Andy Blignaut

Arnoldus Mauritius Blignaut (born 1 August 1978) is a former Zimbabwean cricketer, who played all formats of the game. He was a right-arm fast-medium bowler, also known as a hard-hitting batsman in ODIs, where he frequently scored a fast rate; though he was seldom able to sustain this form and keeping his wicket intact through many overs. He more often played ODIs, where many runs in a short time are desired, than Tests.

Andy Blignaut
Personal information
Full name
Arnoldus Mauritius Blignaut
Born (1978-08-01) 1 August 1978
Salisbury, Rhodesia
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium-fast
RoleAll-rounder
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 48)19 April 2001 v Bangladesh
Last Test20 September 2005 v India
ODI debut (cap 56)2 September 1999 v West Indies
Last ODI3 June 2010 v India
ODI shirt no.99
Only T20I (cap 25)4 May 2010 v New Zealand
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 19 54 57 80
Runs scored 886 626 2,375 915
Batting average 26.84 18.96 27.61 17.59
100s/50s 0/6 0/5 2/15 0/6
Top score 92 63* 194 63*
Balls bowled 3,173 2,348 8,112 3,341
Wickets 53 50 133 70
Bowling average 37.05 41.26 36.55 42.47
5 wickets in innings 3 0 3 0
10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0
Best bowling 5/73 4/43 5/73 4/43
Catches/stumpings 13/– 11/– 40/– 17/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 2 September 2017

International career

On his Test debut, he took five wickets in the first innings against Bangladesh in Bulawayo in 2001.[1] Blignaut took a hat-trick against Bangladesh in a Test match at Harare on 22 February 2004. He is the only bowler to take a Test hat-trick for Zimbabwe.

Like Travis Friend and Henry Olonga before him, Blignaut was one of the few Zimbabwean bowlers who could exceed 90 mph. In a land full of medium-fast bowlers, Blignaut (on his day) formed a lethal opening combination with the dependable Heath Streak, often rushing the batsmen for pace off the wicket. In an ODI against England at Durham in 2003, he bowled a 93 mph thunderbolt to England allrounder Andrew Flintoff. In the same game, however, he went at 10 runs an over, getting neither his line nor his length right. He remained Zimbabwe's wild card, especially in the shorter formats, with the ability to either win or lose a game in a matter of overs.

After playing the series against New Zealand and India in 2005, he withdrew from Zimbabwe selection because he had not been paid.[2]

His ODI strike-rate is over 100, with a high score of 63 not out, and an average of just 19. His bowling average is just above 41, with best bowling figures of 4/43, and an economy of 5.34. He was also a fine fielder.

Domestic career

In the Australian season 2004–05, Blignaut was contracted to play for Tasmania. Injury and poor form prevented him from playing all but a couple of games for the state. He even struggled to make an impact at club level. Eventually he returned to Zimbabwe to re-join the Test side. The second year of his contract with Tasmania was cancelled.

He signed a contract with South African domestic side Highveld Lions for 2006 season. After 2006, he disappeared from cricket for a few years before returning in 2010 for a few matches for Zimbabwe.

After cricket

He works in the family business in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

References
  1. "1st Test: Zimbabwe v Bangladesh at Bulawayo, Apr 19–22, 2001". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  2. "Blignaut: Can't pay, won't play". ESPNcricinfo. 24 March 2006. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
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