Vusi Sibanda

Vusimuzi "Vusi" Sibanda (born 10 October 1983) is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He has played international cricket for the Zimbabwe in all three formats of the game. He also played for Midlands in the Logan Cup.

Vusi Sibanda

Personal information
Full name	Vusimuzi Sibanda
Born	(1983-10-10) 10 October 1983 (age 41) Highfield, Harare, Zimbabwe
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium
Role	Opening batsman
International information
National side	Zimbabwe (2003-2016)
Test debut (cap 60)	4 November 2003 v West Indies
Last Test	25 October 2014 v Bangladesh
ODI debut (cap 75)	22 November 2003 v West Indies
Last ODI	15 June 2016 v India
ODI shirt no.	46
T20I debut (cap 13)	12 September 2007 v Australia
Last T20I	12 March 2016 v Afghanistan
T20I shirt no.	10 (previously 26, 46)
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2002–2006	Midlands
2009–	Mid West Rhinos
	Takashinga
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI T20I FC Matches 14 127 25 125 Runs scored 591 2,994 483 7,341 Batting average 21.10 24.54 20.12 33.36 100s/50s 0/2 2/21 0/1 18/31 Top score 93 116 59 217 Balls bowled – 267 – 2,696 Wickets – 3 – 38 Bowling average – 88.33 – 42.71 5 wickets in innings – 0 – 1 10 wickets in match – 0 – 0 Best bowling – 1/12 – 5/55 Catches/stumpings 16/– 42/– 12/– 147/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 15 June 2017

Early career

Sibanda is a right-handed opening batsman who showed potential as a teenager, graduating from the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy and being fast-tracked into the national team.

He grew up in Highfields, Harare, was spotted early on by developmental coaches, and earned a scholarship to Churchill Boys High. He plays domestic cricket for Mid West Rhinos.

International career

He made his One Day International (ODI) debut in 2003 against the West Indies and made 58. Sibanda however struggled at international level from there on in, not scoring another half century for 18 innings, making at one stage 3 consecutive ducks.

In May 2005 his place in the national team came under threat by the imminent return of the 'rebel' Zimbabwean cricketers who had earlier walked out on the team in a dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket. The return was unsuccessful and Sibanda again became a regular at the top of the order for Zimbabwe, making his maiden ODI hundred in 2006 against Bermuda in the Caribbean Tri Nations Tournament.

He made a return to international cricket (although he denied ever retiring^[1]) for the Africa XI in the 2007 Afro-Asia Cup. He played in two of the three ODIs, scoring 80 runs at an average of 40.00. Although Sibanda was not playing initially in the 2011 Cricket World Cup an injury to Sean Williams meant a call-up for him. He scored 61 off 57 balls in an innings that included 7 fours. Zimbabwe reached 308/6.^[2]

Sibanda was included to the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 for Zimbabwe as the opening batsman with skipper Hamilton Masakadza. He scored his maiden T20I fifty of 59 from 54 balls against Hong Kong on 8 March 2016, during first match of group B in qualifying round. Zimbabwe won the match by 14 runs and Sibanda won man of the match award as well.^[3]

Career summary

Tests

Test Debut: vs West Indies, Harare, 2003–2004
Latest Test: vs New Zealand, Bulawayo, 2011–2012

• Sibanda's best Test score of 93 was made against New Zealand, Harare, 2011.

One-day internationals

ODI Debut: vs West Indies, Bulawayo, 2003–2004
Latest ODI: vs Asia XI, Chennai, 2007

• Sibanda's best ODI score of 116
• His best ODI bowling figures of 1 for 12 came against England, Birmingham, ICC Champions Trophy 2004

References

2. Telegraph staff and agencies (20 March 2011) Cricket World Cup 2011: Kenya v Zimbabwe, match report The Telegraph
3. Moonda, Firdose. "Sibanda fifty takes Zimbabwe closer to main draw". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 March 2016.

External links

• Cricinfo page on Vusi Sibanda
• HowSTAT! statistical profile on Vusi Sibanda