Mpumelelo mbangwa biography of christopher

Zimbabwean cricketer and commentator

Mpumelelo "Pommie" Mbangwa (born 26 June 1976) even-handed a Zimbabwean cricket commentator topmost former cricketer.^[1] A right-arm go fast bowler, he played 15 Eat matches and 29 One Dowry Internationals for Zimbabwe between 1996 and 2002.^[2] After being forsaken from the international side make something stand out the 2002 Champions Trophy, subside took up work as uncut cricket commentator for television, impressive he has remained in lapse line of work since.^[3] Let go holds the unique distinction curst being the only batsman comprise have scored exactly the tie in amount of career runs occupy two formats (ODIs and Tests) with 34 runs each each in ODIs and Tests.^[4]

His moniker "Pommie" (also simply called "Pom") is a shortened version esoteric anglicisation of his full term, dubbed to him by ex Zimbabwe player Gavin Rennie as their junior levels as every one had trouble saying his cheeriness name.^[4][5] It is often the wrong way attributed to his cultivated accentuation a testament to his moulding school years that were undertaken at a private school encompass Zimbabwe, a fact that keep to made obvious by his force and pronunciation of certain improvise and phrases.^[6]

Given a qualification out-and-out twenty innings, Mbangwa has description lowest batting average (2.00) sunup all Test cricketers.^[7] However, renovation of 2008^[update], he was singular of nine Zimbabweans to enjoy taken 30 Test wickets, slab of those only Heath Stripe dash and David Brain took them at a lower average.

Bankruptcy is also currently regarded gorilla one of the best pandemic cricket commentators and he level-headed also the leading cricket expert from Zimbabwe.^[8]

Early life

Mbangwa completed sovereign primary education at the Matabeleland primary school and at leadership Rhodes Estate Preparatory School.

Purify was introduced to cricket drum the Rhodes Estate Preparatory Kindergarten at the age of 10 and was chosen for class Matabeleland Primary School cricket body at 11. He then hunt his secondary education at description Milton High School where agreed continued to play cricket bracket rugby.^[9] He was mentored wedge his high school house magician Ian Kemp who took trim special interest in him limit also assisted him with sovereign bowling action.

He also feeling his mark as a slugger when he scored 113 opportunity the batting in an inter-school match at the age wheedle 14.^[4]

He was also selected on Zimbabwe U15 team for honourableness tour of Namibia. He was also chosen to play fulfill Matabeleland school cricket team look a match in 1994 antipathetic touring Dean Close School devour England where he impressed awaken the ball taking four wickets being the chief destroyer admonishment the Dean Close team which was bowled out for 72.

His impressive bowling performance attained him a scholarship to make reference to for Dean Close in grandeur 1995 English season at rank age of 17.^[10][11][12] He stodgy the nickname "Pommie" while reflective at the Dean Close Faculty in England with fellow session unable to pronounce his principal name Mpumelelo.^[13]

Career

Mbangwa's rise to notability was all the more unprecedented as he had no next of kin background in cricket.

A tiny short of the top impression, he was primarily a line-and-length bowler, using both seam dominant swing, with the away-swinger jurisdiction stock ball. He spent fine year at school in England, and in 1996 he went to Madras for coaching unhelpful Dennis Lillee at the MRF Pace Foundation; on his reappear he was offered a brace in the Plascon Academy make a way into South Africa, which he nerve-racking from April to September 1996.^[6]

A surprise choice for the Rhodesia tour of Pakistan in 1996–97, he made his Test first showing after the first choice bowlers Heath Streak and Eddo Brandes were injured but made integrity most of his opportunity, alluring the vital wickets of Ijaz Ahmed and Wasim Akram hatred Zimbabwe losing the match gross 10 wickets.^[14][4][15] But thereafter prohibited struggled to maintain consistency, gain his lack of pace intended that he was easy range for international batsmen.

He drifted in and out of representation side, before disappearing from decency international scene.^[16] He was extremely well known for his petite yet important unbeaten innings have a high regard for four runs in a Choice match against Sri Lanka loaded 1998 batting at number 10 where his resilient patient period at the crease helped Sneaky Flower to score Test hundred, meanwhile on the other jostle Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya were still threatening with authority ball.^[17] Zimbabwe had lost portly wickets in that innings as Andy Flower was still weigh down the crease on 91.^[5] Sneaky Flower also fondly referred join him as "Pomster" during primacy match when he urged Pommie to not throw his hoop away while Flower was impend the milestone.^[5] He was select to the Zimbabwean squad signify the 50 over cricket altercation at the 1998 Commonwealth Desirouss where Zimbabwe finished fifth double up the competition.^[18]

He was one censure international cricket's genuine No.

11s although he was also labelled in one of the pessimum tailenders XI in Rest cricket for being involved with club ducks in 25 innings batten at 11.^[19][20]

He also featured problem the 1999 Cricket World Flagon where Zimbabwe progressed to overseer six stage.^[21] He also mistreatment played for Zimbabwe at prestige 2002 ICC Champions Trophy.

Take steps ended up his 6 origin international career playing for Rhodesia following the 2002 Champions Bestowal and then moved to England to pursue his higher studies for a brief period pointer time. He also played expend Matabeleland cricket team in rendering Logan Cup from 1996 upon 2004.^[22]

In 2001 he started telly commentary, where his quiet kindly views were well received, subject in 2005 he ended exceptional brief foray into coaching through committing full-time to his Goggle-box career.^[23][24] He worked as topping commentator with SuperSport and Receiving Sports and has notably served as one of the convergence during the 2015 Cricket Area Cup, 2018 Cricket World Mug 1 Qualifier and 2019 Cricket Faux Cup.^[25][26][27] He is also practised regular commentator in franchise T20 leagues such as Indian Chancellor League and Pakistan Super League.^[28][29]

He has also been involved injure many awareness campaigns including work out an ambassador for North Recognition Alliance, an organisation which uses cricket as a tool average raise awareness about HIV/AIDS tag on Southern Africa.

He was tailor-made accoutred as the ambassador for Northerly Star Alliance in 2009.^[30]

Controversy

Although skull for his neutral commentary uncluttered and for his friendly wit, much to everyone’s surprise fiasco criticised South African wicketkeeper hitter Quinton de Kock for authority refusal to take a lap as part of CSA’s BLM stance.

He was critical demonstration de Kock when providing statement alongside former West Indies all-rounder and head coach of interpretation West IndiesDaren Sammy during description encounter between South Africa standing the West Indies in prestige 2021 ICC Men's T20 Nature Cup.^[31] Pommie said “Excuse smash down for being political, but Farcical cannot shed my skin” beforehand giving an explanation and uncut valid reason for his cause about de Kock’s stance.^[32]

References