Former Zimbabwean cricketer Henry Olonga delivered an inspirational talk to News UK’s Christian Fellowship yesterday lunchtime.

As well as being the youngest cricketer to play for Zimbabwe, he is a devout Christian who’s international career famously came to an end in 2003 after he wore black armbands along with team mate Andy Flower during the 2003 Cricket World Cup to “mourn the death of democracy” in Zimbabwe.

Olonga subsequently fled the country after death threats forced him to live in exile in England.

He remains a fierce critic of Robert Mugabe’s regime, and shared his life experiences with News UK’s Christian Fellowship at the lunchtime session.

He told the group how God has influenced his life, and answered his prayers on a number of occasions, including when he feared for his life. One time, after he had got into trouble swimming, he thought he would drown, but prayed and felt he was given strength to swim until he was rescued.

Another time, he was hijacked in his car and thought he would be murdered. He prayed and survived, but also prayed for the return of the car. Shortly later, when he was being driven by his friends, his car happened to draw up next to them at a set of traffic lights. Olonga and pals followed and the bandits abandoned the car and ran off!

He also claimed that at times of financial difficulty God answered his prayers bringing him exciting new opportunities.

He continues his career as a cricket commentator and singer, and remains a committed speaker on democracy and religion, but is moving to Australia shortly.