Stragglers Cricket Week brings nearly 500 young players together

Stragglers Cricket Week has started in Harare with nearly 500 young cricketers taking part at Hartmann House and St George’s College. The programme began on Monday and will run until Friday, with 236 registered players joined by about 240 participants from six development sides.

The Stanbic Bank-backed event is aimed at primary school children aged between nine and 12. Grade 4 and 5 players take part in the morning, while Grade 6 and 7 pupils play in the afternoon. Each session includes 12 teams, with development teams included in the programme.

Players are assigned to teams named after cricket-playing countries, including Zimbabwe’s regional rivals and leading international sides such as England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the West Indies, India and Sri Lanka. Teams face different opponents each day during the week.

The format is designed to give every child a chance to contribute. Each player must bowl at least two overs in a match, while batting positions are changed from day to day. Wicketkeeping is available to any participant, and all players are expected to take part in the fielding.

The development teams come from Mabvuku, Highfield, Mashonaland Central, Chitungwiza, Glen View and Glen Norah. Most of the other players are from Harare and Marondera, with additional participants registered from Bulawayo, Kwekwe and Chegutu. The event brings the groups together in matches they might not otherwise play against each other.

Stanbic Bank is providing shirts for registered and development players, as well as meals for coaches and development participants. The bank’s support forms part of its wider corporate social investment work in areas including education, health, sanitation, environmental sustainability and sport.

Stragglers Cricket Week has also served as an early pathway for several Zimbabwe senior players. Former participants include Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine, Ryan Burl, Brian Bennett, Dion Myers, Brad Evans, Innocent Kaia, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, alongside Matthew Campbell, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Kundai Matigimu, Ben Curran, Mike Frost and Jono Campbell.