Chigumbura can’t afford to disappoint
ZIMBABWE all-rounder Elton Chigumbura is one of the Chevrons’ most polarising players.
With hordes of talent, and then some, it is the 30-year-old’s penchant for inconsistency that makes him a topic each time a tour comes around.
As the Zimbabwe men’s cricket team prepares to face Afghanistan for a five One-day International series scheduled for February 16-26 at Harare Sports Club, Chigumbura is trending.
His selection into final 15-man squad, and probably the staring XI for Thursday’s opening ODI against the Asian side, has dominated the run-up to the series.
But while it appears as though the general populous has turned their backs on the player, Zimbabwe Cricket’s selection AFTER a year on the sidelines, nursing injuries, rookie batsman Ryan Burl is back and ringing bells.
The 22-year-old top order batsman scored his maiden List A century and two fifties against Afghanistan A in the five match one day series which ended last week. That was loud enough to attract the attention of the national team selectors who included Burl in the squad that is to play against Afghanistan.
The Marondera farm boy who has a panel still has plenty of confidence in the Mashonaland Eagles batsman.
The process of selection involves expert judgement, which can be difficult to write about, because the inner workings are often inaccessible to those on the outside.
Selection committees are infamous for failing to reveal the thought process that goes into identifying and selecting players for national duty.
The only information availed to the public are usually the few quotes or sound bites that come out of media conferences, something ZC is shying away from when announcing squads.
Their preferred choice of communication
Burl ringing bells healthy list A batting average of 41.26 revealed that being sidelined by injury time whetted his appetite for the game.
“It feels really good to be back. You don’t realize how much you love the game until you don’t play it for a long time like I did,” he said. A shoulder injury floored him for four months before a knee injury, sustained during warm up when Zimbabwe was preparing to play India last year, took him away from action for another eight months. “My body is now is email.
However, former selector Robin Brown (2005) gave a little insight into the committee’s never-ending affair with Chigumbura. “You talk about Elton; I think he is too good a player to drop,” said Brown. “I know he hasn’t played that many Test matches recently, and some people are of the opinion that he shouldn’t be playing, but as a one-day cricketer I don’t think you can query his ability.
“On a good day, he is going to bowl five or six overs and bat at number five, six or seven, and that’s all you need from the guy. In the last series, he played here (Zimbabwe), I think he proved he is good enough feeling good. My physiotherapist and biokineticist are the ones who really must take credit for everything they have done,” he said.
“When I was injured it just made me even hungrier to get back playing and to not just get back, but to get back and score big runs,” said Burl.
The Mashonaland Eagles player reads situations well and always delivers but appreciates that stepping up into the Chevrons dressing room is a whole new world.
“I think just being mentally tough and to play for the national side.”
At 30, Chigumbura is one of the most experienced players in the team, having featured in the mix for over a decade.
He has played 14 Test matches, 205 ODIs and 47 Twenty20 matches, scoring 569 Test runs and 5 018 runs in the shorter formats. His first role in the team is that of senior statesman, and that encompasses offering guidance to the younger players. After that he has to take to the park and do the business.
And against the visiting Afghanistan, Chigumbura has little room for error: he has to step up to the crease and justify is continued selection. really wanting to take responsibility in tough situations makes me succeed.
“Obviously the intensity at Zimbabwe A and international level is different to franchise level - but I don’t really change the way I prepare. I just ensure that I tick all the boxes before and get my head in a good space before any match.”
“Obviously I can’t predict what’s going to happen in the future. “But as always I’ll give it everything I have and let the rest take care of itself. I’m just looking forward to achieving my dream of playing for my country,” said Burl.