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Brandon Moyo, Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE has produced some of the finest talents in the world of cricket, players who have gone all the way to reach the top of the world.
The country has not been short of exceptional players, who, in some cases have gone to leave lasting legacies.
From Andy Flower, Charles Coventry, Gary Balance, Graeme Hick, Heath Streak, Andy Blignaut, Henry Olonga, Tatenda Taibu, Hamilton Masakadza to the likes of Brendan Taylor and today’s heroes of Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, and Tendai Chatara, Zimbabwe has been blessed with talented cricketers.
However, all good things come to an end and so do illustrious careers and when they do, it presents the opportunity for younger players to step up and carry the baton.
There is a time where Taylor, in a podcast interview with Pari, spoke about how he and others during his generation had to step up to fill the shoes that were left by the “rebel cricketers”.
It is never easy to fill some boots, however, with talent, and discipline, it becomes easy and some may even go on to be better than those who came before them.
Today’s cricket heroes, the likes of Raza, Williams, Chatara and captain Craig Ervine are nearing the end of their careers and a new generation of players will have to step up and fill those boots.
Well, is the talent there? Does Zimbabwe have promising stars? The players are there and we will take a look at some of the promising talents that will likely take Zimbabwe to newer heights.
There are eight young Zimbabwean cricketers set to go to Pakistan for a four-month player development programme at the Lahore Qalandars’ high-performance centre in Lahore. The programme is set to begin on 1 September.
From the list of players going to Pakistan for the programme, Tinotenda Maposa is one budding talent to look out for and has already shown what he is capable of at a big stage. The 19-year-old has already made his First-Class debut for Tuskers and already has a wicket under his name.
The young fast bowler was named player of the tournament in the Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10 league talent identification programme and went on to be named emerging player of the tournament where he represented Harare Hurricanes. In the T10 league, Maposa picked two wickets in two balls in his first match.
Another budding talent to look out for is another 19-year-old, Brian Bennette. The young batter is another who has shown immense talent out in the middle. The Zimbabwe Under-19 youngster has five First Class caps under his name and has already scored a hundred- and one-half century. He has scored 216 runs at a high score of 104 runs.
Bennette, at just 19 has a First-Class average of 30,85 and in T20s, the budding youngster has also played five matches as well, scoring 133 runs at an average of 33,25. With ball in hand, the youngster has three First Class wickets and one T20 scalp.
Those who have been following schools and Under-19 cricket will probably be aware of the name Munashe Chimusoro, a Christian Brothers College (CBC) pupil. The right handed batter has taken school cricket by storm and has already represented Zimbabwe Under-19s and has a First-Class cap under his name.
In 64 matches under his name, he has managed to amass 1 271 runs at an average of 24,92 and a high score of 114 runs.
Another promising player from the present Zimbabwe Under-19 is present skipper, and all-rounder Matthew Schonken. The 17-year-old starlet was one of the star performers when they toured India late last year. From nine outings, Schonken raked up 27 wickets with an economy rate of 3,84.
From the team that toured India last year, the other players who showed great talent include Shaun Dzikatira who finished with 12 scalps with an economy of 4,41 in eight innings, Macmillan Campbell who finished with 287 runs and a high score of an unbeaten 122 runs with an average of 41 to top Zimbabwe’s batting charts. Nathaniel Hlabangana is also another name worth mentioning as an upcoming talent.
From the Under-19s, to young players who have already made names for themselves at senior level. One name that promises to scale greater heights is Chevrons’ 23-year-old wicket/keeper, Clive Madande.
In just nine One Day International (ODI) matches, Madande has shown that he is one of the brightest talents in Zimbabwe at the moment. Either with the gloves or down the middle order with the bat, Zimbabwe can always rely on the Tuskers youngster.
In his nine ODIs, he has scored 173 runs at an average of 34,60 and a high score of 74 runs. In the shortest format, Madande has made four appearances for the Chevrons, scoring 34 runs with a high score of 18 runs not out.
The 25-year-old Johnathan Campbell is another promising youngster who is rising up the ranks in Zimbabwe. Son of former Zimbabwe great Alistair Campbell, Johnathan was one of the five talented youngsters picked for the Zim Afro T10 league and has shown great promise domestically.
In 21 First Class matches for Rhinos, he has scored 910 runs at an average of 25,27 and a high score of 73 not out. He has seven half centuries under his name. In 31 List A matches, he has managed to amass 842 runs at an average of 35,08 and a high score of 76 runs. He has also played 20 T20 matches, scoring 216 runs at 14,40 and a best of 46 runs.
The list of Zimbabwe’s promising cricketers is long and cannot be exhausted at one go. But, for the Under-19s especially, with good nurturing, the youngsters will soar high and reach great new heights.
The future for Zimbabwe looks promising and for the eight going to Pakistan next month, their talent will be developed in one of the best facilities in the world, and will be a great programme, not just for them but for cricket in Zimbabwe at large.
The other budding talents going to Pakistan, are Tawanda Maposa, Tanunurwa Makoni, Marshal Takodza, Brighton Phiri, Lennox Chando, Davis Marwendo and Alex Falao. – Follow on Twitter @brandon_malvin
Online Reporter