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...what past Zimbabwe players should come back to the setup.

We all know about the various strikes which cost them very good players. Out of those "lost" players, who should come back?

I'd personally give a call to Scott Brant and Sean Ervine.

Welcome to the forum Morgieb

Personally the main players in my mind that need to return are Anthony Ireland, Sean Ervine and Tinashe Panyangara. Those three hold so much potential it's untrue. Never heard of anybody called Scott Brant

scott brant used to play for queensland in australia very economical medium pace bowler left armer look him up havent seen him for a few seasons now though

Has he ever even played for a Zimbabwean first class team, because he's not even listed in Zimbabwes players. Therefore he can't even be eligable to have played for the country, you learn something new every day though

sloandog wrote:Has he ever even played for a Zimbabwean first class team, because he's not even listed in Zimbabwes players. Therefore he can't even be eligable to have played for the country, you learn something new every day though

Scott Brant was a left arm quickie who played for Zim U17's (same team as Taibu, Mastikenyeri, Masakadza, Coventry, Ervine). He was their strike bowler and was the quickest bowler at the CocaCola week in RSA

His family then emigrated to Aus and he played for Queensland U19's and then the state team in the Sheffield Shield. He did 2 years as an overseas player with Essex (with the flowers) but has not played for a couple of years because of injury. He is listed in the Zimbabwe player pages in Cricinfo.

sloandog wrote:Personally the main players in my mind that need to return are Anthony Ireland, Sean Ervine and Tinashe Panyangara.

Spot on - these 3 and Gary Ballance are the 4 Zim need to get back.

There's a lot of 30 yr old+ names being bandied about on this forum many who did not succeed before they left Zim. However the 4 above are have shown their class and and are all young with a lot of cricket ahead of them.

Colin Grandhomme is another but with Chigumbura, Chibhabha, Meth, Nkala, Blignaut and Ervine (in an idea world) (and Nathan Waller if he stays fit and develops) Zim would be well off for seam bowling all-rounders.

What Zim need to find is opening bowlers and opening batsmen (Ballance).

Was Ballance really an opener though? Always thought he was a middle order batsman....

Ireland's a medium-pacer, and that's the last thing Zimbabwe need. Tinashe's was hugely promising, until he did his back. Looks like he has pace, and I remember the 6/31 he took against Aussie's U/19 back in 2004. He should come back, yeah.

Re: Scott Brant, he was born and bred in Harare, but moved to Australia when he was 13. I included him on the basis that he played for both Essex & Queensland, which (for Queensland) is a hard team to break into, and (for Essex) he was their overseas player (OK, well one of them, Flower was for the first season, Kaneria for the second....)

Is Brighton Watamba still playing cricket? Are some former U/19 players (thinking of Nicolson, Sameruderu (sp?), Higgins, etc.) good enough? Would Heath Streak (I know he's retired, but he's still probably a better seamer than anyone else in the country....), Grant Flower and Murray Goodwin, despite their advancing years, still cut the mustard?

morgieb wrote:Was Ballance really an opener though? Always thought he was a middle order batsman....

Very much is, and a talented one at that. I can't believ i didn't mention his name.

morgieb wrote:Ireland's a medium-pacer, and that's the last thing Zimbabwe need.

Well hold on a minute Morgieb, he's not just a medium pacer. Those Zimbabwe fans that have been on the forum slightly longer than yourself should remeber the thread i did on Anthony Ireland. He's stronger, fitter, more developed mentally and has some tricks up his sleave. If you would class 84-86mph as medium pace....well that's your own opinion When he was playing for Zimbabwe he wasn't as quick as he is now, and not as experienced. So the first thing Zimbabwe want is somebody of Irelands class and pace, because i think most would agree with me wehn i say this: Ireland and Jarvis by far would be one of the quickest opening bowling combinations that Zimbabwe have produced since the Streak era. His presence is needed, and so is his talent if Zimbabwe are to find a partner for Jarvis. This man would fit that role perfectly.

I hope for hondo comeback in team,his hairstyle change.

morgieb wrote:Was Ballance really an opener though? Always thought he was a middle order batsman....

Wasn't previously but opened for Yorkshire 2nd XI all last season and was prolific

http://www.cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/p ... artseason=

morgieb wrote:Ireland's a medium-pacer, and that's the last thing Zimbabwe need. Tinashe's was hugely promising, until he did his back. Looks like he has pace, and I remember the 6/31 he took against Aussie's U/19 back in 2004.

Ireland is faster than Panyangara

morgieb wrote:Re: Scott Brant, he was born and bred in Harare, but moved to Australia when he was 13.

Scott Brant left Zim when 17 - he is pictured in the Zim U 16 team in the Zim 1999 Cricket yearbook.

morgieb wrote:Is Brighton Watamba still playing cricket? Are some former U/19 players (thinking of Nicolson, Sameruderu (sp?), Higgins, etc.) good enough? Grant Flower and Murray Goodwin, despite their advancing years, still cut the mustard?

Watamba has been in the USA for last 7 years and is now 32.
Samunderu is/has just returned to Zim after completing his degree in RSA
If Zim get test status soon, Goodwin would be great to get back to open the innings (this is where he has batted for Sussex over the last 3 years.) Zim have no real options as openers at the moment.
Nicolson will probably come back but is no better than the seamers currently playing. Higgins is settled in Bristol UK and it would be difficult to see where he would fit into the Zim team at the moment.