Douglas Hondo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Douglas Hondo Zimbabwe (ZIM)
Batting style	Right-hand bat
Bowling type	Right-arm fast-medium
	Tests	ODIs
Matches	9	56
Runs scored	83	127
Batting average	9.22	7.47
100s/50s	-/-	-/-
Top score	19	17
Balls bowled	1486	2381
Wickets	21	61
Bowling average	36.85	35.59
5 wickets in innings	1	-
10 wickets in match	-	n/a
Best bowling	6/59	4/37
Catches/stumpings	5/-	15/-
As of 11 February 2006 Source: Cricinfo.com

Douglas Tafadzwa Hondo (born July 7, 1979 in Bulawayo) is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He is a right-arm fast-medium swing bowler

Douglas Hondo is without a doubt one of Zimbabwe's biggest characters. With his dreadlocks and cheerful, bighearted style he epitomises the attitude of many Zimbabwean cricketers

Douggie, as he is known, was first introduced to cricket at primary school, his elder brother being the first in the family to take up the game. Douggie and his brother were under the guidance of Peter Sharples, a pioneer of taking cricket into the townships, or "high-density suburbs" as they are known in Zimbabwe. He coached the Queensdale Primary School team which consisted mainly of players who had no family background in the game due to the Rhodesian racist policies. Douggie was captain of the team in grades 6 and 7, opening the batting and the bowling. Like Tatenda Taibu and his mates, he attended Churchill High School. He produced several memorable performances, first as U15 captain and then in the full team, including 7-10 versus Gateway High School and 121 versus Hillcrest. Douggie made the Mashonaland U 13 team and then the national U15 team. A back injury put Douggie out of U19 contention for a year but he made the CFX academy in 2000

David Houghton thinks Douggie has an exemplary attitude and his club side in England, Lydney, reckoned him the best overseas player they had ever had. When he had finished at the academy he was placed with the Midlands team in Kwekwe. They were, and still are, the worst Logan Cup side, and Douggie was plagued by bad form, taking only 11 wickets at more than 50. Despite this he was, surprisingly, called up for the first Test versus South Africa. Douggie assumed he was to be a net bowler but he was bowling well in the nets and then the first choice, Brighton Watambwa, was injured and Douggie made his debut. He did not bowl well at all but he was not alone, for South Africa scored 600-3 dec. Douggie consoled himself because it was not just him getting hit. He did get Gary Kirsten out for 212, and at number 11 he supported Andy Flower's amazingly heroic innings of 142 and 199*. Douggie was very irritated to be given out in the second innings with Flower stranded on 199* but the general consensus was that it was a dodgy decision.

Dropped for the second Test Douggie did play two ODIs against England but he was very inaccurate. Not wanted for the tours, Douggie was sent to play club cricket in Adelaide with Stuart Matsikenyeri. Here he worked on his accuracy and was rewarded by being called up to the squad in India for the three-match ODI series. He didn't play in the first two games but in the third he was a revelation, taking three wickets (Dinesh Mongia, Saurav Ganguly and VVS Laxman) and along with Pommie Mbangwa reduced India to 50-4. Douggie took the last wicket and Zimbabwe went on to win, with Douggie named as man of the match. Douggie then made it to the ICC Champions Trophy squad, taking more wickets against England and India.

Douggie toured England in 2003 but didn't do spectacularly well. In his nine Tests so far Douggie has taken 21 wickets at 36, with 6-59 against Bangladesh in early 2005 his best performance. Douggie has to shoulder the burden of being the most experienced bowler in the team, and we hope he will do so admirably. if he can bowl as well as he did in Bangladesh Douggie could go "all the way"

Douggie has sadly not played an international match since his successful tour to Bangladesh, because of recurring back injuries. When he has recovered he should for a part of the new ball attack for Zimbabwe for some time.

He spent the whole of last year battling a hamstring injury, and applied for a coaching job within Zimbabwe Cricket but changed his mind after declaring he wanted to fight his way back into the national side.

Hondo turned out for Alexandra Sports Club in the National League and was called into camp with the national side. The injury had clearly affected him as he was bowling with a short run up.

Although he has not played international cricket since January 2005, he is still one of the country's most experienced players, with nine Tests and 56 ODIs under his belt.

Following a difference of opinion with Zimbabwe Cricket (who insisted that 4 players sporting dreadlocks either had their hair cut or were dropped) Doug has made his way to England.

He has just been revealed as the new Head Coach for Shepherd Neame league side Upminster CC, and will be responsible for coaching the 60+ senior members and the 200+ colts members. In addition he will be terrorising other sides in the league and cup competitons, as he will be playing for Upminster's 1st XI (they have 6 in total!!) in all competitions he is eligible for.

Douggie's cricketing heroes are "all the old guys who keep on performing- Sachin Tendulkar, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Walsh" and he rates Marcus Trescothick as his toughest opponent, as well as the Indians but he appears to have their number! He used to play rugby and basketball at Churchill but no longer plays any sports except cricket. He counts as friends everyone in his team and has a big interest in music.