13 Interesting facts about Charles Coventry

Charles Coventry is a left-handed wicketkeeper batsman who has played 2 Tests and 39 ODIs for Zimbabwe. He started out as a highly promising batsman and progressed through all the age group levels to play international cricket for Zimbabwe. Apart from being an aggressor with the bat, Coventry also has sound technique and solid temperament. He is also one of only few sportsmen who wear prescription spectacles while playing sport.

1. Birth:

Charles Kevin Coventry was born on 8 March 1983 at Kwekwe, in Midlands in Zimbabwe.

2. Family:

Charles Coventry was born into a strong cricket family. His father Charles “Chuck” Coventry is one of the leading umpires in Zimbabwe, with international experience.

3. Introduction to cricket:

Coventry got introduced to the sports at a young age by his father. Coventry senior would engage the kid in their back garden, slowly taking him to the nets at the Bulawayo Athletic Club.

4. Early cricketing life:

Coventry began playing proper cricket in the third grade in Whitestone School. He played for them in the colt’s team for two years and then spent two years in the senior team.

5. Age group:

Coventry went to High School at Christian Brothers College, Bulawayo and was selected for the national U14s side, progressing through the U16s and U19s gradually.

6. Wicketkeeping:

Coventry started playing club cricket for the Bulawayo Athletic Club (BAC). It was at the BAC where he was encouraged to take up wicket keeping.

7. Youngest first-class player:

Coventry became Zimbabwe’s youngest first-class player when he played for Matabeleland in 1998 aged 15 years 303 days in the Logan Cup. Incidentally, he had taken his gear along to the match with his father who was going to officiate. But due to a mix-up a Matabele player failed to arrive on time and Coventry was told he would be playing.

8. Zimbabwe U19s:

In 2002, Coventry was chosen to represent Zimbabwe at Under-19 level during the 2001-02 U19 World Cup. He played in 8 Youth ODI in the tournament.

9. ODI debut:

Good domestic form saw Coventry being called up for the tour of England in 2003. He was sent in as opener in a ODI against England at Bristol. He dropped in the following series for poor performances and played few matches thereafter.

10. Test debut:

He made his Test debut two years later in 2005 against India at Bulawayo. He played as lower order batsman in the series but could do anything in the series which Zimbabwe lost heavily.

11. Biggest claim to fame:

On 16 August 2009, in the 4th ODI against Bangladesh at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Coventry scored a world record 194 n.o in just 156 balls, equaling the then World record score set by Saeed Anwar in 1997 for the highest individual innings in an ODI. Apparently, this was his maiden ODI century and his only of his career.

12. Efforts in losing cause:

His record-equaling ODI score, however, went in vain as his team lost the match. His 194 had propelled the team to a commanding 312 but the Bangladesh side led by Tamim Iqbal’s aggressive 154 off just 138 balls chased down the target with 4 wicket and 13 balls to spare. This made his 194* as highest ODI score in a losing cause, surpassing Matthew Hayden’s 181.

13. Record surpassed:

Charles Coventry’s joint record for the highest ODI score was overhauled six months later when India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar scored an astonishing 200 against South Africa at Gwalior in 2010.