Henry Khaaba Olonga (born 3 July 1976) is a Zimbabwean former cricketer, who played Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket for Zimbabwe.[1] In domestic first-class cricket in Zimbabwe, Olonga played for Matabeleland, Mashonaland and Manicaland.[2] When he made his Test debut in January 1995, he was the first black cricketer and the youngest person to play for Zimbabwe.[3] He was a regular member of the Zimbabwe team through 1998 to 2003. He featured in three World Cup tournaments in 1996, 1999 and 2003. During his playing days, he formed a rivalry against former Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar whenever Zimbabwe and India played against each other in international cricket.[4][5][6] He was also regarded as Zimbabwe cricket's poster boy.
He was considered one of the fastest bowlers in international cricket, but also one of the more inaccurate, bowling many wides and no-balls. His international career came to an end in 2003 after Olonga and teammate Andy Flower wore black armbands during an international cricket match in the 2003 Cricket World Cup to "mourn the death of democracy" in Zimbabwe.[7][8][9][10][11] Death threats forced him to live in exile in England.[12] Olonga announced his retirement from international cricket after Zimbabwe's final game in the 2003 World Cup at the age of 26 when he was in the prime years of his career.[13][14] Olonga and Flower were given honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) later in 2003.[15] He and Flower were also honoured by the Cricket Writer's Club during the annual dinner where they were conferred with the Peter Smith Memorial Award, an award which is given as an annual acknowledgement of outstanding contributions to the game of cricket.[16]
^"Henry Olonga Profile - ICC Ranking, Age, Career Info & Stats". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
^"'Play golf, not cricket'". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
^"The master bowler". Cricinfo. 2 July 2006. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
^"Ex cricket star Henry Olonga's heart bleeds for Zimbabwe". NewZimbabwe.com. 28 December 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
^"Little margin for error when bowling to Sachin Tendulkar, reminisces Henry Olonga". SportsCafe.in. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
^"Interview: Heath Streak on Sachin's demolition of Olonga to Zimbabwe's Flower-ing era and beyond". Firstpost. 17 February 2016. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
Henry Khaaba Olonga (born 3 July 1976) is a Zimbabwean former cricketer, who played Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket for Zimbabwe. In domestic...
HenryOlonga wore black armbands during the 2003 Cricket World Cup match against Namibia to protest against Robert Mugabe's policies. He and Olonga released...
concerns" as their reason. Zimbabwean players Andy Flower and fast bowler HenryOlonga wore black armbands, for "mourning the death of democracy" in Zimbabwe...
black armband protest was made by Zimbabwean cricketers Andy Flower and HenryOlonga during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. The pair decided to wear black armbands...
initiatives" Retrieved 9 September 2011. Olonga, Henry with Derek Clements (2010) Blood, Sweat and Treason: HenryOlonga: My story, Kingston Upon Thames: Vision...
in Zimbabwe. During the 2003 World Cup, his teammates Andy Flower and HenryOlonga wore black armbands in the match against Namibia at the Harare Sports...
at short leg. He missed out on the tenth when Chaminda Vaas dismissed HenryOlonga caught behind amid stifled appeals. Muralitharan follows up his 9 for...
coincidentally born in the same hospital in Lusaka. The former Zimbabwe cricketer HenryOlonga was also born in Lusaka. He was the first black cricketer – and the youngest...
later, a win that their coach David Houghton attributed to Eddo Brandes. HenryOlonga who returned to Zimbabwe's Test side after two years played a significant...
During the 2003 Cricket World Cup, senior team members Andy Flower and HenryOlonga staged their "black armband protest" at the "death of democracy" in Zimbabwe...
2019. "Most extras in an ODI innings". "Cricket World Cup 2019: Ferguson, Henry skittle Sri Lanka for 136". Cricket Country. June 2019. Retrieved 1 June...
Sreesanth. Besides Indian players, foreign players like Chaminda Vaas, HenryOlonga, Heath Streak, Mohammad Asif and Australian fast bowlers Glenn McGrath...
bowler to take a Test hat-trick for Zimbabwe. Like Travis Friend and HenryOlonga before him, Blignaut was one of the few Zimbabwean bowlers who could...
player withdrawals such as the "Black-armband protest" by Andy Flower and HenryOlonga along with a mass loss of players in 2004 due to a general strike resulted...
Lock 10 September 1962 2 Right hand Right-arm fast-medium Mashonaland HenryOlonga 3 July 1976 2 Right hand Right-arm fast Matabeleland Stephen Peall 2...
Brian Murphy 1 December 1976 RHB Right arm leg spin 26 Mashonaland 77 HenryOlonga 3 July 1976 RHB Right arm fast 48 Manicaland 44 Tatenda Taibu (wk) 14...
concern before the tournament. Two Zimbabwean players, Andy Flower and HenryOlonga wore black armbands in their opening game protesting against the nondemocratic...
Zimbabwe's Miss Universe Contest Sparks Fury Newsweek. 27 September 2023 HenryOlonga website: first black cricket player for Zimbabwe Archived 11 May 2016...
Stuart Carlisle 10 May 1972 12 Right hand Right-arm medium Mashonaland 7 HenryOlonga 3 July 1976 7 Right hand Right-arm fast Matabeleland 8 Pommie Mbangwa...
actor 1976 – Wade Belak, Canadian ice hockey player (d. 2011) 1976 – HenryOlonga, Zimbabwean cricketer and sportscaster 1976 – Wanderlei Silva, Brazilian-American...
were Bonnie Langford and Freddie Starr. The winner of this heat was HenryOlonga. The two guest judges on this episode were Peter André and Vanessa Feltz...
Fremantle Football Club and Greater Western Sydney Giants Sekai Nzenza-Shand HenryOlonga – opera singer and ex-Zimbabwean cricketer. The Voice contestant. Kevin...
1st 4th 27 December 2006 (2006-12-27) 17 3 Todd Carty Paul Henshall HenryOlonga Gok Wan Films of Norman Wisdom 3rd Rock from the Sun Book of Genesis...
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