Category: Players

I am an Australian-born cricketer, specializing as a left-arm off-spinner and opening batsman. I spend my Australian summers playing premier cricket in Australia, and in 2023, I took my skills to England, where I embraced the challenges of playing abroad and adapting to different conditions. In 2024, after a steady premier grade season, I continued my cricket journey by spending the Australian winter in the Netherlands, where I began to excel with the ball and marked a significant improvement in my bowling performances. My experience across different countries has enhanced my game, making me a well-rounded and adaptable cricketer.
The highlight of my career came when I debuted in first grade at 18 years old and had an impressive performance against test leg spinner Mitch Swepson, hitting him for three sixes and a four. In the following match, I celebrated another milestone by scoring my maiden first grade fifty against a team with several professional cricketers. A year later, I further cemented my reputation with a memorable 96 against the same team I had debuted against, once again facing Swepson. Another significant moment was my gritty innings of 40 off 150 balls in a two-day match, where I faced numerous short balls from four Queensland Bulls bowlers. This challenging and no-thrills innings demonstrated my determination and resilience.

Team (Season)	Mts	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	Ovs	Runs	Wkts	BB	Avg
Strabane (2022)
Plympton (2021)	14	12	1	174	43	15.82	107	456	18	4/30	25.33
Dukinfield (2019)	18	17	1	345	67*	21.56	137	750	35	5/37	21.43

Ernest Masuku is one of Zimbabwe’s brightest pace bowling talents who topped the Logan Cup wicket charts in 2021/22 (38 wickets at 23.44 with 3 five-wicket hauls).

He plays for the Matabeleland Tuskers and comes highly recommended by former Head Coach Mbekezeli Mabuza. Masuku is closing in on 100 domestic matches across the three formats where he has enjoyed tremendous success.

After making his first-class debut towards the end of the 2016/17 season, taking 5 wickets, including figures of 4-63 in the first innings against the Midlands Rhinos, he then excelled in the 2017/18 Logan cup campaign. He topped the first-class wicket charts with 32 poles at 23.06 and was rewarded with Zimbabwe A inclusion against the touring West Indians in October 2017. He was then involved with the Zimbabwe Select XI in the T20 Tri-Series to include Kenya and the Board XI (June 2018).

He has been a stand-out since with 120 plus wickets averaging mid-20s in first-class cricket, Masuku is pushing for full Zimbabwe honours. Whilst known for his pace bowling, Masuku can lay claims to genuine all-rounder status. He boasts 4 half-centuries at first-class (3) and List A (1) level.

Eager to showcase his skills abroad, Masuku played for Dukinfield in the Greater Manchester Cricket League in 2019. He impressed with both bat and ball, including 345 runs at 21.56 and 35 wickets at 21.43. He also completed his UKCC level 2 coaching course and was actively involved with club junior coaching.

The talented pace bowling all-rounder then returned abroad in 2021 to play for Plympton in the Devon League. In a reduced season due to COVID, hotel quarantine etc, he picked up 18 wickets at 25.33, but perhaps under-performed with the bat with 174 runs at 15.82.

An in-form Masuku returned for a third UK stint in 2022, this time playing in the top tier of the North West Cricket Union (Northern Ireland) for Strabane. He was a resounding success, and given this, he is now eager to return abroad for another stint in 2024.

Team (Season)	Mts	Inns	NO	Runs	HS	Ave	Ovs	Runs	Wkts	BB	Avg
Strabane (2022)
Plympton (2021)	14	12	1	174	43	15.82	107	456	18	4/30	25.33
Dukinfield (2019)	18	17	1	345	67*	21.56	137	750	35	5/37	21.43