Vusi Sibanda is a contemporary of Tatenda Taibu, Hamilton Masakadza and Stuart Matsikenyeri. Like them, he comes from the Harare black township of Highfield and earned a ZCU scholarship to Churchill High School. An opening batsman and an occasional medium-pace bowler, Sibanda was a student at the CFX Academy in 2002. His selection for the national team came too early, and despite failing to live up to his potential, the crisis in the national side meant that he kept his place long after others would have been discarded. Despite being a superb timer of the ball, predominantly off the front foot, he was slow to learn the ability to build a big innings and his selections were due almost entirely to his outstanding potential rather than actual performance. He has a very sound technique, but poor shot selection often brought about his downfall; however, coach Kevin Curran noted that he matured well on the West Indian tour. He suffered a hand injury early on, but took his opportunities when given them, and finished the tour with a 78 and then a superb century in the Tri-Series final against Bermuda. He had a successful club season in Australia, and after the 2007 World Cup he returned there and announced his retirement from international cricket. At 23, it was another loss Zimbabwe could not afford.
Steven Price April 2007

• Absences leave Zimbabwe looking weak (Sep 26, 2008)
  
• Sluggish West Indies take the series (Dec 7, 2007)
  
• Spinners give Sri Lanka control (Oct 18, 2007)
  
• A show of hands, and finding the gaps (Sep 13, 2007)
  
• South Africa A claim first day's honours (Aug 10, 2007)
  

View the full list of 47 related articles

Sep 12, 2007 Vusi Sibanda steams into one © Getty Images

Mar 19, 2007 Vusi Sibanda shoulders arms and Zimbabwe are in early trouble at 2 for 2 © AFP

Mar 19, 2007 Vusi Sibanda clutches the ball after catching Shivnarine Chanderpaul © AFP

View the full list of 14 related images