Alester Maregwede

Alester Maregwede was earmarked at an early age as a wicketkeeper batsman of great promise. He was one of the first intake of students at the CFX Academy in Zimbabwe in 2000, but despite briefly forcing his way into the senior national side he has since been overtaken by players such as Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry and Regis Chakabva in the wicketkeeping ranks. He was a forerunner of Taibu and others in that he also grew up in the Harare township of Highfield and attended Churchill High School on a ZCU scholarship.

Maregwede made his first-class debut shortly after his 16th birthday, and played in two Under-19 World Cups before his induction into the Academy, for whom he made 59 against Mashonaland and 52 against Midlands and averaged 41 in his first four matches. He played regularly for Zimbabwe A and the Board XI thereafter, and his international debut came during West Indies' visit in 2003. Dismissed for a five-ball duck, he was not considered again until the 'rebel' crisis in 2004, and made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Harare Sports Club, making 0 and 22 as a woefully inexperienced Zimbabwe lost by an innings and 241 runs.

He remained on the fringes of the national side for some time, playing for Zimbabwe A and Zimbabwe Provinces in 2007, but as he approaches 30 further national selection looks unlikely for Maregwede. He remains a more than competent wicketkeeper batsman at domestic level, however, and is one of the most experienced players currently involved in domestic cricket, plying his trade with the Southern Rocks franchise.
Liam Brickhill August 2010