Zimbabwe cricketer Michael Chinouya (30) paid a surprise visit to the Randburg Cricket Club on 17 August.
The pace bowler, who made his one-day international debut against India in 2013 and has made an impact since he started playing test matches against New Zealand in July, came to catch up with a former coach and a friend, who both now coach at Randburg.
Alister Zowe coached Chinouya when he played for the Mid West Rhinos, a franchise team in Zimbabwe’s Midlands province, in 2007, and the two have kept in touch since. “I am excited for him [Chinouya],” Zowe said. “I feel he should have started playing test cricket for his country a long time ago but his chance has finally come and I am happy for him.”
Chinouya has nothing but admiration for his former coach. “Alister helped me a lot with the mental part of the game, as well as my discipline as a bowler, and my fielding.” Thabani Moyo (21) has been friends with Chinouya since Moyo played against him in the Mashonaland Eagles team. He described Chinouya as a “good guy” and a hard-working, passionate cricketer with great talent.
When asked what advice he could offer to young, aspiring cricketers, Chinouya said never give up. “At one point I was not making the Zimbabwean team. Hard work is key, I worked hard on my fitness and bowled 300 balls every day in the nets to work back into the squad.”
Chinouya looks forward to the upcoming test series against Sri Lanka, as he says the pitch at the Harare Sports Club is favourable to seam bowling. He added that the most special wickets he has taken so far were those of India’s Rohit Sharma – Chinouya’s first international wicket – and New Zealand’s Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson. However, the wicket he is really after is that of India captain Virat Kohli, who he says is the best batsman in the world in his current form.
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