Richard Kaschula

{{Short description|Zimbabwean cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Richard Kaschula

| image =

| country = Zimbabwe

| fullname = Richard Herbert Kaschula

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1946|11|09}}

| birth_place = Gwelo, Midlands

| death_date =

| death_place =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Slow left-arm orthodox

| role = Bowler

| club1 = Rhodesia

| year1 = {{nowrap|1970/71–1979/80}}

| club2 = Zimbabwe

| year2 = 1980/81–1981/82

| columns = 2

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 48

| runs1 = 273

| bat avg1 = 7.37

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 22

| deliveries1 = 11,985

| wickets1 = 196

| bowl avg1 = 25.71

| fivefor1 = 7

| tenfor1 = 1

| best bowling1 = 6/68

| catches/stumpings1 = 22/–

| column2 = List A

| matches2 = 7

| runs2 = 1

| bat avg2 = 0.50

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 1

| deliveries2 = 128

| wickets2 = 5

| bowl avg2 = 25.60

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 3/21

| catches/stumpings2 = 2/–

| date = 6 March

| year = 2014

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/content/player/55535.html CricInfo

}}

Richard Herbert Kaschula (born 9 November 1946) is a former Zimbabwean cricketer, described by CricInfo's Martin Williamson as "a legendary character in Zimbabwe cricket".{{cite web | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/content/player/55535.html | title=Player Profile: Richard Kaschula | publisher=ESPN CricInfo | accessdate=6 March 2014 | author=Williamson, Martin}}

A slow left-arm orthodox bowler from Midlands, Rhodesia, Kaschula was a leading figure in the Rhodesian side throughout the 1970s. His batting was negligible, and his weight – up to 20 stone (c. 120 kg) during his career – made him slow in the field, but his bowling was effective and sometimes match-winning. In his first season of first-class cricket he took 41 wickets at an average of 14.83, helping Rhodesia to victory in the B Section of the Currie Cup.Wisden 1972, pp. 972–73. His best first-class figures came in October 1980 for Zimbabwe against the touring Middlesex team, when he took 6 for 68 and 4 for 98, and Zimbabwe won by four wickets.{{cite web |title=Zimbabwe v Middlesex 1980-81 |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/40/40664.html |website=CricketArchive |access-date=18 February 2023}}

Kaschula was South African Cricket Annual Cricketer of the Year for 1972. He took 196 first class wickets at 25.71, 120 of them for Rhodesia and 44 for the Zimbabwe national cricket team after the country became independent but before it achieved Test status.{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/5/5145/f_Bowling_by_Team.html | title=First-Class bowling For Each Team By Richard Kaschula | publisher=Cricket Archive | accessdate=6 March 2014}} After retiring he became a national selector. In 2006, following the government takeover of cricket administration, he was removed.{{cite web | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/content/story/235263.html | title=Zimbabwe Cricket's purge continues | publisher=ESPN CricInfo | date=January 31, 2006 | accessdate=6 March 2014}} His cousin, Nathaniel Kaschula, also played first-class cricket.{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/5/5145/5145.html | title=Player Profile: Richard Kaschula | publisher=Cricket Archive | accessdate=6 March 2014}}