Malcolm Noel Waller (born 28 September 1984) is a Zimbabwean professional cricketer, who plays all formats of the game. He is a middle-order batsman and off-spinner. In December 2014, he was suspended from bowling after the International Cricket Council (ICC) concluded that "all of his off-spin deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations".[1]
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Malcolm Noel Waller | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 28 September 1984 Harare, Zimbabwe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Batsman | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | Andy Waller (father) Nathan Waller (cousin) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 82) | 1 November 2011 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 29 October 2017 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 102) | 19 January 2009 v Bangladesh | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 11 February 2018 v Afghanistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI shirt no. | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 30) | 15 October 2011 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 6 July 2018 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I shirt no. | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNCricinfo, 17 January 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In August 2015 his action was found to be legal[2] and the next month he was selected in Zimbabwe's squad for their series against Pakistan.[3]
International career
Following his first-class debut in the Logan Cup in April 2008, Waller was called up to the national team for a tour of Bangladesh,[4] where he made his international debut in a One Day International on 19 January 2009. Chasing a mere 128, Zimbabwe were in trouble at 44/6 when Waller walked in and drove the first ball he faced through the covers for four. He played a few more shots and was the top scorer in the innings with 24. With Ray Price's entertaining shots in the end Zimbabwe eventually won by 2 wickets.[5]
Waller rose to fame when he helped Zimbabwe chase down their highest ever ODI target of 328 against New Zealand at Bulawayo in the third ODI. He remained unbeaten on 99 as he chased down a total of more than 300 for the first time in Zimbabwe's history.[6]
Test Debut against New Zealand, 2011
Following this, he made his Test debut against New Zealand in the only Test at Bulawayo on 1 November 2011.[7] Waller remained unbeaten on 72 and became the eleventh Zimbabwean to score 50 or above in his debut test.[8]
Retirement
Waller retired from International cricket on 19 March 2019.
Family
Waller's father, Andy, played for Zimbabwe in the 1980s and 1990s. His father also scored 50 in his debut Test albeit in the second innings.[9] His cousin, Nathan Waller also represented Zimbabwe under-19 teams.
Education
Waller attended Lilfordia School.[10] He then moved to the UK to study at Brighton College, where he played in the first XI for three years.[11]