BY SPORTSCAST WRITER
HARARE – Tinashe Muchawaya has introduced himself to the wider cricketing world in a most remarkable way – dismissing Australian legend David Warner twice in two days.
The 27-year-old pacer’s feat has been one of the highlights of the second edition of the Zim Afro T10 tournament ending on Sunday in Harare.
Muchawaya, turning out for Jo’burg Bangla Tigers, first removed Bulawayo Brave Jaguars captain Warner with a stunning yorker on Wednesday before having the former Australia batting superstar caught by Sikandar Raza the next day.
The Mutare-born bowler has toiled in domestic cricket for years without much recognition, until the development stalwart Stephen Mangongo’s appointment as Zimbabwe Emerging coach late last year.
But the mentor and the protégé didn’t get off to a flying start.
“I offered him to train full-time at the ZimCricket high-performance programme in January,” Mangongo told SportsCast on Friday.
“Within four weeks, I had chased him away and he was out of it for three weeks on some tough love matters. When he rejoined there was no turning back. He became the fittest, including a ritual of him running 11km from Burnside to Queens Sports Club (in Bulawayo) for training whilst others took the easier route of the team bus. Muchawaya’s performances are no accident, the bloke has worked on his skills. He has become a thorough professional and when he was selected to tour the UK with the Zim ‘A’ he simply performed top-drawer stuff. He is destined for international cricket sooner than later as his work ethic is second to none.”
Explaining why he had earlier expelled Muchawaya, the renowned disciplinarian only said: “For not taking the Mangongo sermons to heart and failure to comply!”
Mangongo also credits Muchawaya’s stint on the English club scene last year for his development. Muchawaya took 41 wickets for Rockingham Colliery and also scored a century for the Yorkshire club.
“He’s a born-fighter, solid physically, a guy who’s never scared to do the hard yards, he’s a veteran of league cricket,” commented Mangongo.
“However, the turning point was when he sacrificed to play UK league cricket and earned some Pounds for his small family. He is a genuine bottle of wine, he has matured with age.”
At 27 already, Muchawaya will be regarded a late entry into international cricket when he finally makes his debut. At that age, a lot of cricketers will be at their peak in national colours.
That however doesn’t concern Mangongo, who believes that the experience being gained behind the scenes will stand Muchawaya in good stead when he eventually steps onto the international arena.
“Muchawaya is not a fly-by-night player,” Mangongo said.
“He has been in the trenches, I believe he needs another ‘A’ side series to spruce up his game. He is in the horizon into international cricket. He is lethal with the new ball. With (Blessing) Muzarabani and (Richard) Ngarava being quality bowlers, Zimbabwe needed a strong competition as a third seamer. Here comes Muchawaya.”
