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HARARE, Feb 7: Following are the pen-sketches of Zimbabwe World Cup squad:
HEATH STREAK
Born: March 16 1974. Captain. Right-arm fast-medium bowler, aggressive lower-order batsman, high-quality fielder. ODI debut: v South Africa, Bangalore, Nov 1993. 149 matches, 183 wkts, av 31.13. 1,966 runs, av 24.27. Once ranked in top five in the world as a bowler. Will play his 150th One-day International in Zimbabwe’s opening match against England. Father Denis, a former Zimbabwe team manager, also represented his country at cricket. Nicknamed ‘Streaky’ and ‘Bacon’. Runs a game reserve. Has long carried the Zimbabwe attack on his broad shoulders, suffering a series of knee injuries as a result that have robbed him of pace. In a better team, would have been used more sparingly and probably developed into a genuine all-rounder, having scored several first-class hundreds. Had a short troubled tenure as captain in 2001 and regained the job in 2002 after it passed through a string of players. Dislocated shoulder in a traffic accident during Champions Trophy in Colombo in September.
ANDY BLIGNAUT
Born: Aug 1 1978. All-rounder — left-handed batsman, right-arm medium fast bowler. ODI debut: v West Indies, Singapore, Sept 1999. 16 matches, 245 runs, av 22.27. 14 wkts, av 40.42. Fiery character. Does not hang around with the bat — his strike rate is 98.79 in ODIs. Debut shortly after 1999 World Cup, then rowed with Zimbabwe establishment and chose to suspend his career. He tried several business ventures before resuming cricket in 2002. Nov, rolled his jeep after a head-on collision with another car, thrown out of vehicle, over other car and into ditch, narrowly escaping serious injury — took 5-79 in 1st Test v Pakistan a week later.
DION EBRAHIM
Born: Aug 7 1980. Right-handed opening batsman. ODI debut: v Bangladesh, Harare, April 2001. 14 matches, 706 runs, av 21.39. Added pressure of being included in the squad at Alistair Campbell’s expense (Campbell averaged more than 30 in 187 ODIs, including seven hundreds and 30 fifties).
SEAN ERVINE
Born: Dec 6 1982. Left-handed batsman, right-arm medium pace bowler. ODI debut: v England, Bulawayo, Oct 2001. 13 matches, 149 runs, av 16.55. 11 wkts, av 52.00. Nicknamed ‘Slug’ at school for his slow batting. Father and uncle both played first-class cricket for Rhodesia ‘B’. Talented all-round sportsman but serious knee injury as a schoolboy in 2000 curbed his involvement in hockey and tennis, his two other loves.
ANDY FLOWER
Born: Apr 28 1968. Left-handed batsman, wicket-keeper. ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, New Plymouth, Feb 1992. 205 matches, 6,454 runs, av 34.88 with four centuries and 52 fifties. 140 catches, 32 stumpings. The first — and sadly sometimes the only — name to be mentioned when current Zimbabwean cricket is being discussed. Playing in his fourth and final World Cup. Began ODI career with a century (115) v Sri Lanka at 1992 World Cup. Has since set countless Zimbabwean batting records. Played as a wicket-keeper for most of his career although may be used as a specialist batsman in this tournament. As durable as he is loyal — made a national record 172 consecutive ODI appearances before a finger injury ended the run. Statistically makes a half-century every four innings.In last year’s Champions Trophy, scored a career-best 145, also in a losing cause. Scored four ODI fifties and one hundred in last nine innings.
GRANT FLOWER
Born: Dec 20 1970. Right-handed batsman, bowls useful slow-left arm. Outstanding fielder. ODI debut: v India, Harare, Oct 1992. 192 matches, 5,809 runs, av 33.57, six centuries. 94 wkts, av 38.39. Andy’s younger brother. Fine cricketer in own right but often overshadowed by his sibling. Should the team reach the second phase, would become only the second Zimbabwean player after his brother, to reach 200 caps. His career runs tally in ODIs is also second only to Andy, his average is one less and his highest score of 142 not out — off 128 balls v Bangladesh in Bulawayo in April 2001 — is three behind Andy’s best.
TRAVIS FRIEND
Born: Jan 7 1981. Right-arm fast-medium bowler. ODI debut: v New Zealand, Bulawayo, Sept 2000. 39 matches, 36 wkts, av 46.16. Nicknamed “Testosterone” and built like a West Indian pace bowler but many feel he lives up to his name and is too nice to be a paceman. Useful lower-order batsman.
DOUGLAS HONDO
Born: July 7 1979. Right-arm medium-pace bowler. ODI debut: v England, Harare, Oct 2001. 13 matches, 21 wkts, av 28.00. Loves music, plays the bagpipes. Called up as a net bowler and ended up making his Test debut. Got one wicket — Gary Kirsten for 220. Almost helped Andy Flower make history, batting for 58 minutes for six before being the last man out, leaving Flower stranded on 199 not out after making a century in the first innings.
DOUGLAS MARILLIER
Born: April 24 1978. Right-handed batsman. ODI debut: v New Zealand, Bulawayo, Sept 2000. 35 matches, 419 runs, av 16.11. 25 wkts, av 37.84. Father played at the top level. Good hockey player. Aged 16, broke both his legs and severed an artery in a car accident, spent three months in a wheelchair and was warned might never walk again.
BRIAN MURPHY
Born: Dec 1 1976. Leg-break bowler. ODI debut: v Pakistan, Antigua, April 2000. 26 matches, 24 wkts, av 41.29. Only front-line spinner in the squad, useful right-hand lower order batsman, former captain. Father played rugby union for Rhodesia. Good hockey player. A career full of surprises. Called up from relative obscurity to tour West Indies and England while still a student at University of Cape Town with Zimbabwe desperate for a spinner. Had played for Western Province in Cape Town. 18 months later, Oct 2001, made captain when Streak resigned and other top players turned down the job.
HENRY OLONGA
Born: Jul 3 1976. Right-arm fast bowler. ODI debut: v South Africa, Harare, Oct 1995. 48 matches, 57 wkts, av 34.17. First black player to represent Zimbabwe, and the youngest. Fastest bowler in the country but delivers more than his share of no-balls and wides. Born in Zambia, father Kenyan, brother Victor has played rugby union for Zimbabwe. Very good singer and considered a career in acting. Also accomplished painter. Easily recognisable by his dreadlocked hair. Test debut against Pakistan, aged 19, was bitter-sweet — it was Zimbabwe’s first Test victory and he took a wicket in his first over but then called for throwing. Rebuilt his action with the help of Dennis Lillee. Has had injury problems. In the 1996 World Cup squad but did not play. Played a key role in shock win over India in the 1999 World Cup, took three wickets in an over as Zimbabwe won by three runs.
TATENDA TAIBU
Born: May 14 1983. ODI debut: v West Indies, Harare, June 2001. 20 matches, 129 runs, av 16.12. Made his Test debut at 18 while still a schoolboy and is being groomed to take over as wicket-keeper from Andy Flower. First name means ‘thank-you’ in his native Chishona language. Played soccer before turning to cricket, where he began as an off-spinner. Celebrates his 20th birthday after the World Cup. Was a member of the Zimbabwe squad aged 16.
MARK VERMEULEN
Born: March 2 1979. Right-handed batsman. ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, Oct 2000. 7 matches, 192 runs, av 38.40. Likely to open with Dion Ebrahim. Fine all-round sportsman. Played cricket for Zimbabwe at all age-group levels, captain at Under-19 World Cup. National under-15 javelin champion.
GUY WHITTALL
Born: Sept 5 1972. ‘Bits-and-pieces’ all-rounder, bowling right-arm medium pace, but with a Test double century to his name as a right-handed batsman. ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Patna, Nov 1993. 141 matches, 2,646 runs, av 22.81. 84 wkts, av 40.00. Playing in his third World Cup after being ignored for most of 2002. First-class debut at 18. Cousin Andrew Whittall played for Zimbabwe. Loves hunting.
CRAIG WISHART
Born: Jan 9 1974. Right-handed batsman. ODI debut: v Australia, Colombo, Aug 1996. 72 matches, 1,283 runs, av 21.74. Has never established himself as a Test player. Scored one century in both forms of the game.—Reuters
