David Mutendera. “MAKING MY TEST DEBUT WAS HORRIBLE”

David Mutendera burst onto the the scene as a big strapping lad in the U19 ICC Cricket World Cup in South Africa back in 1998, and many felt that Zimbabwe had finally found the fast bowler to replace an aging Eddo Brandes, and an overworked Heath Streak. Sadly that never happened. Mutendera remembers his test debut, which also turned out to be his last test match with sadness. “It was against New Zealand at Queens Sports club in Bulawayo back in 2000, and Guy Whittle refused to play, saying Craig Wishart should have been in the side ahead of me”. Mutendera who is now a selector also believes that Zimbabwe’s controversial former managing director Ozias Bvute had a big part to play in the deterioration, adding that because so many people of cricketing knowledge had “abandoned the ship, Zimbabwe cricket was left to Bvute’s mercy”.