| Player: | H Masakadza |
DateLine: 20th February 2007
Providing the much-needed experience in a young side Hamilton Masakadza is one of Zimbabwe’s few record makers. While still a schoolboy he became the youngest batsman ever to score a century on his Test debut at 17 years and 254 days. This was against the West Indies at Harare in 2000-01 when batting at No 3 instead of his normal opening position he put together a well compiled 119 that was largely responsible for Zimbabwe saving the match after conceding a first innings lead of 216. When he followed this up with 85 in his second game against South Africa a couple of months later great things were predicted for him. A technically correct batsman with a wide array of strokes Masakadza’s subsequent career has not been very prolific though his class has come through even during his brief knocks particularly when he got 71 in a losing cause against India at Harare in 2005. He has also proved his worth in ODIs though given his batting approach he is more at home in Test matches.