Who is the Eastbourne pupil named Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year for 2019?

Tawanda MuyeyeTawanda Muyeye
Tawanda Muyeye | Getty
Eastbourne College sixth former, Tawanda Muyeye joins an exclusive list as the Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year.

The announcement means Muyeye is the 13th winner of the title since it began.

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Muyeye’s accolade comes as no surprise to Eastbournians who have witnessed his play. Tawanda ended the 2019 season on a high, breaking two longstanding school records and collecting his school’s coveted Simon Green Cup for Endeavour award.

The 2020 edition of Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack - to be published on April 9 - said: “He is a player of immense presence, a batsman destined to empty bars. People in the know at Eastbourne [College] have learned to ask when he will next be playing, so they can feast on his style, which shows the aggressive influence of Viv Richards and Kevin Pietersen, two of his idols.

"Like them, he intimidates the attack, turning respectable bowlers into fodder for his swinging bat. Muyeye, a popular, hard-working, self-effacing student who hails from just outside Harare, is on a sports scholarship; he has family in the UK, and hopes to qualify for England rather than his native Zimbabwe.

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"Rob Ferley, his coach at Eastbourne [College], says he is also the best off-spinner of his age group in the county, as well as an electric fielder with exceptional hand-eye co-ordination.

"But it is the reliability of his fast, wristy run-scoring that has given Sussex cause to be interested in his development, and makes him such an exciting prospect.”

A statement from the College added: “Tawanda Muyeye is the epitome of hard work, effort, humility and kindness.

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"The qualities of endeavour have helped him in breaking two longstanding school records; the first pupil ever in 150 years of cricket to score two double hundred and the all-time run scoring record in one season.”

Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year

2007 J. M. Bairstow (St Peter's School, York, Yorkshire & England)

2008 J. W. A. Taylor (Shrewsbury School, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire & England)

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2009 J. C. Buttler (King's College, Taunton, Somerset, Lancashire & England)

2010 W. G. R. Vanderspar (Eton College & Middlesex)

2011 D. J. Bell-Drummond (Millfield School & Kent)

2012 T. B. Abell (Taunton School & Somerset)

2013 T. Köhler-Cadmore (Malvern College, Worcestershire & Yorkshire)

2014 D. E. Budge (Woodhouse Grove School & Durham)

2015 B. A. Waring (Felsted School & Essex)

2016 A. J. Woodland (St Edward's School)

2017 E. T. D Casterton (RGS, High Wycombe)

2018 N. J. Tilley (Reed's School)

2019 T. S. Muyeye (Eastbourne College)

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