Back on Track - Andy Blignaut

The Andy Blignaut issue was quite controversial last season. After an exciting start to his international career in 2000/01, he missed the whole season for various reasons, and there were reports of disputes with administrators and fellow players. However, he has returned to the game this season and is enjoying enough success to make him a likely starter for the series against Pakistan next month. This past weekend he recorded a maiden first-class century in the Logan Cup against Midlands, a typically aggressive innings that included nine sixes, some of them huge hits. He spoke to ZCO about his situation.

"I came down with a few injuries at the beginning and I had a few minor disagreements with our Union," Andy says about his reasons for his absence from all but a few club matches last season. "This forced me to rethink where I wanted to go, and I decided that just a short break from cricket would probably do me a bit of good."

He followed several different lines of interest during his absence from the game. "Mainly I got involved with polocrosse and a few business ventures," he says. "From my early childhood I've been riding horses and it was just another sport that I enjoyed. I wanted to participate a bit and now I've had that experience I won't be returning there. I did some male modelling for some fun and entertainment - it wasn't really a serious thing. It came and went.

"Now I've decided to return to cricket and I've found my enjoyment of the game again," he says. "Round about August I decided I wanted to start playing again, and I'm pleased to be back." He reopened negotiations with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union regarding a contract, and will be employed again by them as from the beginning of November.

"I've started quite well at the moment," he goes on, something of an understatement coming so soon after his devastating century. At the start of the club season for Alexandra Sports Club he devastated Old Georgians with eight wickets in an innings for just 23 runs, "and I haven't really looked back since. It's been a case of finding my rhythm again, which took a lot of bowling practice, and it's all coming back together again now."

With his good club form the Mashonaland selectors immediately restored him to the provincial squad and team. He has bowled impressively, if a little erratically at times, without returning outstanding figures, but his century against Midlands reminded everyone that here was an all-rounder of outstanding quality. "Obviously to score a hundred in what they call first-class cricket here," he says, with a hint of disparagement about the quality of the Logan Cup, "is an achievement, but I've never viewed hundreds and landmarks in a big way. I just believe that when I'm out there to bat I'm going to give my best effort, and whether I make 93 or 120 it's the effort I put in that counts."

He found no trouble from the Midlands attack, not even from Test left-arm spinner Raymond Price, whom he hit for most of his sixes. "The pitch is not really conducive to quick bowling and it wasn't turning that big, so it was just a case of waiting for the right ball to hit and hitting it, I suppose." A century off 91 balls doesn't indicate that he had to wait very long.

How does he feel about his bowling now? "At the beginning, like I said, I was still struggling to find my rhythm. It wasn't coming out as well, but in this last game against Midlands I put a bit more pace on and the ball is coming out quite nicely. So I'm quite excited about what is in store during the next few weeks.

"I'm looking forward to getting into the frame against Pakistan and I think I stand quite a good chance because I've bowled quite well through this tournament, although I haven't picked up many wickets."

Andy has no particular Pakistanis in his dreams of the future; no visions of rolling over Inzamam with the ball or hitting out against Waqar Younis. "We'll see who's coming and if I'm in the team we'll obviously study their weaknesses," he says, "and then just get on with it from there."

Clearly he must be thinking also of the World Cup. "Basically I want to play every game now, so come the World Cup I want to be a big force in Zimbabwe cricket. From now on I have a bigger hunger for the game and I want to do better than I have done before."

So are all those problems that have interrupted his career been resolved yet, including those with other players? "I believe I've had very positive feedback from them," he says. "They seem to be quite willing to help me out, so I'm happy with the guys at the top and think we could work together quite well."

If he can keep a clear head and his mind focused on the game, many believe Andy Blignaut has the ability to become a major force in international cricket - and we all know how Zimbabwe needs that. To rephrase an old saying, this season is the first season of the rest of his career, and probably no Zimbabwean player will be watched with more interest during the next few months.