TAKASHINGA Cricket Club has, over the years, sent its players to play club cricket in England and Australia during the off-season.

This exposure has been a catalyst for the growth of many players, and it has assisted them in their professional careers.

One such player is the underrated Takashinga Patriots’ fast bowler Nigel Mupurura. Fresh from his sojourn Down Under, he will be crucial for his team to win the National Premier League 45 overs competition.

In the Vigne Cup last season, Mupurura achieved his best club figures and joined an elite group of bowlers by claiming 10 wickets for 27 runs in 7.3 overs against the Chitungwiza-based Royals Cricket Club.

His impressive performance gained attention on social media and led to an opportunity in Australia, where he was recruited as an overseas professional by the Koroit Cricket Club based in Western Victoria.

33-year-old Mupurura justified his overseas professional tag by winning matches for his new club, retaining best figures of 7 for 30 against Northern Raiders.

He won many individual accolades such as the Best First-year Player, Best Division 2 T20 Champion Player and Best Division 2 Champion Player.

The Highfield-born right-arm fast bowler has played 4 first-class games and 1 List-A match for Southern Rocks. Those who don’t know Mupurura might think he is a late bloomer but he was just unlucky that in his 20’s there was always a player or two quicker than him.

Since his return from Australia, Mupurura’s confidence has been high and he wants to win the 45 Overs competition and make sure that his name will be the first on his provincial team list when the season begins.

With a team already full of a galaxy of national team stars, Mupurura is ready to play his part in winning the one trophy that eluded Takashinga 1 last season before winning the T20 Blast.