Michael Muchie is a very energetic child, full of personality and always smiling. Perhaps you can say he is so energetic because of his age – 14 and a half – or perhaps more accurately because sport and movement are a natural part of his character. He ran faster and further than any child at his school. Yet he has decided to embrace a different sport, a sport that demands patience and gentlemanly behaviour – cricket, which he stumbled upon almost by accident.

Michael arrived in Israel from Ethiopia in 1994. When upon walking past the park where a youth game was in progress he decided to stop and investigate. George Sheader, youth coach in the Negev area and head of the ICA development programme, was shocked at the natural ability Michael displayed almost immediately. "Bowling is a very technical and difficult action to master – Michael was bowling within a few minutes" reports Sheader. "He grasped the rules and the character of the game as if he had known them all his life. He simply has the natural ability".

The journey from his village to Addis Ababa Michael doesn't recall. He left his village with his father, two brothers and his nephew, leaving his mother, who he has not been in contact with since, behind. From Addis Ababa the family boarded a plane which brought them to Israel, where they were settled in Dimona, in the south of the country. After 3 years they moved to Be'er Sheva, the biggest city in the Negev desert and home to family members who had arrived in Israel during Operation Solomon in 1991.

Just over a year ago Michael's father, Yosef, passed away from a heart disease. Michael, together with his brother and nephew moved in to live with his fathers sister, Rachel, her husband and their baby daughter.

"Everything you do for Michael he appreciates. He knows he is a special child, but he will always say thank you, always make you feel happy" notes Sheader.

Michael soon began playing for the local Be'er Sheva team, quickly adapting to the laws of cricket. "It's not like soccer. It's the time that goes by, the patience required. The thinking. It's a polite game, without foul language or violence. All these characteristics suit my character. Days on which I don't have cricket practice are boring" says Michael.

In August 2001 Michael was selected for the U15 Israel team to participate in the ECC Championships which were played in Berlin. The team returned home with the silver medal, and Michael was one of the star players, picking up the most wickets (9) of all the Israeli bowlers. In the first game against Spain Michael did not bowl very well – when confronted by the team's coach it later turned out that he was playing in shoes which were too small for him and were hurting his feet. He was immediately given new shoes.

Michael is just one of a number of talented young cricketers who will go on to represent the full national team in the coming years.

© Israel Cricket Association