This is your Captain speaking
Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 10:54 pm
By Eddie Chikamhi
ELTON CHIGUMBURA — the hard-hitting all-rounder with a genuine cricket talent — has never been the kind of man who loves to be in the spotlight.
Which is a hard thing considering that his hard-hitting style often attracts the headlines.
Chigumbura’s exploits on the field have made him one of the prominent figures in the youthful Zimbabwe team that has been fighting hard to get recognition on the international arena.
During the turbulent years, largely characterised by contrasting results that dented Zimbabwe’s game, Chigumbura still stood head and shoulders above the rest and he has been one of the most consistent performers with his hard-hitting prowess.
But still he preferred a quiet role.
His ascendancy to the captaincy of the Zimbabwe national team has put him on a pedestal.
Chigumbura did not expect it but he gladly embraced the honour of being appointed the new skipper following the sudden resignation of Prosper Utseya last week.
With so much expected from a nation that is pressing hard to show the world that the game is on the rise, Chigumbura believes he is ready to lead the team to greater heights.
Yesterday he gave an insight into his new role.
"It’s a challenge for me but it’s also an honour because it shows that people have trust in me, not mentioning that they recognise my contributions and my potential to do well in that position," said Chigumbura.
"My aim is to see the team winning as many games as possible Zimbabwe is not a bad side.
"There is talent and we would like to keep winning especially the one day matches so that the players gather more confidence for our expected return to Test matches."
A trusted player in the squad and an inspiration to his teammates, Chigumbura has never been a disappointment on the ocassions he has been called on.
But with more responsibilities on his shoulders, naturally fears arise that the explosive all-rounder would be distracted from his core business.
But he is not new to the role since he has been at the helm of the Mashonaland Eagles franchise that won the Logan Cup and reached the finals of the Stanbic Bank Twenty20 tournament in the last season.
"I am not really under any kind of pressure. Maybe it depends on how one handles the situation.
"In my case I gladly welcomed the appointment because I believe it will also make me a better player.
"My greatest hope is that things will go as I expect and it is important that as captain I should be able to lead by example.
"I have been working hard on my game and I think I am doing well both with the ball and the bat.
"I just need to keep improving.
"As a team we also need to work hard on our game and each player should commit himself to his individual performance," he said.
Chigumbura will get his first taste as the substantive national team skipper when Zimbabwe engage India in the opening match of the Tri-series next Friday.
Chigumbura, who made his first class debut when he was 15 years, believes Zimbabwe will be ripe for Test cricket in the next two years.
But his mind is set on the immediate task at hand — that is, the Tri-series.
"I think there are high chances that we will succeed because we have been preparing for this tournament hard.
"The fact that we are playing in familiar conditions at home and that they sent second string sides should be enough challenge to us," said Chigumbura.
At 25, Chigumbura still has more years to play the game at the highest level.
Recently he signed a deal with England County Championship side Northamptonshire as one of their overseas players and is expected to leave on 14 June.
"It’s a good deal because it allows me to come back and play for Zimbabwe whenever we may have an international assignment," he said.
Zimbabwe are set to host India and Sri-Lanka in a tri-series starting next week at the Queens Sports Club and finishing at Harare Sports Club on June 9.
Zimbabwe will also take on India in two twenty-20 matches on June 12 and 13.