Douglas Hondo

Douglas Tafadzwa Hondo (born 7 July 1979 in Bulawayo) is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He played nine Test matches as a right-arm medium-fast swing bowler,^[1] distinctive for his dreadlocks.

Career

Early progress

Hondo was first introduced to cricket at primary school, his elder brother being the first in the family to take up the game. Hondo 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. Hondo 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 excelled, first as U15 captain and then in the full team, including taking 7–10 versus Gateway High School and scoring 121 versus Hillcrest. Hondo made the Mashonaland U 13 team and then the national U15 team. A back injury put Hondo out of U19 contention for a year but he made the CFX academy in 2000.

International recognition

When he had finished at the academy he was placed with the Midlands team in Kwekwe. Hondo 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. Hondo 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 Hondo made his debut. He did not bowl well, in a poor team performance, and South Africa scored 600–3 decl., Hondo taking the wicket of Gary Kirsten for 212. Hondo acquitted himself well with the bat, playing supportive innings to Andy Flower's pair of centuries, but was dismissed in the second innings with Flower stranded on 199*.

Dropped for the second Test, Hondo did play two ODIs against England but he was very inaccurate. Not wanted for the tours, Hondo 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 did not play in the first two games but in the third he took three wickets,(Dinesh Mongia, Saurav Ganguly and VVS Laxman) and, along with Pommie Mbangwa, reduced India to 50–4. Hondo took the last wicket and Zimbabwe went on to win, with Hondo named as man of the match. Hondo then made it to the ICC Champions Trophy squad, taking more wickets against England and India.

Hondo toured England in 2003 but did not do well.

A series of back and hamstring injuries mean he has not played international cricket since January 2005.

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

He became Head Coach for Shepherd Neame league side Upminster CC and played in the Devon Cricket League, for Premier Side Sandford – in his first game he took 2 wickets for 10runs off 6 overs.

In 2011 Hondo become Player/Coach for Two Counties Cricket Division 1 side Ipswich Cricket Club. After a successful campaign in 2011 Hondo will return in 2012 to resume his duties as Player/Coach.

In 2012 Hondo played for the Hawera United Cricket Club, in New Zealand

Personal life

As a youth, he played rugby and basketball at Churchill, but no longer plays any sports except cricket. He has a big interest in music.

Hondo has a daughter born in 2011.

References

v t e Zimbabwe squad – 2003 Cricket World Cup 2 Whittall 8 Vermeulen 9 Streak (c) 10 Wishart 14 Ervine 18 Friend 22 Ebrahim 27 Murphy 33 A. Flower 42 Marillier 44 Taibu 68 G. Flower 77 Olonga 79 Hondo 99 Blignaut Coach: Marsh Alistair Campbell and Stuart Matsikenyeri were named in the original squad but withdrew from the tournament