BY BRIAN GOREDEMA THE country’s premier schoolboy T20 tournament the CABS St George’s Smash T20 roared back after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic ends today at St George’s College in Harare.
The tournament features the top cricket schools in Zimbabwe, St Andrews from South Africa and Windhoek from Namibia.
St Andrews who lost to St George’s in the last final before the Covid-19-induced break are the favourites to win the tournament today.
The Cabs Smash T20 which is in its 17th year has become a breeding ground for new stars who have gone on to play for Zimbabwe.
One such player is former St George’s student and former Zimbabwe Under-19 captain, Dion Myers. He starred with both the bat and ball when he was in lower six as St Georges powered to their fifth win of the tournament which is a record.
His exploits didn’t go unnoticed as he was snapped by the Mountaineers franchise soon after completing High School.
Myers was subsequently capped at senior level for Zimbabwe in all three formats of the game.
The former Zimbabwe Under-19 team skipper, who is studying in the UK is on a semester break and Standard Sport caught with him during the Cabs St Georges Smash T20.
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“It’s great to be back for the first tournament after Covid and great to see cricket being played in the country, especially at this ground.
“This tournament did a lot for us especially us youngsters and gave us the belief that we can make it as cricketers,” said Myers.
Myers is part of the golden generation of Zimbabwe youngsters who came through the CABS St George’s T20 which includes the likes of Wessly Madhevere, Tony Munyonga and Milton Shumba among others.
One of the things Myers speaks fondly of is the camaraderie that cricket has given him at both schools and under 19 level.
“The biggest takeaway is the camaraderie I had with my teammates. I was fortunate enough to be in the first team for four years.
“We have always played cricket the hard way. We like being in each face all the time. When we do something wrong, we call each other out. It’s important because we are friends, we have to be honest with each other.” added Myers.
Shumba who is nursing an injury and couldn’t tour with the national team to Australia also spoke fondly about the Cabs St George’s Smash T20 and what it did for his career.
“The tournament taught me how to understand match situations and the pressure to perform when playing against tough opposition from South Africa. I remember the season that we won for Churchill High School both the St George’s and St Johns T20 competitions. I had played two Under-19 World Cups, the opposition knew about me and they were under pressure to get me out and I wasn’t bothered, just played my natural game.” said Shumba.
Last year Shumba won a game for Zimbabwe when they beat Scotland in a T20I match in which he scored his maiden T20I half-century in a tough chase.
