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Wellington Masakadza
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 12:48 am
by CrimsonAvenger
Is Wellington Masakadza the first visible product of indigenous Zimbabwean cricketers (if I can call it that) coming through due to the inspiration gained from their previous generation? When the idea of quotas and taking the game to the masses came along in early 2000s, I always thought it was being pushed a generation too early, and thought it would be a natural progression to see kids getting inspired by the likes of Taibu, Olonga and Hamilton Masakadza 20 years since their debut - mid 2010s (i.e., now).
Getting the game to run in their blood through generations is the best way to get more inclusive, and Wellington being very young during the times of his elder brother's record breaking heroics as a 18 year old, probably can be seen as the first to take up the game because he saw someone in the family achieve big things at the highest stage of the game? Surely, in 5 to 10 years time, kids of some of these guys would be taking up the game seriously (provided all else is in order), or at least socially, thus establishing the game's relevance to the larger community of the country.
Probably we should have waited for this natural progression, but that is a different debate altogether.
Re: Wellington Masakadza
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 9:11 am
by zimfan1
Robin Brown pulls an ace from his sleeve
..as Zim under-19 prepare for South Africa
The Masakadza brothers Hamilton and Shingirai will soon be joined by another member of the family as yet another Masakadza brother enters the world of professional cricket. Zimbabwe under-19 coach Robin Brown pulled out his first ace from his sleeve when he invited a 17-year old Wellington Masakadza to train alongside the provisional under-19 team last week.
Wellington is another former scholar from Churchill High School. Brown sees him as a possible future star that could fill the role of all-rounder Tinotenda Mutombodzi, in the next world cup. “Mutombodzi was a very handy player in last world cup, I think Wellington will be the ready to perform the same role in the next world cup,” said Brown at a practise session at the high performance centre in Harare. Brown fell in love with his ability to turn the ball and effective offence on right handed batmen. At such a young age Masakadza has also established himself as an effectual middle order batsman, able to hold his wicket while rotating the strike.
Zimbabwe prepares to play against South Africa in July in a five 50 over and two Twenty20 matches in Harare. “This will be a big step for me and I hope I will be prepared for my first under-19 cap. I always wanted to play for this team, it is even more exciting that I am still eligible to play for the next three years,” said Masakadza
“I started playing cricket when I was ten years old at Mbizi primary school in Highfield before I went to Churchill. My inspiration was Shingirai because we spent most of our childhood together and we practised a lot more, he taught me the basics of the game and to be focused on the field,” added Masakadza
His brothers have many achievements to their names. Hamilton broke the world record for the youngest player to score 119 runs in a test debut while Shingirai Masakadza was a pace bowler with the most wickets in the last domestic first class season in the Logan Cup. “It is not easy matching the standards that my brothers set and I really have to work hard to make it as a professional cricketer. I always wanted to be different that is why I became a slow bowler,” said Masakadza as he described the pressure of growing up in the shadow of high performance in his family.
“I enjoy working with Mr. Brown; he is working a lot on my batting and expects me to bat well every time I am on the crease,”
“I want to win the next world cup if and when I am eligible for it,” concluded young Masakadza as he hurriedly departed to join the rest of the squad in a net session.
Re: Wellington Masakadza
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 2:45 pm
by sloandog
good on the young man
Re: Wellington Masakadza
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:15 pm
by foreignfield
zimfan1 wrote: Brown fell in love with his ability to turn the ball ...
A left-armer who actually turns the ball is a great asset in any form of cricket.
Five of his six victims so far in this match have been clean bowled, which is astonishing when you consider that none of Tuskers' batsmen has gone after the slow bowlers (or not succeeded).
I wonder if our man on the ground, jimmylesaint, has an opinion on these dismissals. Great bowling? Reckless shots? Poor technique? A combination of all three?
Re: Wellington Masakadza
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:30 pm
by CrimsonAvenger
On hindsight, would it have been a worthy gamble to pick him for the World T20s based on his superlative performances in the trials?
Re: Wellington Masakadza
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 3:39 pm
by jimmylesaint
Whilst Tuskers batsmen have been on the defensive. I must say the bowling has been very good by Wellington.
Re: Wellington Masakadza
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2014 10:46 pm
by jimbo
Jimmysaint can you elaborate a bit more. Is he bowling nagging line and length a la utseya or is he bowling some rippers with lots of turn or a combination of both?
Re: Wellington Masakadza
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:17 pm
by jimmylesaint
Rippers with a lot of turn got the better batters out- but a lot of line and length that just itches for a double step and Smash!
Well played the mountaineers- good experience gained by Tuskers.
Re: Wellington Masakadza
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:28 pm
by CrimsonAvenger
jimmylesaint wrote:Rippers with a lot of turn got the better batters out- but a lot of line and length that just itches for a double step and Smash!
This is mouthwatering stuff! Can't wait to watch him bowl live...
Re: Wellington Masakadza
Posted: Thu Feb 27, 2014 2:37 pm
by foreignfield
CrimsonAvenger wrote:jimmylesaint wrote:Rippers with a lot of turn got the better batters out- but a lot of line and length that just itches for a double step and Smash!
This is mouthwatering stuff! Can't wait to watch him bowl live...
Yummie!
