The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
IT’S becoming a maddening trend with Forster Mutizwa.
For all the hope and promise bestowed upon the 33-year-old when the wicketkeeper/batsman made his First class debut back in 2004, things have not really panned out the way many thought they would. It’s been roughly seven years since he last donned the Chevrons’ national team colours, with the Auckland T20 against New Zealand back 2012 being his last.
Before then he had made his international debut in an ODI against Kenya in Mombasa in 2009, a couple years too late considering the talent he possesses. Two years later he played his first T20I against New Zealand in October 2011, after which he then took part in his one and only Test again against the Kiwis in 2012.
And that was it.
In his short international stint, Mutizwa averages 31.00 from 15 ODI innings with a high score of 79. He has a strike rate of 105.55 from three T20Is and averages 12 from his solitary Test. The failed promise of his career has not been lost on the Mountaineers’ wicketkeeper/batsman who still dreams of one more crack at the big leagues.
“Definitely, l feel l still have a couple of years left in me, and playing for Zimbabwe again would be great,” said the 33-year-old.
Back home, Mutizwa is nearing his 100th First-Class match, averaging a healthy 38.98 from 94 matches with the bat.
“It means a lot, cricket is my life and l am happy to have managed to play these many games,” said Mutizwa who also averages 28.00 from 108 List A matches.
“I try not think too far ahead of myself, only give it my all every time I cross the rope. “It’s always a good feeling to finish a season with good numbers, and I hope to make good on that milestone,” said Mutizwa.
It is just unfortunate that he has not had the best of starts to the season after struggling in the first couple of games.
Redemption will be the operative word as the domestic season resumes this week and Mutizwa comes against his former paymasters at Mash Eagles in a Logan Cup match from January 14-17 at Harare Sports Club. He scored three and a duck in the Logan Cup tie away to Midwest Rhinos last December and managed seven in the List A match against the same opponent.
“I try to concentrate on the task at hand and take it game by game,” said Mutizwa.
“I enjoy playing all formats and l find the long version a bit more challenging.
“I enjoy taking on the challenge head on,” he said. Mountaineers resumed their training last week with a fitness test and ‘Fozy’ proved to be one of the fittest lads around.
“It needs a bit of discipline and sacrifice in terms of your fitness programme and diet. “I feel like I am fitter than what I was years back,” he said.
Should another dance with the Chevrons fail, Mutizwa has already started looking at his options.
“l have been looking at expanding my game in every way possible in the last couple of years. I took up umpiring, coaching and even played club cricket in the UK.
“I have also become a father to one four-year-old boy, Riley,” said Mutizwa.
