John Rennie is a prime example of a cricketer of moderate ability who was able to achieve success at international level through sheer hard work and dedication. As a fast-medium swing bowler, selected mainly for one-day matches, he always played with the utmost heart and enthusiasm, and often took early wickets for Zimbabwe. He was also a useful batsman and good fielder. He was never selected for any of the national age-group teams, and it took him some years to become a regular in his school first team, but he progressed steadily through club cricket to the national side. Born in Masvingo, he grew up in Harare but later moved to Matabeleland for business reasons. Business and family pressures, as well as disillusionment with the situation in Zimbabwe cricket, eventually caused him to fade out of the game in about 2002.
John Ward (July 2004)