By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE
ZIMBABWEAN international Tino Mutombodzi is on the way to Plympton for the summer ahead in the Tolchards DCL A Division.
Mutombodzi, who has represented Zimbabwe in all three formats of the game, has had two seasons with Hatherleigh and is no stranger to the Devon League.
One of the reasons why Plympton have plumped for the 31-year-old from Harare is his previous experience in the Devon League and in particular the A Division they are trying to get out of.
When Hatherleigh won promotion from the A Division in 2019 Mutombodzi contributed 825 league runs at an average in the 60s and took 30 wickets with his spin bowling.
Mutombodzi (left) replaces fellow countryman Ernest Masuko, who had a very modest season with bat and ball as Plympton’s overseas player in 2021.
Jonty Walliker, the Plympton vice-captain, said: “We wanted to make sure we picked-up a proven performer and we feel we have got that in Tino.
“Tino offers us some really solid experience in the side. Aside from Tino, we still have some irons in the fire with players but we will have to see what happens with those.”
Mutombodzi’s overall stats for Hatherleigh in the 2019 and 2021 seasons were 1,252 runs (ave 48.15) and 41 wickets at 17.10.
Although he fared less well in Premier cricket last season, a final day century against Exmouth was the innings that kept Hatherleigh up and condemned the opposition to relegation instead.
Plympton (13.5pts) finished fifth in the table of 10 last season. Average points made direct comparisons difficult, but they were well adrift of champions Bradninch (19.0) although just about in sight of North Devon (16.86), who finished in the second promotion place.
Three more wins would have turned Plympton from also-rans into contenders, which is where they want to be this season.
“If we can get our best XI out on the pitch regularly we should be close, but there are a lot of very good sides in the division now,” said Walliker in a clear reference to relegation arrivals Exeter and Exmouth.
“We fell short last season but we hope to build on that and push for promotion.”
They must be doing something right at Plympton as youngsters Ben Privett and Elliot Hamilton were part of the Devon squad last season and keeper-batter Justin Wubbeling has been added to it for the summer ahead.
Said Walliker: “In terms of the squad we are very happy with where we are.
“We know we have a hugely talented young group of players and it was a big plus for us to keep everybody going into the 2022 season.
“There were a lot of Premier clubs looking to sign our players, but I think it shows what a great group we have when we have got players turning down paid offers elsewhere.”
Privett and Hamilton both spent the worst of the UK winter in Australia working on their games at the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy. Walliker is looking forward to seeing what they have learned.
“We are also very excited to welcome both Ben Privett and Elliot Hamilton back from their season in Australia where they have both played First Grade cricket,” said Walliker.
“Playing for the academy, both performed well against opposition such as South Australia under-21s, a game in which Elliot scored a fantastic hundred.”
Meanwhile, Hatherleigh are close to announcing whom they will engage as their overseas professional for the summer ahead.
Mark Lake, the Hatherleigh captain, said Mutombodzi was unable to commit to the club for a third season for family reasons, which is why they decided to look elsewhere.
