Tall and muscular, Kyle Jarvis is equipped with raw pace, and with good coaching, he will smoothen his control as well. The son of former Zimbabwe player, Malcolm Jarvis, Jarvis was the chief strike bowler for Zimbabwe at the Under-19 World Cup in 2008, and was fast-tracked into the national side after the appointment of Heath Streak as bowling coach. Jarvis was blooded in the home series against Kenya, and in this and subsequent one-day series in Bangladesh and South Africa, he impressed many with his pace, touching 145km/h at times. He lacked control, however, and tended to be expensive, although he continued to pick up wickets. Jarvis made his first-class debut in an Intercontinental Cup game against Kenya in October 2009, and took 6 for 60 in his first Logan Cup game for the Mashonaland Eagles. Jarvis was included in Zimbabwe's squad for the tour of the West Indies in 2009-10, but withdrew from the tour with a stress fracture of the lower back. A keen sportsman, he has also played rugby for the Zimbabwe U-19s. His comeback to international cricket coincided with Zimbabwe's return to the Test fold. He debuted in his country's first Test in almost six years, which was against Bangladesh in Harare in August 2011.
Liam Brickhill