44 Facts About Henry Olonga

Henry Khaaba Olonga was born on 3 July 1976 and is a Zimbabwean former cricketer, who played Test and One Day International cricket for Zimbabwe.

In domestic first-class cricket in Zimbabwe, Olonga played for Matabeleland, Mashonaland and Manicaland.

Henry Olonga was a regular member of the Zimbabwe team from 1998 to 2003.

Henry Olonga featured in three World Cup tournaments in 1996,1999 and 2003.

Henry Olonga was considered one of the fastest bowlers in international cricket, but one of the more inaccurate, bowling many wides and no-balls.

Henry 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.

Henry Olonga's father John Olonga was a Kenyan surgeon and his mother was Zimbabwean.

Henry Olonga has two sisters and two brothers as well as ten half-brothers and sisters from his father's first marriage.

One of his brothers, Victor Henry Olonga, played professional rugby and became captain of the Zimbabwe national team.

Henry Olonga's uncle is the former Kenyan minister Francis Masakhalia.

Henry Olonga was educated at Rhodes Estate Preparatory School and began playing cricket at the age of eight and played cricket for the Partridges, the Zimbabwe national primary schools cricket team.

Henry Olonga then attended Plumtree School, where he became head boy.

Henry Olonga was involved in acting, athletics and rugby in addition to cricket.

Henry Olonga was nominated as one of the finalists in the search hunt for Zimbabwe's best high school actor for his performance as Charlie Davenport while he was still the head boy.

Henry Olonga found a firm Christian faith in 1992 at a youth camp in Marondera.

Henry Olonga was selected to play for Matabeleland in national primary schools cricket week.

Henry Olonga made his debut in first-class cricket in March 1994, aged 17, playing for Matabeleland against Mashonaland in the Logan Cup at Harare Sports Club.

Henry Olonga took five wickets in the match, but had varied performances over the next couple of years.

Henry Olonga was not an obvious or automatic choice when he was selected to make his international debut for Zimbabwe in the Test against Pakistan in Harare in January 1995.

However, Henry Olonga refused his father's interest and did not give up his cricket ambitions.

Henry Olonga grew up watching the likes of Malcolm Marshall and Allan Donald and consider them as his childhood idols.

Henry Olonga took the wicket of Saeed Anwar in his first over, but he was no-balled once for throwing.

Henry Olonga was overlooked from Zimbabwe squad for the 1998 Commonwealth Games in September 1998.

Henry Olonga made his debut in ODIs playing against South Africa in October 1995.

Henry Olonga was man of the match when he took his first 5-wicket haul in Tests, playing against India in October 1998, Zimbabwe's second Test victory.

Henry Olonga was the spearhead of the team that won Zimbabwe's first overseas Test, beating Pakistan in Peshawar in November 1998.

Henry Olonga took a second and final Test 5-wicket haul in a losing cause against Pakistan in November 2002.

Henry Olonga played 30 Test matches for Zimbabwe, taking 68 wickets with a bowling average of 38.52.

Henry Olonga played 50 One Day Internationals as well, taking 58 wickets at an average of 34.08.

Henry Olonga joined the Zimbabwe team at the 1996 Cricket World Cup in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Henry Olonga was selected to play in Zimbabwe's final game of the competition, against India, but asked to be omitted as he was out of practice.

Henry Olonga played in 7 matches in the 1999 Cricket World Cup in England.

Henry Olonga was best known for his bowling spell against India at the 1999 Cricket World Cup where he took three wickets in the final over of the group stage match and eventually Zimbabwe created a massive upset by defeating India by a close margin of three runs.

Henry Olonga was selected for the Zimbabwe team at the 2003 Cricket World Cup, held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

Flower scored 39 runs, Henry Olonga conceded 8 runs from 3 overs but took no wickets as Zimbabwe won the match.

Henry Olonga was expelled by the Takashinga Cricket Club branding him as "traitor" and it was revealed that his girlfriend eventually broke up with him in a mail.

Henry Olonga met physical education teacher Tara Read while both were attending the Australian Institute of Sport's cricket program in Adelaide.

Henry Olonga had lived in exile in Britain for 12 years from 2003 to 2015 and then moved to Australia in 2015 along with his wife and his two children.

Henry Olonga was nicknamed as "Singing Seamer" by the English press following the release of Our Zimbabwe song.

Henry Olonga is pursuing a career as a cricket commentator and singer and released an album Aurelia in 2006.

Henry Olonga got three chair turn from Delta Goodrem, Boy George and Kelly Rowland.

Henry Olonga chose Kelly Rowland as his coach and was eliminated in the Battle rounds.

Henry Olonga was eliminated from the Voice Australia show after forgetting the lyrics of Elton John's Can You Feel the Love.

Henry Olonga was appointed as global ambassador for Anglican Aid.