zimcricketforums.com

FORMER Zimbabwe senior national cricket team all-rounder Andy Blignaut is trying to resuscitate his cricket career and has set his sights on playing for Matabeleland Tuskers.
Blignaut was seen training at the Queens Sports Club nets last week and has spoken to Matabeleland Tuskers coach Robin Brown about the possibility of playing for the Bulawayo-based franchise.
Matabeleland Tuskers convener Vumindaba Moyo confirmed that the eccentric Blignaut who now lives in Bulawayo with his family might play for the franchise if he is still good enough.
“We are currently assessing Andy Blignaut. He is certainly not going to walk into the team,” said Moyo yesterday.
If signed by Tuskers, the 31-year old Blignaut is unlikely to play the longer version of cricket as the team is playing well at the moment and is likely to play Twenty20 cricket as Tuskers are out of contention in the Faithwear/Metropolitan Bank one-day competition.
An entertaining batsman and medium pace bowler, Blignaut played 19 Tests and 51 One-Day Internationals for Zimbabwe between 1999 and 2005. He represented Zimbabwe during the International Cricket Council 2003 Cricket World Cup sub hosted by Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Most cricket fans will remember Blignaut for taking Australian fast bowler Brett Lee to the cleaners during Zimbabwe’s match against Australia. Blignaut scored 54 runs off just 28 deliveries before he was caught and bowled by Lee.
Blignaut last played international cricket for Zimbabwe in 2005 in the second Test match against India at Harare Sports Club.

Blignaut is 'eccentric'?

As a Tuskers fan I would love to see Blignaut back. Who knows what kind of shape he is in though.

I've been speaking to Greg Strydom and Sean Willimams via facebook, and they've both said that Andy Blignaut is as fit as he's ever been. I asked wether or not he'd be of any use now to Zimbabwe, both of their answers were a resounding YES !! Greg said he can bowl as fast as anybody on his day.
We'll soon see though...

If he's fit he's good enough.

However the size of the Tuskers squad is getting alarmingly large:-

Batsmen:-

1. T.Duffin
2. G.Ewing
3. D.Ebrahim
4. G.Strydom
5. B.Mujuru
6. S.Williams
7. M.Vermeulen
8. M.Mabuza
9.M.Williams

Wicketkeepers

10. C.Coventry
11.T.Ngulube

Spinners

12.K.Dabengwa
13.J.Nyumbu

Seamers

14.K.Meth
15.T.Mupariwa
16.C.Mpofu
17.G.Aliseni
18.K.Ntuli
19.T.Mboyi
20.T.Madhiri
21.S.Chimhamhiwa

These 20 have all played this season so far. Add to this Blignaut in addition to M.Dube, R.Kasawaya, B.Mukondiwa, C.Ncube and S.Kusano who are all registered in the squad and have prior to this season played first class cricket. You could also add the names of Brendan Marsh, Tinashe Mhora and Sydwell Ndlovu who are in the squad and have previously playe List-A for Matabeleland/Westerns. A squad of 30!

Good to see Blignaut training. He could be a bonus in the twenty 20 world cup if he is fit enough

StevenZim wrote:He could be a bonus in the twenty 20 world cup if he is fit enough

Good point Robin, but the big question is can he be the Andy Blignaut of old and still bowl 85mph to 90mph and pog a 28 ball fifty. At 31 i think he can still do it personally. If he shows the selectors that he's fit enough, and can still perform to international requirments, then this boy should be on that flight to the West Indies for the T20 World Cup.

He need a chance at last.

jamthala wrote:He need a chance at last.

Interesting you say that Jamthala. I think he's proven to us over the yaers that he can be as gooder allrounder as anybody else in the world, ie Kallis, Flintoff, Swann, Afridi. Yet, i just don't see how,(even if he performs well enough for the Tuskers) (that is if he is even selected), he'll be in contention to walk straight back into the Zimbabwe National Squad whilst there's soem excellent talent on show. ie Williams, Mazakadza, Mutizwa, Cremer Jarvis, Waller, Taylor, Chigs etc. So in my eyes it'll be hard for him to regain his spot in this Zimbabwe team for some time.

If he is still bowling at 85mph he should walk straight into the national team...In all honesty Zims current crop of seamers are all medium pacers and dont look threatening. The seam department looks weak we need that guy who can bowl at real pace Blignaut fits the bill. Lets just hope he is still fit and able

Hope for best man.