Ervine officially gone

[sloandog]

Zimbabwe’s Craig Ervine has decided to play cricket in England this summer after turning down his latest contract offer from the national board.


The leading run-scorer for Zimbabwe during their recent tour of the West Indies, Craig Ervine, will not travel with the squad to face Bangladesh after turning down his winter contract.

Ervine was one of a number of Zimbabwean cricketers who were disillusioned with the contract offer given to them for the winter months in the country and has opted to play domestically in England instead.

Some players in the national side had threatened to boycott the tour with the Bangladeshis after they believed non-centrally contracted players were being given an unfair deal by Zimbabwe Cricket.

However that threat has now been averted after eight players signed winter contracts with the side, but Ervine is the first to turn down the offer.

Two other Zimbabweans, Sean Williams and Sikander Raza, are still in discussions with the board over their contracts and it is unknown if they will join the batsman in walking away from the deal.

The 31-year-old’s brother, Sean Ervine, has already turned his back on Zimbabwe Cricket after disputes over poor pay packets and has sought stability and security in the UK.

Financial uncertainty is still a huge concern for cricketers in Zimbabwe, despite the nation being allowed to play Test matches again after exile from 2011 onwards.

Ervine has played four Test matches for his country since their comeback two years ago and has scored 174 runs at an average on 29.00.

[jimbo]

Suprised that Sikanda hasnt signed a deal yet. Even If ZC's offer is poor he has a chance to make a name for himself and get in the shop window. I dont just mean for A central contract either

[zimlover]

I hope he is leaving on good terms, good luck to him ,i guess a man got do what a man's got do, feed your family and fill your belly

[eugene]

Just devastating.

[kudet]

this is indeed a loss to zim. ervine is a useful batsman in the middle order and he surely deserves a central contract.

[ZIMDOGGY]

is this just a winter thing, implying he will be back in summer and beyond

kind of like a protest?

[ZIMDOGGY]

Sean Ervine‏@slug_712h
I can't believe Zim Cricket is throwing away the game that brings and brought so many people together in the country!



funky slug tells the truth.

[jimbo]

I am worried about the batting composition. If Sikanda or Williams dont sign then we only have four front line batsmen in Taylor/Sibanda/Masakadza and Waller- Players like Mutumbami and Chigumbura dont count as they are all-rounders. Its no good Getting Chinouya/Meth/S Masakadza on off season contracts if we cant get the totals on the board

[foreignfield]

I am worried about the batting composition. If Sikanda or Williams dont sign then we only have four front line batsmen in Taylor/Sibanda/Masakadza and Waller- Players like Mutumbami and Chigumbura dont count as they are all-rounders. Its no good Getting Chinouya/Meth/S Masakadza on off season contracts if we cant get the totals on the board

I reckon they count Maruma as a specialist bat these days. Even if Raza signs his FC record suggests he should be restricted to ODIs/T20Is.

I'm worried that we'll end up with:
Vusi
Hami
Taylor
Waller
Maruma
Chigs
Mutumbami (wk)
Shingi
Jarvis
Mushangwe
Chatara

That's as weak a batting line-up we can get, even if you put in Cremer or Pro for Mushangwe.

If Raza and Williams both do not sign they'll have to bring in someone else into the squad. But who? Kasuza?

[jimbo]

I would rather Kazuza than Chibhaba as he looked to have something about him. Not an awful average at first class (33)........if The Williams/Sikanda options prove to not sign then why not I say.....Its not like there is much more left in the cuboard