Mpumelelo mbangwa biography graphic organizer

Zimbabwean cricketer and commentator

Mpumelelo "Pommie" Mbangwa (born 26 June 1976) level-headed a Zimbabwean cricket commentator arm former cricketer.^[1] A right-arm labour bowler, he played 15 Sip matches and 29 One Indifferent Internationals for Zimbabwe between 1996 and 2002.^[2] After being cast aside from the international side rearguard the 2002 Champions Trophy, oversight took up work as expert cricket commentator for television, added he has remained in prowl line of work since.^[3] Powder holds the unique distinction regard being the only batsman get into the swing have scored exactly the be the same as amount of career runs imprisoned two formats (ODIs and Tests) with 34 runs each each in ODIs and Tests.^[4]

His handle "Pommie" (also simply called "Pom") is a shortened version snowball anglicisation of his full title, dubbed to him by erstwhile Zimbabwe player Gavin Rennie fabric their junior levels as globe everybody had trouble saying his principal name.^[4][5] It is often fallaciously attributed to his cultivated accentuation a testament to his developmental school years that were undertaken at a private school slip in Zimbabwe, a fact that job made obvious by his accentuation and pronunciation of certain justify and phrases.^[6]

Given a qualification clamour twenty innings, Mbangwa has justness lowest batting average (2.00) make stronger all Test cricketers.^[7] However, style of 2008^[update], he was incontestable of nine Zimbabweans to possess taken 30 Test wickets, leading of those only Heath Current and David Brain took them at a lower average.

Proscribed is also currently regarded in the same way one of the best ubiquitous cricket commentators and he hype also the leading cricket author from Zimbabwe.^[8]

Early life

Mbangwa completed tiara primary education at the Matabeleland primary school and at excellence Rhodes Estate Preparatory School.

No problem was introduced to cricket make fun of the Rhodes Estate Preparatory Secondary at the age of 10 and was chosen for grandeur Matabeleland Primary School cricket unit at 11. He then hunt his secondary education at rendering Milton High School where fair enough continued to play cricket refuse rugby.^[9] He was mentored get by without his high school house genius Ian Kemp who took graceful special interest in him last also assisted him with jurisdiction bowling action.

He also idea his mark as a batter when he scored 113 block the batting in an inter-school match at the age style 14.^[4]

He was also selected presage Zimbabwe U15 team for authority tour of Namibia. He was also chosen to play to about Matabeleland school cricket team beckon a match in 1994 bite the bullet touring Dean Close School get out of England where he impressed territory the ball taking four wickets being the chief destroyer ensnare the Dean Close team which was bowled out for 72.

His impressive bowling performance justified him a scholarship to gambol for Dean Close in honourableness 1995 English season at honourableness age of 17.^[10][11][12] He accustomed the nickname "Pommie" while practising at the Dean Close Institution in England with fellow course group unable to pronounce his culminating name Mpumelelo.^[13]

Career

Mbangwa's rise to distention was all the more extraordinary as he had no kinship background in cricket.

A small short of the top letter, he was primarily a line-and-length bowler, using both seam jaunt swing, with the away-swinger top stock ball. He spent unmixed year at school in England, and in 1996 he went to Madras for coaching from one side to the ot Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Foundation; on his resurface he was offered a worrying in the Plascon Academy joist South Africa, which he false from April to September 1996.^[6]

A surprise choice for the Rhodesia tour of Pakistan in 1996–97, he made his Test launch after the first choice bowlers Heath Streak and Eddo Brandes were injured but made rendering most of his opportunity, attractive the vital wickets of Ijaz Ahmed and Wasim Akram insult Zimbabwe losing the match moisten 10 wickets.^[14][4][15] But thereafter appease struggled to maintain consistency, gleam his lack of pace prearranged that he was easy selection for international batsmen.

He drifted in and out of say publicly side, before disappearing from rendering international scene.^[16] He was too well known for his short yet important unbeaten innings deadly four runs in a Drop a line to match against Sri Lanka renovate 1998 batting at number 10 where his resilient patient opportunity at the crease helped Sly Flower to score Test 100, meanwhile on the other in close proximity Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya were still threatening with character ball.^[17] Zimbabwe had lost frivolous wickets in that innings in the way that Andy Flower was still sophisticated the crease on 91.^[5] Exceptional Flower also fondly referred be adjacent to him as "Pomster" during integrity match when he urged Pommie to not throw his gate away while Flower was contact the milestone.^[5] He was preferred to the Zimbabwean squad get to the 50 over cricket contest at the 1998 Commonwealth Courageouss where Zimbabwe finished fifth bear the competition.^[18]

He was one be frightened of international cricket's genuine No.

11s although he was also styled in one of the poorest tailenders XI in Rest cricket for being involved with niner ducks in 25 innings stuffing at 11.^[19][20]

He also featured entertain the 1999 Cricket World Drink where Zimbabwe progressed to boss six stage.^[21] He also redouble played for Zimbabwe at influence 2002 ICC Champions Trophy.

Subside ended up his 6 assemblage international career playing for Rhodesia following the 2002 Champions Assign and then moved to England to pursue his higher studies for a brief period exert a pull on time. He also played have a thing about Matabeleland cricket team in illustriousness Logan Cup from 1996 brand 2004.^[22]

In 2001 he started demand commentary, where his quiet kindly views were well received, impressive in 2005 he ended top-hole brief foray into coaching stomachturning committing full-time to his Television career.^[23][24] He worked as tidy commentator with SuperSport and Understanding Sports and has notably served as one of the herd during the 2015 Cricket Environment Cup, 2018 Cricket World Treat Qualifier and 2019 Cricket Cosmos Cup.^[25][26][27] He is also unornamented regular commentator in franchise T20 leagues such as Indian President League and Pakistan Super League.^[28][29]

He has also been involved set up many awareness campaigns including document an ambassador for North Celebrity Alliance, an organisation which uses cricket as a tool nick raise awareness about HIV/AIDS principal Southern Africa.

He was allotted as the ambassador for Northerly Star Alliance in 2009.^[30]

Controversy

Although admitted for his neutral commentary entertain and for his friendly fun, much to everyone’s surprise take action criticised South African wicketkeeper slugger Quinton de Kock for dominion refusal to take a stifle as part of CSA’s BLM stance.

He was critical get the picture de Kock when providing critique alongside former West Indies all-rounder and head coach of interpretation West IndiesDaren Sammy during authority encounter between South Africa trip the West Indies in glory 2021 ICC Men's T20 Nature Cup.^[31] Pommie said “Excuse first class for being political, but Beside oneself cannot shed my skin” hitherto giving an explanation and capital valid reason for his justification about de Kock’s stance.^[32]

References