From Zimbabwe to the Melbourne Cricket Ground and now to Bamawm-Lockington United: that is the journey of international cricketer Regis Chakabva.
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Two weeks ago, Chakabva was playing for Zimbabwe on the MCG as it took on India in front of more than 80,000 fans at the the T20 World Cup.
Six days later, he suited up for Bamawm-Lockington United for its opening clash of the Goulburn Murray Cricket season against Leitchville-Gunbower.
Having reached last season’s A-grade grand final, BLU have now made a massive addition to their squad ahead of the new campaign.
Simply put, Chakabva’s move to BLU is immense. Almost no other community cricket club in the country could say they have a current international representative on their team.
The 35-year-old has played more than 100 matches for the Zimbabwe national team, nicknamed the Chevrons, and he will bring an incredible wealth of world-class cricket knowledge and experience to BLU.
Chakabva played in all five of Zimbabwe’s games at the T20 World Cup, going up against the might of powerhouses India, South Africa and Pakistan — with Zimbabwe earning a thrilling one-run win against the latter.
In the lead-up to this year’s tournament, Chakabva captained the Chevrons in both of their one-day series against Australia and India.
From Zimbabwe’s capital Harare, Chakabva made his international debut back in 2008, and he has represented the Chevrons in all formats of the game — playing in 22 tests, 61 One Day Internationals and 49 T20s.
The wicketkeeper-batsman has an international test century under his belt, having reached 101 in a match against Bangladesh.
“I am raring to go on Saturday,” he said.
“Things have been really good. The boys have been really nice and really friendly.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the season and getting to know everybody.”
The move from international cricket to the GMC is certainly a unique one, and Chakabva explained how it came about.
“I got in touch with my agent and said I would love to go down under and get some cricket going,” he said.
“He got in touch with BLU, and we had a good chat with [BLU president] Matt Hamilton and the committee. We had a good conversation and straight away I thought it would be lovely.
“I got the opportunity to come eventually and here I am.”
Chakabva has moved to the region with his wife, Matilda, and his young son and daughter Ethan and Hannah, with the family living in Moama.
“My family is here, we are staying in Moama,” he said.
“The plan is to stay in Australia for quite a while. Obviously be with BLU for quite a few years, I’m just looking at that and excited about that.
“Everything has been good. It is quiet and the family is enjoying it. It is definitely not as busy compared to the big cities back home in Zimbabwe.
“Coming from Harare there is quite a lot of hustle and bustle going on the whole time there, so we have been enjoying the laid-back atmosphere.”
The process of working through everything for Chakabva to be able to join BLU was something that was years in the making, and BLU president Matt Hamilton said everyone was delighted to have him at the Lions.
“It is pretty amazing, words don’t describe it,” Hamilton said.
“The club is super excited to have Regis on board after the process that we have been through. We have had many helpers along the way, and the support from local businesses has been fantastic.
“There is an opportunity for a family, and the cricket club is very excited and proud to be able to support a family to come to our community. We are super excited for it all to work out for the Chakabva family.
“It is a truly amazing opportunity that was presented to us as a cricket club, and for it to work out like it has to this point in time, it is overwhelming.”
Hamilton joked that BLU would offer a different experience to the MCG, adding that it would be fantastic for the community to have a player of Chakabva’s calibre around.
“Last Sunday there was 82,000 people watching, this weekend he might have that many gum tree leaves looking at him instead,” he said.
“I am sure he will be absolutely fantastic for the club. The way Regis can relate to people is truly amazing.
“A lot of people across the area will gain a lot of benefit from having Regis Chakabva on the cricket field and in the community.
“And knowing Regis like I do now, I can honestly say he is a younger brother.
“It has been a long period of time and an amazing journey. Would you do it again? You certainly would for a bloke of Regis’s calibre and his family Matilda, Ethan and Hannah.”
• Leitchville-Gunbower pulled off a dramatic final-over victory over last season’s grand finalist Bamawm-Lockington United, with skipper Tyler Jones leading the way with the bat.
A measured innings saw Leitchville-Gunbower pass BLU’s score of 6-144 in the dying stages of the one-day game at Gunbower Reserve.
BLU’s Liam Hamilton raised the bat for a half-century, while Chakabva marked his debut for the club with 33 runs.
Hamilton and Chakabva’s 56-run partnership for the third wicket and Declan Pearse’s 21 helped guide BLU to a final score of 6-144. Simon Tatt’s 2-30 was Leitchville-Gunbower’s best figures.
In reply, it was a searing innings from Leitchville-Gunbower’s skipper that saw the side earn victory in the season-opener, kicking off the club’s second year in the competition in style.
Tyler Jones opened up and propelled the side to a strong start, whacking 77 runs in his first hit-out of the season.
Vikai Kelley (17 runs), Blake Gelletly (10) and Liam Keath (12) helped keep the score ticking but a flurry of late wickets to Chakabva curtailed the score.
With the host requiring six runs to ice the game, Amila Gunathilaka bowled the final over of the day in hopes of defending BLU’s score.
But Kurt Brereton (14) wasted no time bringing proceedings to a close, whacking a six off the first delivery to deliver Leitchville-Gunbower a win.