Former Zimbabwe player Solomon Mire makes move into coaching in Bundoora
Former Zimbabwe cricketer Solomon Mire is pursuing his passing for helping grassroots cricketers, taking on a significant coaching role at Bundoora’s Cutting Edge Cricket
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Solomon Mire would be a familiar name to many ardent cricket followers in Australia.
The former Zimbabwe all-rounder’s exploits for Northcote and Essendon in Victorian Premier Cricket put his name up in lights, leading to opportunities on the international stage.
Mire also made headlines in 2014 when he crunched a remarkable 260 from 157 balls, including 21 sixes, for Waratahs in a record-breaking Darwin and District Cricket Competition knock.
Now the 30-year-old has shifted his focus to guiding grassroots cricketers after taking on a significant coaching role.
Mire has taken a break from the field, allowing him to pursue his passion for helping players at Bundoora’s Cutting Edge Cricket.
He has been appointed academy and coaching strategy director after assisting suburban players “stop-start” in recent years, giving budding cricketers in the northern suburbs an international player on their doorstep they can call on.
Mire suggested improved game awareness was required to complement skills.
“I’m trying to create that good fundamental base around the northern region of Melbourne,” Mire said.
“Obviously a lot of the kids coming through don’t really have those good aspects of the game. We know everyone is a little bit individual in their techniques, but they’re still the same (issues).
“If you can’t hit the ball straight and have a good base, that’s probably what’s missing in a lot of the youngsters.
“I’ve been really keen to develop these programs where guys can consistently come in and work on building those fundamental skills, and then obviously talk about the game itself. I don’t think there’s enough cricket knowledge going around with the junior stuff. That’s also part of the program.”
Mire represented Zimbabwe 58 times across the three formats and announced his retirement after his country was suspended by the International Cricket Council in July. While Zimbabwe has since been reinstated, Mire is content to move on to the next chapter of his life and remains grateful for the chances he had to compete at the elite level.
Mire, who first donned Zimbabwe colours five years ago and is a former member of Melbourne Renegades’ Big Bash League squad. He said he was “so happy” to now call Melbourne home.
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“It was a rollercoaster of a journey — that’s probably the best way to describe it,” Mire said of his international career.
“The high moments were pretty high and there were learning moments … I’ve learnt so much about international cricket and what it takes to get to that level and perform at that level consistently.
“The way I got there, that’s more the reward, just the journey. It’s something you can’t really plan. I enjoyed it, and I’m privileged.”
Mire stopped short of declaring he would chase a professional coaching career.
He is in the formative stages of his new life and is an accredited Level 2 Cricket Australia coach.
But Mire said his playing days were far from done as he eyes a return to Victoria’s pre-eminent competition.
“I think I’ve probably still got a few years of playing Premier Cricket,” he said.
“I’ll head back when I get back into it.”