The Sunday Mail
Brighton Zhawi
IT is early September at Harare Sports Club and a fired-up Victor Nyauchi charges in to deliver a Jaffa that beats the outside edge of national cricket team batsman Craig Ervine.
Slug, as Ervine is called by his teammates, nods and smiles as he acknowledges the good delivery by the 23–year-old net bowler.
Fast forward three weeks and Nyauchi is in the thick of things as the President’s XI faces Afghanistan at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
In his first match, he finishes with one for 38, but does enough to warrant another look from Zimbabwe Cricket selectors.
Today, he is more than just a net bowler. He is a Chevrons hopeful.
Nyauchi’s success story is the latest highlight in what has been a great year for local net bowlers.
Taurai Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza have gone as far as making international débuts.
Gone are the days when net bowlers were simply budding cricketers called up just to help national team batsman with batting practice.
The recent successes of Muzarabani, Masakadza and Nyauchi have made local net bowlers believe in themselves as the powers that be take notice.
Muzarabani, who plays for Mashonaland Eagles, was a net bowler when Zimbabwe was preparing to tour Pakistan in May.
In October, he made his One-day International debut against Ireland, graduating from first class cricket to an international via net bowling.
It is the same story with 22-year-old Masakadza, who also made his ODI debut against Ireland after having been used as a net bowler since May.
So has net bowling become the new catchment area for talent?
“Yeah, it has always been like that really.
“I also started my career as a net bowler back in the day,” says Zimbabwe bowling coach Douglas Hondo.
“It is a strategy and it’s working. We look at potential when we call them and they have done well.
“The batsmen have been giving good feedback about the bowlers, and now we want to find more talent in other provinces.”
NET OF TALENT . . . Zimbabwe Cricket coach Dav Whatmore throws the ball to net bowler Victor Nyauchi during a national team net session at Harare Sports Club recently. —(Picture by Kudakwashe Hunda)
One of the coaches tasked with selecting net bowlers, Stanley Timoni of Mashonaland Eagles is thrilled with how the young players are stepping up.
“I strongly feel that since they have managed to get to the top, they should now work even harder to make sure they stay there.”
One of the country’s star performers with the bat this year, Ervine has stressed the impact net bowlers have had on his form this year.
“Over the past few months the net bowlers have done a fantastic job for us in terms of their dedication to a greater purpose.
“For myself, I can’t thank them enough for their efforts.
“Even on warm days at Harare Sports Club, they keep running in without question. The variety that there is, with left and right arm seamers and spinners, allows our guys to benefit hugely while working on specific areas”, says Ervine.
The net bowlers are, understandably, simply enjoying the moment.
“It’s always a great feeling when you get such kind of a lift, especially when you come from low levels of cricket. I wish the same for my mates,” says Welly Masakadza.
Masakadza has taken 15 wickets in eight ODIs at an impressive average of 22,26.
“I get good practice from bowling to good batsmen and my fitness levels have also improved too.
“After practice we usually do some gym work and we also get some money from ZC, so it’s nice” adds Mashonaland Eagles’ Tino Mafusire.
“Being a net bowler for my country is the best bowling practice I could ever wish for. This is because you will be bowling to the top batsmen in the country, and you know what they say, ‘you got to go practice with the best to be the best,” weighs in teammate Herbert Chikomba.
Chikomba took 5/ 36 on his List A debut against former paymasters Mountaineers in November.
Midwest Rhinos’ Kuda Munyede says, “Net bowling has got me to where I am today. Growing up I never got the opportunity to play in the Zimbabwe age group teams, however, I have managed to play first class cricket and my biggest achievement so far is being part of the Zimbabwe A side that toured Bangladesh last year.”
And man of the moment Nyauchi enthuses: “It feels great man; it is a feeling that motivates you on your game. You start believing in yourself.”
Some of the big names in international cricket started as net bowlers.
These include New Zealand’s second-most successful Test bowler Chris Martin, West Indian pace man Fidel Edwards and Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga.
Chatara on the mend
Brighton Zhawi
CHEVRONS pace bowler Tendai Chatara looks set to make his long-awaited comeback early next month.
Chatara missed the last eight months of international cricket after breaking his leg while playing football in his home-town of Mutare in April.
The 24-year-old has now been cleared by Zimbabwe Cricket team physiotherapist Anesu Mupotaringa.
Chatara was part of the Chevrons preparations for the ongoing tour of Afghanistan, taking part in a few net bowling sessions.
“Tendai Chatara is now back in the fold, and has been doing cricket-specifics. His rehab has been involving strengthening the injured limb and he is definitely now at more than 80 percent. He has played club cricket and though he hasn’t regained his full pace, I am confident that the more he works on his whole body strengthening, he will regain his confidence,” said Mupotaringa.
Chatara spoke of his eagerness to return to action, and could be available for selection in Mountaineers’ next assignment against Midwest Rhinos.
The teams lock horns when the local franchise season resumes on January 5, 2016.
“I am feeling good and think I will be up for selection for the January match,” said the 24-year-old.
