praised the team spirit in the Eagles side, which struggled last season despite winning the Twenty20 tournament.
“We are playing pretty good cricket and it’s all about team work.
We don’t have overseas players at the moment and we have had to rely on local talent.”
“Everyone has made his contribution in the team and if you look at it, it’s not all about one player.
“Forster has also done very well and has been improving his game. But we are looking to add two overseas players for the Twenty20 tournament,” said Curran.
Eagles will host Matabeleland Tuskers in a Coca Cola Pro50 match on Saturday and the sides will meet again in a four-day Logan Cup match at Harare Sports Club next Monday.
Online Reporter