HARARE - Former Zimbabwe pace bowler and ex-national side assistant coach Douglas Hondo is picking up the pieces of his injury-affected playing career in New Zealand’s domestic cricket at the age of 33.

Hondo, who played nine Tests and 56 ODIs for Zimbabwe, turns out for Hawera United in the Taranaki premier grade cricket league as a one of the club’s overseas professionals.

“The south Taranaki team welcomes back former Zimbabwean international Douglas Hondo to bolster a core of handy, experienced players and some new to premier ranks,” reported the club’s website recently.

“Hondo, a fast bowler, proved a valuable addition to the club’s ranks in his first visit to the province as a professional player-coach after arriving towards the end of last season.”

Also playing in the same league with Hondo is his friend and former Zimbabwe teammate Dion Ebrahim, who captains the youthful New Plymouth Boys High.

Top-order batsman Ebrahim, who also captains the Taranaki provincial side, has been given the role of nurturing the young talent at the schoolboy club.

The 32-year-old from Bulawayo has now been granted resident status by New Zealand Cricket after spending six years in the country. - Sports Writer