E-Paper
Hamilton Masakadza
Masakadza was still a schoolboy when he set the record of being the youngest batsman ever to score a century on his Test debut.
|
|||||
Hamilton Masakadza was still a schoolboy at Churchill High School in Harare when he set the record, since beaten by Mohammad Ashraful, of being the youngest batsman ever to score a century on his Test debut, at 17 years and 254 days. This was against West Indies in 2000-01 when, batting at No. 3 instead of his normal opening position, he scored a composed 119 that was largely responsible for Zimbabwe saving the match after conceding a first-innings lead of 216.
Earlier in the year he had not only become the youngest Zimbabwean ever to score a first-class century, but also the first black player to do so. A year later, though, he put his professional cricket career on hold as he began a three-year course at the University of the Free State.
Although an agreement was reached that he would still be available for Zimbabwe if required, he could not maintain his form playing against club opposition in South Africa, and the national selectors initially decided to await his return to the country in 2005. But the Streak crisis led to his early recall in the one-dayers against England where, unsurprisingly, he struggled before registering his maiden ODI fifty in the final game. His return to the Test match team brought mixed results, but he was Zimbabwe's best batsman, technically, on their tour of South Africa, where he showed an application lacking in his team mates.
Hamilton joins Vusi, Tatenda Taibu and Matsikenyeri in hailing from Churchill Boys High School. An opening batsman of real potential Hamilton until recently held the record as being the youngest man to score a test century on debut, at 17 years and 254 days. This was against West Indies in 2000-01 when, batting at No. 3 instead of his normal opening position, he scored a stylish and relatively risk free 119.
