Andy Pycroft

A batsman of high caliber, Andy Pycroft played at his prime during Zimbabwe's associate days and as a result, international cricket couldn't see as much as they deserved to. A prolific strokemaker who loved to hang back for his shots, Pycroft employed the cut and pull stroke to good effect, so much so that the bowlers at times didn't prefer to err on the shorter side while he was on strike. Pycroft's First-class numbers were impressive and he could have had a fine Test career too but by the time Zimbabwe became a full member in 1992, he was already 36. With family commitments to deal with, Pycroft knew that it was time for him to hang up his boots.

While being a strong player in the longer format, Pycroft wasn't as consistent in the 50-over and 60-over games though he still had moderate success. After retirement, Pycroft entered into administration by initially taking care of the U19 side. Gradually, he became the chief national selector and eventually, the coach of the national side. With the bubbling political issues within the administration, Pycroft endured complications and quit the job after the 2003 World Cup, citing lack of cooperation from the selectors as the major reason. When the Heath Streak fiasco struck Zimbabwe cricket big in 2004, many felt that Pycroft's exit was also partly due to similar issues. Pycroft got into umpiring and is now a renowned ICC match referee.

Written by Hariprasad Sadanandan