BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
FIVE years after prematurely ending his international cricket career, former Zimbabwe cricket seam bowler Tawanda Mupariwa is still making the headlines for his exploits on the cricket field only this time in Australia’s Grade cricket circuit.
Mupariwa, who is part of a growing group of former Zimbabwe international players now based in Australia, was recognised last weekend for his impressive season for New Town Cricket Club (NTCC) after being awarded the Joe Coe medal which is presented to the club’s Player of the Year.
The 36-year-old pacer is now in his fifth year in Australia where he transformed into an accomplished all-rounder for NTCC, a Grade level cricket club representing New Town in Tasmania’s Grade Cricket Competition.
During his time at the club, Mpariwa has shared the changing room with international cricket stars such as England’s fast bowler Jofra Archer and Australia internationals Dan Christian and D’Arcy Short.
Grade cricket, also known as Premier Cricket is the name of the senior inter-club or district cricket is the top level of club cricket played throughout Australia and plays a key role within the country’s player pathway to provincial (state) and international level.
Mpariwa has been using the international experience his garnered during his career with Zimbabwe to make an impact for his club and the Jock Coe medal is testimony to how like fine wine he continues to mature with age.
In addition to being named the club’s best player, Mupariwa also scooped another award for consistency.
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“Congratulations to Tawanda Mupariwa, who took out this season’s Jock Coe Medal in an extremely close vote count. ‘T’, who had an extremely consistent season with both bat and ball and also took out the D.G Hickman Consistency Award, is a deserving and popular winner!
“He is a great mentor to our up and coming playing group. T is a much loved and valued member of not only our Club, but the wider cricket community. Congratulations T,” the NTCC took to social media to congratulate the former Zimbabwe international.
The award was named after Jock Coe who was a Cricket Tasmania Member for over 60 years and was awarded Honorary Membership status by the Association, particularly for his dedication as a player, coach and administrator with NTCC.
Mostly a top order batsman for NTCC, Mupariwa finished the season with two half centuries and a high score of 96 while he managed to scoop 16 wickets in 17 matches including best figures of four for 28.
And apart from playing, the Bulawayo-born former Chevrons star is doing some coaching with New Town and Cricket Tasmania in their Hurricanes junior programmes as a specialist bowling coach.
Mupariwa played 40 One DAY Internationals (ODIs), four Twenty20 Internationals (T20is) and one Test match in an international career spanning 12 years for Zimbabwe.
He still holds the record as quickest bowler to 50 ODI wickets for the country, a feat that he achieved in his 28th match against Sri Lanka in 2008.
Mupariwa’s last match for Zimbabwe was an ODI home tie against Asian giants India in June 2016 before moving to Australia.
At NTCC, who are also known as ‘The Bucks’, Mupariwa plays alongside his young brother Tafara, a decent batsman who left the country before breaking into the national team despite a promising start to his domestic career.
The 25-year-old batsman has played 23 First Class, 18 List A and seven T20 matches for the Bulawayo based Tuskers.
Tafara finished the season for ‘The Bucks’ with a best score of 86 which was his only half century in 17 matches.
