Masvaure

A multi-talented sportsman, Masvaure's entry to cricket was serendipitous. Baseball was his first love, where he was the school's vice-captain. Identifying his big-hitting prowess, the cricket coach forced him to fill a spot in the junior cricket team - apparently, they were a player short. It was there that Masvaure's fascination towards the sport started.

He hasn't looked back since then. Masvaure made rapid strides, progressing through U-13s, U-16s and eventually the U-19s. He was barely 16, when he was picked for the Zimbabwe U-19s and coincidentally, he has played alongside Gary Ballance of England. Masvaure has featured in two U-19 World Cups (2008, 2010).

After a few successful years at the domestic cricket, the Zimbabwean selectors drafted him into the Test side against New Zealand in 2016. He made his debut in the first Test and scored 42 runs in the match, which wasn't enough to retain his place in the team. His fitness was also a cause of concern. A few months later, Masvaure flew to Australia to pursue his career in cricket and is now a certified Level 3 coach from Cricket South Africa.

By Sriram AS