Zimbabwe’s ‘Price’less weapon
While most cricketers wage their wars only on the field, there are some who battle the odds off it too. Zimbabwe’s Ray Price belongs to latter category.
Price’s test on life’s pitch began much before he arrived on the cricket scene. Hit by a bout of meningitis when he was a few months old, Price was left totally deaf. While a surgery at the age of four revived his hearing ability, it caused terrible coordination issues in young Price. As he went to school, he was found wanting against children of his age-group. But, Price fought hard.
“My health problems made me more determined. It was very hard (going through it) but I survived,” Price said, moments after his spell (8-0-16-3) helped Zimbabwe fox Canada in their World Cup clash in Nagpur. Despite hailing from a family of golfers, Price took cricket, much like fish to water. The run-up to the national team too was not without its share of combats. Till he found a firm footing in the Zimbabwean side, Price worked as toilet cleaner and even fixed air-conditioners. “It’s good for you in life to struggle a bit. I think God teaches you life like that. These are the things that make you humble and make you grow as a person,” Price confessed.
While his talent was never in question, Price did full justice to his potential in the tour of Australia in 2003, bagging 6 for 121 in the Sydney Test. “Performing against the Australians boosted my confidence,” Price said. Turbulent conditions at home forced Price to move away from Zimbabwe in 2004 and play for Worcestershire.
“I did not know what was going to happen at home. But things improved quickly and settled down. I missed playing international cricket and came back,” he said. While the 35-year-old is back at doing what he does best — putting the batters in a spin, his team is happy to have their ‘Price’less possession.
