Barney Rogers: Biography

FULL NAME: Barney Guy Rogers BORN: At Harare, 20 August 1982 MAJOR TEAMS: CFX Academy (2000/01) KNOWN AS: Barney Rogers. Nickname: Barnes BATTING STYLE: Left Hand Bat BOWLING STYLE: Right Arm Off Breaks OCCUPATION: CFX Academy student

FIRST-CLASS DEBUT: 16-18 February 2001, CFX Academy v Mashonaland, at Harare Sports Club. TEST DEBUT: Still awaited ODI DEBUT: Still awaited

Barney Rogers comes from a cricket-loving family, his father having played first-team cricket at school and his uncle Brian for the national schools team in 1974 and 1975. Naturally his first contact with the game was at home, in the family garden, at the age of about three or four. Like Alistair Campbell, he is a natural right-hander, but his father changed him round on the theory that the strongest hand should be at the top of the bat. His father batted left-handed and bowled right, and his uncle just the opposite, so the ability to be ambidextrous seems to run in the family.

He attended Bryden Country School for his primary years, and was first selected for the school colts team at the end of his Grade Three year. This was followed by two more full years at colts level and two years in the school first team, both as captain. He was in a strong side, with Sean Ervine and Glen Goosen in the same team, and the school's practice was to retire them soon after reaching their fifties to give others a turn, so he was unable to build any really big scores. His best, as far as he remembers, was 87 not out against a South African touring team, for a combined team of Bryden and Lilfordia School players. As a bowler, he was a leg-spinner until Grade Five or Six, but then switched to off-spin because there were no other bowlers of this type around.

Barney's promise was so obvious that he played for the Midlands primary schools team in the national cricket week for his last three years at junior school, and in the last two was also selected for the national primary schools team. His most influential coach at school was Mr. Tony Brouse, but Barney gives most credit to his father, who used to give him practice every day.

He progressed to St John's College for high school, batting at number three in his age-group teams for three years before being promoted to the first team as opening batsman. In his final year he dropped down to number four, a position he prefers. His best innings, and the most memorable of his career to date, was a score of 136 against the school's Old Boys team. He scored a century against Churchill, as well as several other eighties and nineties during his time there, and a couple of five-wicket hauls with the ball. He also played winter cricket for Chegutu, scoring centuries against Matabeleland and Kadoma, together with a couple of eighties and nineties.

At representative level he played for the national Under-13 team that participated in the South African week; he failed to make the Under-16 team but was back for the Under-19 week and the development side to Kenya in August 2000, making big fifties but no centuries on both these tours. He has played club cricket for Old Georgians Sports Club during the last three seasons, his best score being a sixty against Manicaland. He left school at the end of 2000, having set his sights on a career in cricket, and was accepted for the CFX Academy in 2001.

As a batsman he can score fluently all round the wicket, and especially enjoys the cover drive, although he wouldn't label it as his best stroke. With the ball he does not have much variety, but hopes to develop the ball that goes the other way. He enjoys fielding at point, but when captaining a team will generally take mid-on or mid-off so as to communicate better with his bowlers.

Cricket heroes: Jacques Kallis, and Gary Kirsten's ability to concentrate for long periods of time. "And Sachin Tendulkar, obviously."

Toughest opponents: "Ray Price I find quite difficult, and a bowler from Northerns in South Africa whose name I can't remember."

Immediate ambitions: "I want to be in the national side for the World Cup. It's quite high hopes, but that's what I'm aiming for. I'd like to average about 40 in this Logan Cup, and with my bowling average two or three wickets an innings."

Proudest achievement so far: "I enjoyed my 136 against Old Boys. All my hundreds were good."

Best friends in cricket: "I'd like to say I'm friends with everyone, but can't name any one best friend."

Other qualifications:"I've done two coaching courses and have quite a high qualification in coaching cricket."

Other sports: "First-team hockey and Zimbabwe hockey at Under-20 level. Tennis (Mashonaland Country Districts in Grade 7), rugby, squash and swimming. Nothing except cricket since I left school."

Outside interests: "I enjoy spear-fishing."