Mawoyo getting there slowly

IF the phrase, ‘Turn things around’ could be applied to anyone, it has to be Tino Mawoyo.  For some time, it seemed he was content with just doing enough to get by.  Yes, spanners were thrown in his path but at times he did put himself in situations where he armed his enemies.  That aside, his talent is there for all to see. For two consecutive years — 2003 and 2004 — he captained the Zimbabwe U19 Cricket team.
However, when other members of the class of 2004 – Elton Chigumbura, Brendon Taylor, Sean Williams and Vusi Sibanda – are averaging 113 ODI’s and 13 Tests, Mawoyo has four ODI’s and eight Tests to his name.

 “After the 2004 U19 World Cup, I went back to school for my last year, the other guys had already finished school and with the rebel saga, most of the U19 team were fast tracked into the national team,” said Mawoyo.  Between 2005 and 2007, Mawayo went through a period that is reminiscent of Ricky Ponting’s early years, in that his life style outside cricket and his fitness levels affected his game negatively.

Part of the problem is that Mawoyo comes from a middle to upper class back ground. To some, cricket was not a ticket out of poverty for him, and for others he was a black boy with an attitude. This meant Mawoyo had to work twice as hard as others to break into the team and once in, every game he plays is a do or die game.

Throughout this period, not even good and consistent performances for his provincial team Easterns, could get him a sniff at the national team.
At some point, Mawayo managed to sort out his life. This coincided with the new franchise system, which brought in a revamped first class format.  For two consecutive seasons he and Hamilton Masakadza formed a formidable opening partnership in all three forms of the game for Mountaineers.

“Yes, it did take me longer to break into the team, but I believe the time was well spent. I was able to develop and mature to the point that I know my game better.  This in turn has allowed me to find my feet in test cricket,” said Mawoyo.

Boy, did he find his feet? Of course one swallow does not make a summer, and one hopes that he is aware of this.  But, his record breaking innings in his second home Test Series against Pakistani was more proof of his quality. The most pleasing aspect of his innings is that it was against a recognised Test playing nation with one of the best spin bowlers in the world, Saeed Ajmal, in their team.

For Mawayo to have set his stall out so early on his Test career was risky to say the least. He has set a high standard for himself, which he has been able to maintain. 
Pound for pound, Mawoyo is arguably the best Test batsman in Zimbabwe at the moment.  He holds the second best batting average of 30,26 after Brendon Taylor.
 However, when one considers that Taylor has 19 Tests to Mawoyo’s eight Tests, his average is testament to his ability.

“As much as I am happy with my test form I believe I can also contribute in the shorter formats of game. I will just have to keeping work at it”. 
With an eye to the future Mawoyo holds an Australian level 2 Coaching Certificate which allows him to coach at national level.