Wisden overview
Blessing Mahwire comes from Masvingo, a region not known for its cricket infrastructure. Originally a batsman, he took up bowling at the age of 14 and within two years was playing for Zimbabwe's Under-16 side as an allrounder. In 2001 he spent a season at the CFX Academy, and although he still tends to be treated as a bowler who can bat, he appears to be capable of developing into a genuine allrounder at the highest level. He bowls a brisk medium-pace, bringing the ball back into the batsman both in the air and off the seam. He made his Test debut against Pakistan in 2002-03, but proved rather expensive as Inzamam-ul-Haq tucked in to a century before lunch. Martin Williamson

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