Zimpapers Logo

Mehluli Sibanda recently in Harare
FORMER Zimbabwe senior national cricket team captain Prosper Utseya is anxiously waiting for test results for his bowling action conducted at the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai, India on November 23.

Utseya, prohibited from bowling on the global scene by the international Cricket Council since the beginning of October after tests conducted on his bowling action at the Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales proved that he flexed his elbow beyond the allowed 15 degrees for bowlers.

The scrutiny to Utseya’s bowling action followed a report made by the match officials during Zimbabwe’s third One-Day International against South Africa at Queens Sports in Bulawayo in August.

Since his ban, Utseya has been working on remodelling his bowling action. The off spin bowler spent two weeks working with a South African coach Justin Summons and turned out for Gauteng club Soweto in a 50 over encounter as a way of trying out his new bowling style.

Utseya said last Friday that he has overhauled his bowling act with some of those changes being that his gather is now from sideways and he has developed a mystery leg spin which is a mixture of spin as well as pace bowling. He said he feels he now has an effective arm rotation.

Ahead of the announcement of the results which are going to be released next Wednesday, Utseya feels a lot more confident this time around.

Utseya’s self-belief stems from the fact that he had a look at all the five overs he was asked to bowl in India as part of tests and is satisfied he is going to be cleared to play international cricket again.

“I’m looking forward to the outcome of the latest test results, I feel confident because I had a look at the test and what I did there is what I’ve been working on,’’ said Utseya.

If given the green light to resume bowling at international level, Utseya will then be in contention for a place in Zimbabwe’s final squad of 15 players for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February through to March next year.

However, a negative result means further international cricket wilderness for the bowler.

After 10 years of playing international cricket, Utseya said he was pained to have his bowling action declared illegal. He believes that the ICC should change their approach in relation to bowlers deemed to have suspect bowling actions. Utseya feels the world cricket governing body can notify the player in private instead of the present way of making the umpires’ reports public.

With four Tests, 156 ODIs and 29 Twenty20 Internationals with a combined total 164 wickets to his name at the highest level of cricket, Utseya has since his international debut in 2004 never had his bowling action come under scrutiny.

Utseya is convinced that there is no off spinner who can bowl without flexing his elbow.

Commentating on Zimbabwe’s pathetic tour of Bangladesh where they lost the Test series 3-0 and were also clean swept 5-0 in the five match ODI contest which concluded yesterday, Utseya said being on the sidelines had made him see things in a different way. He pointed out that it pains him when he thinks he could have made a difference to the way things have turned out in Bangladesh.

At the age of 29 years, Utseya wants to play international cricket up to the age of 35 years if he maintains his fitness levels. He has not set himself any personal milestones before he retires with his quest being the best player he can ever be.