What a trip: Out of Africa and into Mildura . . . the long way

NEW Mildura West coach Davison Mbindi says there’s plenty to work with at the Sunraysia Cricket Association club.

The Zimbabwean 36-year-old top order bat and part-time off-spinner has landed at West for season 2020-21 and feels the club could be ready to take the next step with a little work.

“There’s talent, the youngsters – there’s a little bit of maturity in there but there are a few things we still need to work on,” Mbindi said.

“We have been going through our paces with them, myself and Richard (West president Richard Chamberlain), and (former captain and veteran all-rounder) Brandon Dixon has also been helping out.

“There’s a lot of talent, there’s a lot of room for improvement, there’s potential.”

Mbindi’s journey to West is an interesting one.

Having played professionally since the age of 18 in Zimbabwe, South Africa and New Zealand – including debuting in provincial cricket in Zimbabwe with the Midlands’ B side in 2003 – Mbindi landed in

Australia last year to play for and coach Mount Beauty in the Cricket Albury Wodonga District League.

But he was left stranded at the end of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Because I failed to get home I had to look for work. I went up to Falls Creek and spent some time there,” Mbindi said.

But with no tourists in the resort town, Mbindi had no work and instead wrote a memoir about his cricketing journey while planning his next move.

“One thing led to another and I ended up here,” Mbindi said.

“The guys out here have been welcoming and it’s been a really good time I’ve spent so far.

“The weather hasn’t been great but I reckon it’s going to definitely improve as we get into summer.”

Asked to describe himself as a player, Mbindi said while he means business he doesn’t take himself too seriously.

“I’m a batsman, I do a little bit of off-spin bowling but it’s not much – I turn one or two but the rest go straight on,” he said jokingly.

“As a batsman, I love my game and I love spending time at the crease. Hopefully this season I’ll be able to do that for West and get some runs under my belt.”

West take on Irymple in their season opener tomorrow, with Mbindi clear about what he wanted from his side.

“You want to start on the front foot, that’s always the best way to go about things, there’s only one chance of making a good first impression,” he said.

“You’ve got to make sure you start in the right gear and we can build from there.

“Game after game, we take one game as we go, one after another and try to make sure we start strongly and go from there.”