Richard Sims
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[edit] Richard William Sims
Richards William Sims was born on the 23rd of July 1979 in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland- He came, interestingly, from a family with no real interest in cricket his father being a baseball player (presumably where he acquired such skills with the bat. He lived for most of his early life on his Father's farm at Banket northwest of Harare and not far from Chinhoyi. He sometimes goes by Gwil which is taken from his Father's name. He Enjoys fishing and hanging around with his friends (who don't play cricket so he does not have to talk about cricket).
[edit] Early Cricket
Richard's first encounter with the game came in his Grade Two year at Rydings Primary School in the northern area of Mashonaland. Richard first played in the small school's Colts side in Grade Two as they were short of players, and did well enough with bat and ball to keep his place, spending four years in the colts side and then two in the senior team. His highest score for the school team was 144 (twice) and his best bowling 10 wickets for 15 runs, bowling as fast as he could, but he cannot remember the opposition. He scored four or five centuries at junior school, opening the innings and also captaining the side. He represented Northwestern Districts in the primary schools cricket week and in his final year he was selected for the national primary schools team. His coach then had the name, as far as he recalls, of Pat Geary, and he did most to prepare Richie for cricket.
[edit] Middle Years
He progressed to Lomagundi College and played in their team, captaining all his age-group teams until Form Three, when he started playing for the school senior side halfway through the year. He did not continue his- what can only be described as- prolific standard he had shown at junior school, scoring just one century during his years there, against an English school touring the country. "I got a few wickets here and there," he said, now bowling Seam up medium "The coaches weren't really qualified at high school and we just went through the motions, really." This perhaps accounts for his less productive years.
Despite his lesser performances at high school he played for national teams at Under-13 and Under-15 levels, he later changed his bowling style again to off-spin, considering himself the habitual all-rounder, although his bowling at first received limited opportunities. "There aren't many of us [off-spinners] around," he says. "So I thought I would give it a bash and see how it goes."
[edit] Post School
He left school at the end of 1997 aged 18 and did a computer-programming course in Harare for two years. He played cricket for Old Hararians and also winter league for Chinhoyi, where he regained some of his best 'nick', recording three centuries for them.
His interest in cricket was still great, largely on his own initiative, he applied for the CFX Academy for the year 2000, and was duly accepted. His parents, despite their disinterest in cricket, gave him their backing. Richard thinks it was mainly his good record as a representative player in age-group teams over the years that earned him selection over other candidates. He praises Dave Houghton who had recently joined the coaching staff at the Academy and had helped him develop his game.
Richard played in two of the Academy's four Logan Cup matches early in 2000, but without success " it was very good fun and I learned a lot from it. I learned how to approach things better mentally, instead of just walking out on the field and playing." In 2001 he had been posted to Manicaland for the remaining two years of his contract. "It will be quite a good experience," he said at the time, although as yet he knew little of the area. When given the choice of Harare or Mutare, he enterprisingly chose the latter and has not regretted it. He speaks enthusiastically about the progress made by cricket in the province and his coaching at the local high school.
Sims flourished in Mutare, making runs and taking good wickets for the Mutare Sports Club side. His performances, which included league centuries against Harare Sports Club and Universals, and two Logan Cup fifties, earned him recognition in the Zimbabwe Board XI. His best performance for them being his eighty in the match against Gauteng B, which was a vital contribution towards victory in a run chase.
[edit] Sims for Zimbabwe
Richard Sims made his international debut in 2002 in an ODI against Pakistan, Having gone into bat Pakistan reached 305-2 in 50 overs (193mins) Sims bowled 9 overs for 49 and no wickets Mohammed Yousuf (then Yousuf Youhana) reaching 141 and claiming man-of-the-match, Sims then batted at ten and scored 7 not out as Zimbabwe notched up 295-9 in their 50 overs with Andy Flower scoring 77 before edging the ball with the help of Wasim Akram. His international career only lasted 3 matches and 31 runs with his last ODI being played against South Africa at southampton in 2003- here he scored his highest score of 24 as Zimbabwe scored 173-8 off their 50 overs South Africa duly caught this total in 35.2 overs with Greme Smith hitting 69(80) and Jaques Rudolph also scoring 69(97) again Sims had no luck with the ball bowling 3 overs for 18runs and no wickets.
[edit] Sims in the ZC rebellion
In 2004 Zimbabwean cricket encountered a rebellion from some key players due to selection issues. One of the main people in his dispute was Max Ebrahim who was at the time head of selectors, due to his lack of cricket credentials- they argued that selectors should have sufficient experience as a player, official or coach. Later Heath Streak agreed to resume playing for Zimbabwe whilst Sims, Raymond Price and Travis Friend respecting their contracts with English clubs- Sims however never played for Zimbabwe again.
[edit] Sims Now?
Now Sims plays for Norfolk clubs scoring quite freely, he also coaches cricket, hockey and rugby at Norwich School for Boys, working as a batting and bowling coach. He focases on the U14A Rugby, Hockey and Cricket teams at school and is a well liked member of staff.
[edit] Sims as a Sportsman
As a batsman Richard likes to bat between numbers four and six. He feels his main strength is in the drive, and considers himself as a straight hitter, although he also plays a good pull and cut using a good eye and a blend of timing and power to deliver strokes and blows. He has only recently taken to bowling off-spin, but has developed an arm ball - `and a fast straight one and a slow straight one!'. He usually fields in close as he cannot throw well after an arm operation after a rugby injury at school, or `in the ring' in one-day cricket.
Sims was also a notable rugby player at scrum-half who represented Zimbabwe Schools, and the injury took place on tour in South Africa. It does not affect his bowling, but he still cannot throw well, and persuaded him to give up rugby to concentrate on cricket. He has had no major cricket injuries, although he suffered from back trouble persuading him to give up fast bowling. He represented national rugby teams from junior school upwards. In 2000 he played for Helensburgh, west of Glasgow in Scotland, and had a good season, taking `lot of wickets, with two hundreds, three nineties and a lot of fifties'. He averaged about 51 with the bat for the season. He returned again in 2001, and despite having a great many matches rained off (it being Scotland) managed a good season with three centuries. He also did plenty of bowling, with success.
