Zimbabwe has emerged as one of the best fighting Nations in cricket. The passion in the players to win any game for their country is second to none. They can upset any team in ICC tournaments. In the T20 World Cup in Australia last year, the Minnows defeated Pakistan in low low-scoring thriller and damaged their chances of qualifying for the knockouts. The leadership in the team has been a key factor and the Nation has come a long way since its first-ever test match in 1992 against India. In this article, we will tell you about the top 10 run-getters for Zimbabwe in the shortest format.
1. Craig Ervine
The left-handed batter was born in Harare in 1985. He was picked up in the 2010 T20 WC and soon made an ODI debut against India. His debut in the shortest format came against Sri Lanka in 2010. He has played 59 T20 matches since his debut. He was given the captaincy role in 2021 and continues to be the skipper in the shortest format. He has led the team in 33 matches and scored 696 runs. His strike rate in his T20I career is 106.02.
2. Brendon Taylor
Brendon Taylor was a former right-handed batter and a wicketkeeper for Zimbabwe. He was born in Harare in 1986 and made his T20I debut against Bangladesh in 2006. He played 44 matches in the shortest format and contributed with 859 runs. He was also a useful off-spinner who could chip in with few overs. He was named the captain in 2011 and led the team in 18 matches until 2021. He scored 375 runs in those matches and had a strike rate of 118.23 in his T20i career. He retired from international cricket in 2021.
3. Hamilton Masakadza
Hamilton Masakadza was a former right-handed batter and a leg-break bowler. He was born in Harare in 1983 and made his T20I debut against Bangladesh in an away tour in 2006. The batter has played 66 matches in the shortest format and scored 1600 runs with a strike rate of 116.28. He was given the captaincy in 2016 and led the team in 19 matches until 2019. He scored 295 runs as captain before announcing his retirement in 2019. He remains one of Zimbabwe’s strongest openers in the limited-over formats
4. Elton Chigumbura
The right-handed batter and right-arm medium bowler is a bowling all-rounder for Zimbabwe. Born in Midlands in 1986, he made his T20I debut against Bangladesh in 2006. He has played 56 T20I matches and has an impressive strike rate of 139.13 with 864 total runs in his career. He was given the captaincy role in 2010 and has led the team in 18 matches until 2016. The all-rounder scored 244 runs as skipper of the team in the shortest format. He possesses the ability to turn the games around in his team’s favor.
5. Sean Williams
Sean Williams is a left-handed batter and a left-arm orthodox spinner. He was born in Bulawayo in 1986 and made his T20I debut in 2006 against Bangladesh. He has played 68 T20 matches since his debut. He came to notice after his consistent performances with bat and ball in the 2004 Under -19 CWC. He was appointed as the T20I captain in 2019 and led the team in 11 matches. He scored 216 runs as captain until 2021. His overall stats in T20I cricket include 1482 runs at a strike rate of 125.38. He is regarded as one of the most reliable batters for Zimbabwe.
6. Justice Chibhabha
Justice Chibhabha is a batting all-rounder who is popularly known as “Chamu Chibhabha.” He was born in Masvingo in 1986. The 37-year-old right-handed batter and right-arm medium bowler made his T20I debut against Bangladesh in 2006. He has played 36 T20 matches since his first and has scored 667 runs at a strike rate of 104.9. He was appointed as the captain in 2020 and led the team in three matches. With the bat as the leader of the team, he scored 46 runs.
7. Prosper Utseya
Prosper Utseya was a former right-arm off-break bowling all-rounder. He was born in Harare in 1985. He established himself among the key bowlers of Zimbabwe and possessed the strength to keep the scoring rate in check. He made his T20I debut against Bangladesh in 2006 and played 34 matches. He took 26 wickets in his T20I career. He was named the captain in 2006 and led the team in 10 matches until 2010. He scored 30 runs as captain batting lower down the order. The Zimbabwean announced his retirement from all forms of the game in 2015.
8. Regis Chakabva
The wicketkeeper batter for Zimbabwe in all forms of the game was born in Harare in 1987. He has played 49 T20 matches after making his debut in 2008 against Pakistan. He has scored 682 runs in his T20i career at a strike rate of 122.44. After being appointed as the captain in 2022, he led the team in two matches and scored 13 runs as captain.
9. Sikander Raza
The absolute superstar for Zimbabwe in the shortest format of the game was born in Punjab, Pakistan. He is a right-handed batting all-rounder who bowls off-break and keeps the batter in check. He made his debut in the shortest format against Bangladesh in 2013 and has played 66 matches. The all-rounder is a regular inclusion and a key factor for Zimbabwe. He was the captain of the team between 2015 and 2021 for four matches and scored 12 runs.
10. Graeme Cremer
Graeme Cremer was born in Harare in 1986. He is a right-arm leg-break bowler who made his T20I debut against Canada in 2008. Since then, he has played 29 matches in the format and has taken 35 wickets. He was the captain of T20I between 2016 and 2018 and led the team in five matches. With the bat, he scored 11 runs in those matches.
