Online Reporter
BRANDON MOYO, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE Cricket has welcomed back several players in recent years, keen to represent the Chevrons. While Gary Balance’s return from England was short-lived, Ben Curran, son of the late Zimbabwe international Kevin Curran, debuted for Zimbabwe last December, following in the footsteps of his brothers, Tom and Sam, who play for England.
Saturday Chronicle examines other players who could follow the same trend to represent Zimbabwe.
First on the list is a player who has caught the eyes of many cricket enthusiasts, both locally and internationally: Ryan Higgins. He is considered one of the few complete all-rounders at the moment and is eligible to play for Zimbabwe.
The 30-year-old all-rounder — who last year said, “if that door opens” — was born in Harare before his family moved to Berkshire as a young boy. Higgins rose through the ranks in age-group cricket and went on to represent England Under-19s. He has played for English counties such as Middlesex and Gloucestershire where he established himself as one of the best all-rounders in county cricket. Higgins has been playing franchise cricket in Zimbabwe for Southern Rocks, signalling hope among the local cricket faithful that Zimbabwe Cricket could potentially rope in one of the finest all-rounders available. He boasts impressive stats in both First-Class and List A cricket.
In First-Class, Higgins has played 95 matches and scored 5 020 runs from 150 innings at an impressive average of 37,46, with 12 centuries and 21 fifties. He has a career-best score of 221 runs. With the ball in four-day cricket, he has taken a remarkable 280 wickets, with best bowling figures of 7/42 (innings) and 11/96 (match figures), averaging 25,34.
In List A cricket, Higgins has played 44 matches (40 innings), scoring 1 174 runs at 33,54, with a high score of 89 and eight half-centuries. With the ball, he has taken 36 wickets, with best figures of 4/33.
In T20s, the Zimbabwean-born all-rounder has played 128 matches (115 innings), scoring 2 095 runs at an average of 24,36, with a high score of 77 not out and six half-centuries. With the ball, he has taken 93 wickets, with best figures of 5/13.
Another exciting talent eligible to play for Zimbabwe is Tom Curran. While it may seem unlikely, the England international can switch allegiance. The 29-year-old all-rounder, born in South Africa, is the son of former Zimbabwe international and coach, Kevin Curran. His brother, Ben, has already made his Chevrons debut. Tom hasn’t played for England in over three years, and as he was born to Zimbabwean parents, he is eligible to play for the Chevrons.
Tom has a wealth of experience at both franchise and international levels. He is the older brother of Ben and Sam and debuted for England in all three formats as a 22-year-old back in 2017. The now 29-year-old, who has played across the globe in various franchise leagues, has 60 international caps to his name for the Three Lions. He has 30 T20I caps, scoring 64 runs while picking 29 wickets. In 28 ODIs, he has managed to amass 303 runs at an average of 37,87 and 34 wickets with a best of 5/35. He has only played two Tests, scoring 66 runs in three innings with a best of 39 and an average of 33. With ball in hand, he has two wickets. His last appearance for England was in July 2021 against Pakistan in Leeds.
The third player on our list is Jayden Godwin. The Godwin name is a familiar one to the Chevrons fans and the name that quickly comes to mind is that of Murray Godwin. The 23-year-old Australia-based Jayden is the son of Murray and has already made a name for himself Down Under. He made his debut in 2021. The youngster has played 18 First-Class matches (31 innings) for Western Australia, scoring 961 runs at an average of 32,03. He has a high score of 139 runs, which is one of his two centuries in red-ball cricket. He also has five half-centuries to his name. Godwin has only played one List A match where he fell for six runs.
Tawanda Muyeye is the fourth player on our list of cricketers eligible to play for Zimbabwe. Although he has openly expressed his desire to represent England at international level, the 23-year-old Harare-born batter is considered one of the finest talents in the English domestic set-up. He was born in the capital to Zimbabwean parents. Muyeye, who plays for Kent in the English County Championship Division, has proven to be a talent like no other. He made his First-Class debut in 2021, a year after he was voted the Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year.
To date, Muyeye has 28 First-Class caps to his name (49 innings), scoring 1 557 runs at an average of 33,12. He has two centuries and eight half-centuries with a career-best score of 211. In 11 List A matches (10 innings), Muyeye has scored 221 runs at 24,55 with a best of 40.
He has also played 40 matches in T20s, amassing 721 runs at 18,97 with a best of 73. A part-time bowler, Muyeye has three wickets in First-Class and one in List A.
Eddie Byrom last played First-Class professional cricket last year but is another player with Zimbabwean roots. Although he holds an Irish passport, Byrom was born in Zimbabwe and played age-group cricket in the country before moving to England. He first attended school at St John’s College in Harare before he went to Kings College, Taunton. It was there where he was scouted by Somerset. He has played County cricket for Somerset and Glamorgan in England and in Zimbabwe he has represented Southern Rocks and Rhinos.
He made his First-Class debut in 2017 for Somerset and to date, has played 65 matches (116 innings), scoring 3 526 runs at an average of 32,05. He has seven centuries and 16 half-centuries with a career-best of 176.
He also has three wickets to his name. In 22 List A matches, Byrom has scored 693 runs at an average of 38, 50 with two tons and five half-centuries. His best is 123 not out. In the shortest version, the 27-year-old has played 50 matches (45 innings), scoring 777 runs at 18,50 with a career-best of 78 not out. He has three half-centuries.
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