Dont know if this has been posted here but worthy of a read
am my own man — Shingi Masakadza
Saturday, 24 October 2009 16:56
ZIMBABWE A and Mountaineers bowler Shingirai Masakadza is one cricketer who is always under pressure to perform because of the exploits of his older brother, Hamilton, who is the mainstay of Zimbabwean cricket. Since taking up the gentlemen’s game, Shingirai has lived under the shadow of his elder brother.
Hamilton was still a schoolboy when he became the youngest person in world cricket to score a Test century on his debut against the West Indies in 2001 when he was just 17.
The Zimbabwean number one batsman has also set the record for most runs in an ODI series when he scored 467 runs in the just ended series against Kenya last week.
Shingirai is a medium pace bowling all-rounder and has the responsibility of taking the new ball for his franchise in both the Logan Cup and Faithwear ODI series this year.
On the other hand Hamilton is purely a batsman through and through who can bowl medium pace when the need arises.
In an interview with Standardsport, the 23-year-older Shingirai said he copes with the pressure by concentrating on his game rather than worrying about fans’ expectations.
“It is now an advantage to me to have a brother like Hamilton who has been through everything the game has to offer,” Shingirai said.
“I look up to him and he is always there to help guide my career.
“I do not try to be anything like him because we are completely different cricketers.”
Critics are quick to attribute Shingirai’s steady rise in the local game to Hamilton.
Such was the case when he was called up for the national duty during Sri Lanka’s tour of the country last year.
Most people questioned his inclusion and were quick to point out he was only called into the team because of being Hamilton’s younger brother.
Shingirai is however unfazed by such critics saying he has worked hard and has earned his dues.
“I know people say a lot of things whenever my name comes up, but it is not true that I am being fast-tracked into international cricket because I am Hamilton’s brother,” he said.
“Over the past two years I have worked hard and performed well for my club and recently for my franchise. It is because of my performances only that I have found myself being called for national duty.”
The Highfield-born bowler, who hung his soccer boots for cricket has figures of 59 wickets; an average of 22, 10 and an economy of 3, 24 in 15 first class matches so far.
Like most youths from the high-density areas, Shingirai honed his cricket skills at Mbizi Primary School before joining Takashinga.
In the past Zimbabwe has featured siblings in its cricket teams notably the Flower brothers, Andy and Grant.
At one time the team featured three sets of brothers and one pair of cousins that was the Flower brothers, Paul and Brian Strang, Gavin and John Rennie and cousins Guy and Andy Whittall and the Masakadza brothers are set to become the next pair in the national team.