The Sunday Mail
AFTER spending three months on the sidelines, thanks to a freak injury, Zimbabwe all-rounder Sharne Mayers is smiling again — all the way from New Zealand.
The national women’s cricket team player missed out on the Africa Cup Women’s T20 Africa Cup with a knee injury caused “by turning too quickly” but is now on the books of Old Boys Collegians Cricket Club on a six-month contract.
“It has been hectic,” said Mayers as she recalled the past three roller coaster months. “I partially tore one of my knee ligaments while in camp with the national team back in August. I was fielding and turned, way too quickly, twisting my knee in the process.
“The accident caused a strain on my ligament, but luckily it wasn’t as serious as we initially thought.
“Missing out on the Africa Cup was a really hard pill to swallow. I have been injured countless times in my career, but this occurred just when we were preparing for a big tournament and that is the last thing anybody would want. “I followed, keenly, what was happening in Uganda and remember feeling very hapless as I couldn’t be there to help out my team.”
However, the injury turned into a blessing in disguise as Mayers was able to fully concentrate on contract negotiations with the New Zealand club.
The all-rounder has been in New Zealand for nearly two weeks now and says she is having to learn fast.
“It’s been a learning process for me, both on and off the pitch,” said Mayers.
“One of the key differences between women’s cricket in Zimbabwe and in New Zealand is that the Kiwis appear to have their structures in place and fully functional.
“There are a lot of seasoned professionals I will be exposed to, both as teammates and opposition, and the plan is to learn as much as possible from them.
“I have already played against Kate Ebrahim (Dion Ebrahim’s wife) and Frances McKay and have one against Erin Bermingham coming up soon.
“Hopefully, my time here will help me become a better and more polished player, something that will benefit the national team.”
