Dion Ebrahim

A strokeplaying batsman with a good temperament and a sound technique, he is very quick between the wickets and a brilliant fielder.

Date of Birth: August 7, 1980, Bulawayo Test Debut: Against Bangladesh at Bulawayo, 2001  ODI Debut: Against Bangladesh at Harare, 2001  Bats: Right Hand Bat  Bowls: Right Arm Medium

A strokeplaying batsman with a good temperament and a sound technique, Dion Ebrahim favours the middle order, but has been used mostly as an opener in international matches, with mixed results. After a shaky start in 2000-01, he made three scores of 71 in the space of four Tests and followed that with 94 - his Test best so far - against India at Delhi in March 2002.

He scored a fifty in each of the two Tests in Zimbabwe's bleak 2003 England tour, but has struggled in one-day internationals despite being a regular since April 2001. But in the turmoil which followed the sacking of Heath Streak he found himself in the role of the side's elder statesman. He prefers facing pace, and is very quick between the wickets and a brilliant fielder. A graduate of the CFX Academy in Harare.

Dion Ebrahim is a player with the technique and shots of a top-class batsman but just falls short of those heights with inconsistency in his scores. This may be partly due to him being used as an opener when he is more accustomed to and more comfortable in the middle order, but even in first class cricket his average is only slightly over thirty.

However, he is a player of obvious talent, and that combined with his experience and his magnificent fielding skills make him a valuable member of the Zimbabwe team, especially after the departure of a lot of senior members of the side in recent years.