The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
FAST bowler Blessing Muzarabani has described his Test debut against South Africa as a pleasant experience which he enjoyed despite not managing to pick up a wicket.
Muzarabani made his first ever appearance in international cricket in the historic four-day, day/night pink ball Test at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth. The 21-year-old lanky bowler bowled 13 overs, conceded 48 runs at an economy rate of 3.69 per over.
“It was a nice experience and to play against the best players in the world, when you play for the first time you are learning. If you have not played international cricket, on your debut you don’t know what to do so you get to learn fast,’’ Muzarabani said.
What excited the youngster during his debut was his bowling speed. Muzarabani consistently clocked speeds in the region of 140km per hour which is good enough for him to be considered a genuine fast bowler.
“Especially with the bowling, I was quite excited about it, my speed earlier on, I was bowling 130, 140 and 137, it’s like a dream come true, I want to bowl that speed consistently. I always want to bowl at that speed so that is what really excited me the most. I actually saw that on the big screen but I was not consistent, I think as time goes on I can get better,’’ the youngster said.
He best describes himself as a bowler who hits the bat hard while his strength is bowling out swing.
“I am a bowler who can hit the bat hard, I swing the ball as well, I bowl out swing, sometimes it gets in but naturally it’s out swing,’’ Muzarabani said.
His debut came just over a year after he missed out on the 2016 International Cricket Council Under-19 Cricket World Cup held in Bangladesh.
Muzarabani was a non-travelling reserve for that tournament where Zimbabwe lost out on a place in the quarter-finals under controversial circumstances to West Indies.
“I am happy about my performance, it was not that quite good, there was no wicket but I am quite happy with that performance and it’s like I know I can do better. I didn’t have that much of confidence I was supposed to have,’’ Muzarabani said.
He was told three days before the match that he will be making his Test debut with the coaches helping him to calm down.
“I was told three days before that I was playing, I had no time to prepare, I was nervous, my coaches told me just enjoy and just go play your game.
That was a nice thing,’’ he said.
Having made his Test debut, Muzarabani is also eyeing a place in Zimbabwe’s One Day International squad and is ready to deliver if chosen for limited overs cricket. He believes that he needs to be more consistent and above all enjoy the game.
“I am looking forward to play one dayers, I want to play all formats of the game so if I get picked I will have a go. I just have to be consistent enough, I have to be patient in four day cricket and stick onto my lines and enjoy, that’s all,’’ he reckoned.
Muzarabani pointed out that there was not much of a difference in the way he prepared for his debut and the way he gets himself ready for Logan Cup matches back home.
“There was not much difference, the same way I approached the Test against South Africa is the same I approach matches at home. These were different players, I don’t know them, you are not sure which line to bowl maybe that’s the line they can play so you get to learn them faster but in Zimbabwe I know all the players,’’ Muzarabani said.
On which South African batsmen gave him a torrid time, the new kid on the block is of the view that none of the South Africans dominated him, with the only time that he was punished being when he fluffed his bowling lines.
“There was no one who gave me a hard time but it was just me sometimes missing the length, giving them freebies,’’ he said.
National team coach, Heath Streak is convinced that Muzarabani has a bright future in the game if properly looked after. He revealed that the young bowler is being looked at for next month’s ODI triangular series in Bangladesh where Zimbabwe will take on the host nation and Sri Lanka.
“He still has a long way to go in terms of learning about the game, I think he was unlucky not to get a wicket or two but he definitely asked a lot of questions. I think he was just like Philander, bowled really well but didn’t really get the luck. It’s someone we need to invest in a lot more going forward,’’ Streak said.
Muzarabani made his Test debut together with his Rising Stars teammate, batsman Ryan Burl who only managed to score 16 runs in the first innings and a duck in the second. -@Mdawini_29
