Zimbabwe's Henry Olonga was the first black cricketer and youngest-ever player to represent Zimbabwe at international level. He came back from being called for throwing on his Test debut, and numerous injury problems, to hit the highs of international cricket, including a memorable three wickets in five balls to dismiss India in a World Cup group match in 1999. However, the last 18 months have been tough for Olonga as persistent injury and loss of form have plagued him. After such a miserable time he had every reason to be downhearted but Cricket365's Anthony Pascoe found him in an optimistic mood and ready to resume his international career. 

1. There are a number of really talented youngsters coming through the ranks in Zimbabwe. How encouraging is this to a team that has traditionally been lacking depth in numbers? 
Yes, it is really good to see so many talented youngsters coming through. I think the measures and hard work that we have been putting in for a really long time is finally starting to pay off. Guys like Hamilton Masakadza and Tatenda Taibu are phenomenal talents.

As far as I am concerned the future of Zimbabwe cricket is very bright. There are some very decent players who have come through and we need to keep producing three or four good players every year so that we can continue to raise the standard across the board - at regional level and in turn at national level.


2. Who or what has been behind these developments? 
Development started a long time ago. We have been sending our emerging players to academies all around the world and to the recently established academy under Dave Houghton in Zimbabwe.

Guys like Masakadza and Taibu are still at school and haven't even set foot in an academy yet. But I must pay tribute to the guys who have coached them as well, Bruce Makovah and Steven Mangongo are two very good coaches.


3. You are probably a role model to a number of younger cricketers, but who were your role-models growing up? 
I didn't really have any Zimbabwean role-models. We didn't have any television coverage of cricket in the late eighties and early nineties. But I was a big admirer of the Pakistani duo Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis as well as Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding. Those guys were the guys I really looked up to. 


4. You have a brother who plays rugby for Zimbabwe, did you ever consider a career in that game?
I guess I could have been a rugby player, but I didn't really have the drive or passion to succeed at it. I think I realized that I wasn't big enough or strong enough to face up to the monsters from South Africa and New Zealand so I chose to stick to cricket.


5. How about music and the stage. Did you ever consider that as an alternative path to cricket? 
That is something that I would really like to take up further. I would like to explore my options in that arena, but for now it is cricket. There is still a lot of cricket for me to play and it remains my first priority. 


6. Tell us about the song you have recorded. 
It is called 'Our Zimbabwe' and it is a song about patriotism. Our national pride has been eroded over the last year or so due to the situation we are in. I wanted to write a meaningful song that said 'Don't give up, things will change.'

The video that they keep showing on television was actually made by C.S.I. the people responsible for the broadcasts of the Tests. They decided to make it and full credit to them for a great job.
 

7. Are you finding it frustrating sitting on the sidelines at the moment? 
Yes I am. I have not been bowling as well as I did in the past, but I have been out for a while with injury and am only now getting back to full fitness.

As far as I am concerned things are coming along nicely and I am ready to play as soon as the selectors want me. Obviously I was not what the selectors were looking for, for the first Test, and the wicket doesn't make my chances look good for this game.


8. You have been injured, so have a number of other Zimbabwean stars. There has been criticism leveled that this is the result of too much cricket. Does the Zimbabwean team play too much? 
Well we have had almost a months break since our series against the West Indies and we do get periods of rest, but that is a difficult question… Because there are a lot of injuries in the squad, although a few of them are from freak accidents.

For instance Brian Murphy twisted his ankle while playing a game. On the other hand Everton Matambanadzo has tendonitis. So clearly some of the problems are from stress and over use - particularly with the bowlers.

Then you look at somebody like Heath Streak who is just so strong and so fit and who plays as much as anybody. You have to wonder how many of the injuries are from playing too much and how many are just from a lack of fitness. I think there is just too much up for discussion to put it down to just one thing.


9. What effect has the political situation in Zimbabwe had on cricket and the national team in general? 
There has definitely been an effect, everybody has felt the effects of what is going on. As a team we have pledged to stay together, to stay united and loyal to each other. It is always a great honour to represent your country and to do it proud. As a team we have said that we will trust and respect each other no matter what. 


10. Is the political situation the reason behind some of the top guys, like Goodwin and Johnson, leaving for foreign shores? 
I don't think you can say that. Each person who left went for their own reasons and you will have to ask them about it. They had personal reasons and I won't criticize them for leaving, I would rather wish them luck. We went through a period when the future of cricket in Zimbabwe was uncertain and things looked rocky but that is passed now.

I am very confident that all the guys playing here now will stay. We all play here, live here, grew up here and it is home for all of us. The pay is better now and the opportunities are good. If guys want to earn extra they can always spend time playing for teams in England. But now the team is getting better and we have wonderful opportunities playing against the best teams in the world. There is simply no reason for any of us to leave now.

By: Anthony Pascoe