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{{short description|Zimbabwean cricketer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Chris Mpofu
| image =
| country = Zimbabwe
| full_name = Christopher Bobby Mpofu
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|11|27|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Plumtree, Zimbabwe|Plumtree]], [[Matebeleland]], Zimbabwe
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm medium-fast
| role = [[Bowler (cricket)|Bowler]]
| international = true
| internationalspan = 2004–2020

| testdebutdate = 6 January
| testdebutyear = 2005
| testdebutagainst = Bangladesh
| testcap = 68
| lasttestdate = 26 December
| lasttestyear = 2017
| lasttestagainst = South Africa

| odidebutdate = 28 November
| odidebutyear = 2004
| odidebutagainst = England
| odicap = 84
| lastodidate = 1 March
| lastodiyear = 2020
| lastodiagainst = Bangladesh
| odishirt = 28

| T20Idebutdate = 9 January
| T20Idebutyear = 2007
| T20Idebutagainst = England
| T20Icap = 22
| lastT20Idate = 11 March
| lastT20Iyear = 2020
| lastT20Iagainst = Bangladesh
| T20Ishirt = 28

| club1 = [[Matabeleland cricket team|Matabaleland]]
| year1 = {{nowrap|2003/04–2005/06}}
| club2 = [[Mashonaland cricket team|Mashonaland]]
| year2 = 2003/04
| club3 = [[Westerns cricket team|Westerns]]
| year3 = 2006/07–2008/09
| club4 = [[Matabeleland Tuskers]]
| year4 = 2009/10–2017/18
| columns = 4
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 15
| runs1 = 105
| bat avg1 = 5.83
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 33
| deliveries1 = 2,489
| wickets1 = 29
| bowl avg1 = 48.00
| fivefor1 = 0
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 4/92
| catches/stumpings1 = 4/–
| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| matches2 = 84
| runs2 = 57
| bat avg2 = 2.85
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 9[[not out|*]]
| deliveries2 = 3,960
| wickets2 = 93
| bowl avg2 = 38.50
| fivefor2 = 1
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 6/52
| catches/stumpings2 = 11/–
| column3 = [[Twenty20 International|T20I]]
| matches3 = 32
| runs3 = 35
| bat avg3 = 8.75
| 100s/50s3 = 0/0
| top score3 = 17[[Not Out|*]]
| deliveries3 = 694
| wickets3 = 33
| bowl avg3 = 31.36
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 4/30
| catches/stumpings3 = 5/–
| column4 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches4 = 111
| runs4 = 1,250
| bat avg4 = 10.00
| 100s/50s4 = 0/1
| top score4 = 57
| deliveries4 = 17,422
| wickets4 = 296
| bowl avg4 = 30.18
| fivefor4 = 12
| tenfor4 = 1
| best bowling4 = 7/37
| catches/stumpings4 = 29/–
| date = 13 March 2023
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/content/player/55633.html ESPNcricinfo
}}

'''Christopher Bobby Mpofu''' (born 27 November 1985) is a Zimbabwean former international [[cricket]]er. He played for the [[Zimbabwe national cricket team]] at [[Test cricket|Test]], [[One Day International]] and [[Twenty20 International]] level.

==Early life and career==
Mpofu spent time in Brisbane, Australia at the National Performance Centre. He was coached by former Australian fast bowler [[Damien Fleming]].<ref>[https://www.podbean.com/ei/pb-ktrpm-dd159f], The Domestic Cricket Podcast – Interview With Chris Mpofu. Retrieved 10 August 2020.</ref>

Mpofu made his first-class debut for [[Matabeleland cricket team|Matabeleland]] against [[Manicaland cricket team|Manicaland]] in March 2004, taking three wickets on debut.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/79/79297.html Matabeleland v Manicaland], 2004 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 August 2011.</ref> In the 2004/05 Faithwear Inter-Clothing Provincial One-Day Competition, Mpofu was the leading wicket-taker with 11 wickets.<ref>
[http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=2500;type=tournament Records / Faithwear Clothing Inter-Provincial One-Day Competition, 2004/05 / Most wickets] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130122091608/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=2500;type=tournament |date=22 January 2013 }} ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref> He claimed 9 wickets in the 2005/06 edition of the competition.<ref>
[http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=2689;type=tournament Records / Faithwear Clothing Inter-Provincial One-Day Competition, 2005/06 / Most wickets] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130123001445/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=2689;type=tournament |date=23 January 2013 }} ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref>

==International career==
Following the mass exodus of top level players in the [[Zimbabwean cricket crisis]] of 2004, Mpofu made his One-Day International debut against England, and cost the English team some anxious moments.<ref>
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64910.html England in Zimbabwe ODI Series – 1st ODI Scorecard] ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref>

Following the exodus of the rebels, Mpofu was given his Test debut against Bangladesh at the [[M. A. Aziz Stadium]], [[Chittagong]]. He had scores of 0 and 5 in the match. The match was an indication of Zimbabwe's horrific decline in Tests as Bangladesh secured their maiden Test victory, and that too by 226 runs.<ref>
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/64121.html Zimbabwe in Bangladesh Test Series – 1st Test] ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref>

He was stumped twice in an afternoon (for a pair) in the first Test against New Zealand in August 2005,<ref>
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimvnz/engine/current/match/215253.html New Zealand in Zimbabwe Test Series – 1st Test] ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref> he followed up by being run out for 3 in the second match, as he strolled down the pitch to congratulate his teammate [[Blessing Mahwire]] on reaching his half-century, with the ball still in action.<ref>
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/216055.html New Zealand in Zimbabwe Test Series – 2nd Test] ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref> He still tends to blow hot and cold and has few rivals in the race to be considered international cricket's worst batsman.

Despite containing the basics, a good away movement, and a good action, Mpofu struggled, as for a long time he was the lone seamer among a cluster of spinners, and he had no one to help him out, and consistency was a major problem for the young seamer. There was a game against Pakistan in which he took 1/75.<ref name="auto">
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/532395.html Mpofu takes it slow] ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref>

===International comeback===
As Mpofu later recalled, Zimbabwe's short tour of South Africa in 2010 was the most toughest part of his life. On flat batting pitches without any assistance to seamers, Mpofu recorded unflattering bowling figures of 1 for 59 in the [[Twenty20]] match in [[Kimberley, Northern Cape|Kimberley]],<ref>
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/463142.html Zimbabwe in South Africa T20I Series – 2nd T20I] ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref> and 0/59 in a [[One-Day International]] at [[Bloemfontein]].<ref>
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/463143.html Zimbabwe in South Africa ODI Series – 1st ODI] ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref> Mpofu later said that he thought about [[Mick Lewis]] in that 438-game and how he never played for Australia again, and whether the same fate would befall Mpofu too.<ref name="auto"/>

It was former Zimbabwean fast-bowling great [[Heath Streak]] who helped Mpofu believe he could. When Streak was appointed as bowling coach, Mpofu had a sense that things were changing. The two had a more good understanding because Streak who also came from Matabeleland as Mpofu spoke in his mother language, Ndebele. Streak told Mpofu that in cricket, he needed a wider repoirtoire of balls. Furthermore, former English Test cricketer [[Robin Jackman]] told him after his disastrous performances in South Africa that if he had to succeed in international cricket, he will have to bowl a slower ball. Mpofu first tried that experiment in the nets, and following success there, tried them in an international match situation. This chain of incidents proved to be a turning point in Mpofu's career.<ref name="auto"/>

A string of decent performances followed in the 2010 tri-series against India and Sri Lanka, as Zimbabwe beat India (twice) and Sri Lanka (once) to reach the final ahead of favorites India, ultimately finishing as runners-up. Mpofu continued in the same vein in the team's tour of Ireland. Mpofu took 8 wickets from these two combined series.<ref>
[http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/55633.html?class=2;spanmax1=10+Oct+2010;spanmin1=25+May+2010;spanval1=span;template=results;type=bowling;view=match Statistics / / CB Mpofu / One-Day Internationals] ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref>

===2011 Cricket World Cup===
Mpofu had a fine World Cup 2011 performance, with 7 wickets at an average of 22.71 from 4 matches and eased into a more senior role for Zimbabwe. Furthermore, he found a new-ball partner with [[Ray Price (cricketer)|Ray Price]] and created a new celebration jig with him as any one of them got a wicket.<ref>[http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/55633.html?class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=start;spanmin1=28+Nov+2010;spanval1=span;template=results;trophy=12;type=bowling;view=ma Statistics / / CB Mpofu / One-Day Internationals] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130122163046/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/55633.html?class=2;filter=advanced;orderby=start;spanmin1=28+Nov+2010;spanval1=span;template=results;trophy=12;type=bowling;view=ma |date=22 January 2013 }} ESPNcricinfo Stasguru. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref>

===Mid career (2010-2015)===
Mpofu played in Zimbabwe's comeback Test match against Bangladesh, and took 5 wickets as Zimbabwe recorded their first victory since 2004 by a major 130 runs.<ref>
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/522245.html Bangladesh in Zimbabwe Test Match] ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref>

Chris Mpofu continued his good wicket-taking form in the next Test against Pakistan, by taking 2 wickets in the only innings he bowled. Another highlight being his six in the Zimbabwean first innings off Pakistan's stalwart spinner [[Saeed Ajmal]] that brought up the Zimbabwean 400. Despite this, the match was a heavy 7-wicket loss for the hosts who were playing at [[Bulawayo]].<ref>
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe-v-pakistan-2011/engine/match/523731.html Pakistan in Zimbabwe Test Match] ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref>

Mpofu continued his fine form in the next Test against New Zealand where he took 4 wickets in a single innings to restrict New Zealand to 426. He eventually finished with another 5-wicket haul. Despite captain [[Brendan Taylor]]'s brilliant innings of 117 in the last innings, Zimbabwe lost the match narrowly by 34 runs, owing much to Black Caps debutant [[Doug Bracewell]]'s 5-wicket haul that overshadowed Mpofu's and [[Kyle Jarvis]]'s.<ref>
[http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe-v-new-zealand-2011/engine/match/527017.html New Zealand in Zimbabwe Test Match] ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 December 2011</ref>

Chris Mpofu was left out of the Zimbabwe squad for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia.<ref>
[https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/180825.html Zimbabwe Name final 15-Man Squad] Retrieved 10 August 2020</ref>

==Records==
*He is the world record holder for conceding the fewest runs (6 runs) without bowling a maiden over in a T20 International after bowling the complete quota of overs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/623464.html|title=Seven men bowled, and Yousuf's purple patch|work=Cricinfo |access-date=24 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/can2020/engine/current/match/361659.html|title=3rd Place Playoff: Canada v Zimbabwe at King City (NW), Oct 13, 2008 – Cricket Scorecard – ESPNcricinfo|work=Cricinfo |access-date=24 February 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ESPNcricinfo|id=55633}}
* [http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cricket_worldcup2011/content/player/55633.html Christopher Mpofu 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Profile]

{{Navboxes
|title= Zimbabwe squads
|bg= red
|fg= white
|bordercolor=yellow
|list1=
{{Zimbabwe Squad 2007 Cricket World Cup}}
{{Zimbabwe Squad 2007 World Twenty20}}
{{Zimbabwe Squad 2010 World Twenty20}}
{{Zimbabwe Squad 2011 Cricket World Cup}}
{{Zimbabwe Squad 2012 World Twenty20}}
}}
{{Matabeleland Tuskers Squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mpofu, Christopher}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mashonaland cricketers]]
[[Category:Matabeleland cricketers]]
[[Category:Matabeleland Tuskers cricketers]]
[[Category:Westerns (Zimbabwe) cricketers]]
[[Category:Zimbabwean cricketers]]
[[Category:Zimbabwe One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:Zimbabwe Test cricketers]]
[[Category:Zimbabwe Twenty20 International cricketers]]
[[Category:21st-century Zimbabwean sportsmen]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 2007 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 2011 Cricket World Cup]]
[[Category:Zimbabwe Select XI cricketers]]

Christopher Mpofu - Revision history

DenicePitcairn: Creating First Post Added Tags.