FULL NAME: Colin Delport
BORN: 4 August 1978, at Kadoma
MAJOR TEAMS: Zimbabwe U19, CFX Academy. Present club side: Kwekwe Sports Club
KNOWN AS: Colin Delport. Nickname: Delps
BATTING STYLE: Right Hand Bat
BOWLING STYLE: Off breaks; wicket-keeper
OCCUPATION: Student at CFX Academy

FIRST-CLASS DEBUT: 3,4,5 March 2000; CFX Academy v Mashonaland, at Country Club
TEST DEBUT: Still awaited
ODI DEBUT: Still awaited

BIOGRAPHY (updated January 2002)

Colin is one of the few, but hopefully increasing, cricketers in recent years to emerge from the Midlands of Zimbabwe, having lived in Kadoma or Chegutu all his life.

His father played for the Rhodesian (as it then was) Schools team in the South African Nuffield Schools Weeks of 1969 and 1970. His father is South African and his mother Scottish. His father used to live in Banket, on the road between Harare and Chinhoyi (then Sinoia) and attended Sinoia High School, before moving south to Chegutu (then Hartley) to open a chicken farm, which remains the family business. He has a younger brother who lives in Kariba and played Under-19 cricket in 1998, but who no longer plays regularly for business reasons and lack of opportunity.

His father first introduced him to the game at the age of six and played a major part in developing his technique. The three of them used to play together regularly in their garden. Colin attended Lomagundi College as a boarder throughout his school years. He first played there at the age of six, beginning as a batsman and fielder, but never doing much bowling. He won a position in his school Colts team in Grade 3, playing with and against boys two years older than himself, and then in the school first team for three years from Grade 5.

Colin's highest score at junior school was 107 against Bryden School at a cricket festival at Lilfordia School, his first century and a fond memory. In his final year he represented North West Districts in the national primary schools cricket week, but was not then selected for the national side.

Colin stepped into the wicket-keeping job almost by accident, at the age of 13, when the regular keeper was ill and he decided to try it himself. He enjoyed it and found it a job he could do well, and never looked back. Colin went straight into the Under-15 team at high school level, and then spent four years in the school first team. He represented Mashonaland Country Districts as a wicket-keeper for four years at Under-19 level, although he had not won selection for the Under-13 or Under-15 teams. His highest score at high school was 91. He pays tribute to his coach for four years there, George McKenna, for his work with him.

Colin was also a notable rugby player who represented Zimbabwe at the Under-15 level, but then gave up that game because of regular injuries. He also played hockey, but it took a back seat to cricket. He did an extra year at school, including a secretarial course, leaving at the age of 19, after perhaps the major event in his cricketing career to date, the 1997 Zimbabwe Under-19 tour of England. He played in all the representative matches against England A, and during the second one-day international in Southampton he was invited by the local club Poulton to play for them the following year.

In the second unofficial Test at Northampton Colin scored a brisk 50 not out, his first fifty at Under-19 level, in the Zimbabwean total of 539 for five declared. In a three-day match he also took five catches and two stumpings as keeper. This tour actually ended his Under-19 career, as he was too old for the World Cup for that age-group in South Africa that followed.

Colin duly went over to England for the 1998 season, after half a season with Old Hararians, and played for Poulton on a two-year contract, although not as a playing professional. He kept himself solvent by working on the grounds, mowing the grass, rolling the pitches, working behind the bar, and playing cricket over the weekends, with occasional matches during the week. He stayed over the winter, taking work at various times with a lighting company and a builder. He found his two seasons with Poulton a very good experience in different conditions and really enjoyed himself. His best performance was an innings of 110. The weather was often poor, but he found little difficulty in acclimatizing.

Returning to Zimbabwe after his second year there, he applied for a place at the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy and was accepted on a three-year contract, the first year at the Academy itself and a further two years coaching in the provinces. Rejoining Old Hararians, he played in all the first-team matches, keeping wicket and batting at number three. His best innings was one of 61 against Universals in his second game after his return. He pays particular tribute to Trevor Penney at Old Hararians for the coaching and encouragement he has given him over the past two seasons there; "he has sorted out a few technical problems in my batting and keeping, and given me every encouragement."

Colin made steady rather than spectacular progress at the Academy, sharing the wicket-keeping duties with Alester Maregwede. His best match was perhaps the Logan Cup match for the Academy against Midlands in Kwekwe, where he scored two thirties and took five catches behind the wicket. Midlands were without a quality keeper, and they approached Colin to ask him if he would like to complete his contract in Kwekwe. The Zimbabwe Cricket Union agreed and it was a happy arrangement. He did complete the season playing for Old Hararians, but they generously released him for the 2001/02 season to play for Kwekwe Sports Club.

"This is what I want," Colin says happily. "In Harare I wasn't developing my cricket in any way, and it's benefited my cricket to move down here. There are more professionals here, and we can coach better and train better." It is rather frustrating, though, to bat at number six most of the time when he has little opportunity to build an innings.

Colin stayed in Zimbabwe in the winter of 2001 and played winter league cricket for Chegutu. "We had a great season," he said. "We came second in our division, and we came third in the second round. I scored 160 against Norton, one of my highest scores. It was completely different from playing club cricket in England; it was more for enjoyment and there wasn't so much pressure. I also played a Zimbabwe A game against West Indies and took four catches. My keeping has been my stronger suit recently."

In 2001/02 Colin was selected for the Zimbabwe Board XI squad, which he sees as a good step forward, even though he did not make the final 15. "I'm still thereabouts and working hard at it," he said. His contract comes to an end at the end of 2002, when he will have to make a further decision about his future. He hopes to apply for another contract through the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and to continue to live and play in the Midlands.

Colin sees his future as a wicket-keeper/batsman and is keen to keep his position at the top of the order, number three or four, planning to work hard on it this year. His best strokes are straight-bat shots, preferring the drive to the cross-bat strokes. He likes to play an aggressive game. As a keeper he likes to stand up to the bowler and especially enjoys keeping to spinners.

Of the bowlers he has faced so far in his career, Colin rates the England Under-19 players he played against, Ben Hollioake and Alex Tudor, highly. He found it a challenge especially batting against the pace of Tudor.

Colin also enjoys playing golf, the only other sport he is currently involved in besides cricket.

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