Withey, what the cricket doctor ordered

| Friday April 19, 2013 00:00

Russell Withey was an unknown talented cricketer just four weeks back. The tall fast bowler announced his arrival on the big stage in grand style as he thrilled with both the ball and bat during the ICC Division 7 tournament,which ended in Gaborone last week. His height ensures the right-handed bowler extracts descent bounce and he sticks to a perfect line and length. 

Since selectors got to know that Withey was eligible to play for Botswana, they have not hesitated to throw him in the deep end. And Withey equally accepted the opportunity with glee, snaring four wickets on his One Day International debut against Ghana to return his best bowling figures of 4/24 in a winning start. 

Withey had already made his debut in the T20 Uganda tournament in February, but it was last week that his abundant talent exploded right in front of home fans.The 21-year-old, also shone in a massive defeat to Nigeria in the third game, picking three wickets for 47 runs and contributing eight runs as the hosts folded to a 171run loss.  In that game, Withey throttled a blossoming partnership between Dotuni Olatunji and captain Adekunle Adegbola. When he came on to bowl in the 37th over, the Nigerians were cruising and there was always the pressure of the batting power play, where only three fielders are allowed out the circle.

But Withey kept his cool and rolled a slow ball to Adegbola who dabbed a shot back at the bowler for a caught and bowled dismissal. Four balls later, Ademola Onikoyi became Withey's third victim of the innings after he was trapped leg before wicket for a golden duck. Withey had ensured the momentum temporarily swung in Botswana's favour.

However, Olatunji's sparkling 125 not out dashed any fight back hopes from the hosts. Despite, Botswana's lukewarm showing in the tournament, Withey continued his good run, taking two for 46 to restrict Germany to 211 in the fourth game.

He ensured Botswana tied the match, as he stood firm with the bat after the home side hobbled to 179/9 and defeat looming large.He scored a defiant, unbeaten 13 facing 28 balls. While Withey proved more than capable with ball, he showed his brittleness qualities with the bat too, scoring a high of 31 against Fiji in the third place play-off.

He finished the tournament with an impressive 17 wickets in six matches and was rightly named Emerging Player of the Tournament. His coach, Arjun Menon was pleased with what he saw in Withey. 'He is good, he bowls a perfect line and length,' Menon said.  While Botswana Cricket Association fixtures and publicity secretary, Sumod Damodar also sang praises. 'He showed that he has everything.

He is one of the many youngsters that the team will be built around. It is a pity we did not make it (to Division Six), Damodar said.A student at Loughborough University studying Architectural Engineering and Design Management, Withey flew back to the UK with the full knowledge that he had left a mark and at 21, should form the backbone of the team in future.