Sports

Source: BBC Sport

CLUB head coach Graham Sedunary is described by Mushangwe as her “Australian dad” – while a glimpse of a member of the South Australian Scorpions, the state team, fired more dreams.

“She was wearing a full Scorpions kit, pushing a bag,” recalls Mushangwe.

“And all I had was just casual sportswear. So all I wished was ‘Oh, I wish I could have that bag.’ And I wished I could wear that kit as well.

“I just wished to be part of the team.”

When she was self-critical after trialling for the Scorpions, Mushangwe went away to work on her batting and bowling.

“I didn’t do very well,” she says. “I didn’t do bad, but it wasn’t great.

“I came home and told my Aussie dad that I felt like I was a chicken in that game. He was like, ‘No, don’t tell yourself that.’

“I said, ‘Nah, I felt like I was a chicken. I wasn’t great. But I’m gonna push myself and make sure that I meet the standard and make sure I’ll fit into the team.'”

Big Bash belief and glory

Mushangwe spent almost three years exiled from international matches because of visa issues until April 2022, returning to help Zimbabwe win a tri-series against Namibia and Uganda that year as the leading wicket-taker.

As a permanent Australian resident, she was able to sign a deal with Adelaide Strikers to become the first Zimbabwean contracted in the Women’s Big Bash League.

Her debut season featured just one appearance, but Mushangwe became a mainstay during a 2023 campaign which included a masterful final over in a three-run win over Sydney Thunder to send her side top of the standings in November.

Another three-run victory followed in the final against Brisbane Heat on 2 December as the Strikers successfully defended their total of 125 in front of more than 12,000 people at the Adelaide Oval.

“I felt really calm and confident that we were going to make it,” Mushangwe said of the final, learning from team-mates who include several Australia internationals and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt.

“I feel like I have gained a lot being around them, and it has helped my bowling as well.

“We have defended less than that before. In the Sydney Thunder game, it was almost the same scenario.

“I had that same belief that we going to make it as well. I felt like the energy around the group would come as well, in that moment.”

Two days later the squad’s achievements were recognised by a reception hosted by South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas at the state’s Parliament House.

‘You always had to fight’

Mushangwe took 16 wickets across the course of the 2023 Big Bash and remains in touch with officials in Zimbabwe, who played a vital role in helping her work through the administration required to play abroad.

“I don’t know where it came from,” she responds when asked about her immense drive to reach the heights of the game in spite of difficulties which would have given many cause to reconsider.

“Maybe it was because of my upbringing. That’s another story for another day.

“It was just a fighting game. You always had to fight.

“Growing up, you just had to work hard for whatever you wanted. Sometimes you wouldn’t have the support you needed.

“You had to believe in yourself, trust in yourself and just push yourself. That’s that’s how I grew up.”

Mushangwe’s family are not huge cricket fans, and she says her father knows most about the sport. She has taken coaching qualifications and laughs when she is asked about the future.

“At the moment, my cricketing career feels like it’s finally just starting,” she says.

“I’ll have to think about the other side of cricket later. But at the moment, it’s just taking it as it comes on this bigger journey.”

T.

-December 27, 2023 @ 18:52 GMT|

Tags: Graham Sedunary