andy24 wrote:the news isnt to good. i sent an email to Zim cricket about Brent and Duffin and this is what i got bak.
Andrew
thankyou for your interest in the local game
Both Terance Duffin and Gary Brent have resigned from Zimbabwe cricket
Regards lovemore Banda
Coming from Lovemore Banda it's hard to see this being anything other than true. This will mean extra pressure on Mpofu and Mupariwa, who have to bring their games up a notch or two now. What this means is no more guaranteed ten over spells of under 5 an over.
On a more positive note, it's good to see ZC are being proactive in replying to supporters queries.
this is a huge blow loosing brent, as you say Mupariwa and Mpofu are going to have to up their games also young bowlers like Mazurbani etc may also have their chance at international level soon.
Official word from Brent: leaving on "happy terms":
"I have quit first-class and international cricket in Zimbabwe," said Brent."I decided that it was time to get on with my life and get myself a qualification in cricket.
"I gave Zimbabwe Cricket a one-month notice in terms of my contract and I'm happy to say I'm leaving on happy terms. I want to get qualified as a coach and the only way I can get that qualification is by going overseas."
maehara wrote:Official word from Brent: leaving on "happy terms":
"I have quit first-class and international cricket in Zimbabwe," said Brent."I decided that it was time to get on with my life and get myself a qualification in cricket.
"I gave Zimbabwe Cricket a one-month notice in terms of my contract and I'm happy to say I'm leaving on happy terms. I want to get qualified as a coach and the only way I can get that qualification is by going overseas."
Good find. Hopefully that is the truth, and if so it is good to know he's leaving on good terms with the board. It is a little bit surprising that he didn't: a) stick around until the end of the Logan Cup; b) wait until later this year so he could add to his handful of Test caps.
Anyway, hopefully he becomes an assistant coach for the national team, then his services would not be lost. Also, it would be nice if he keeps playing for Harare Sports Club in the National League. The Muzarabani's and the Nyamuzinga's of Zimbabwe cricket can learn a lot from Gary Brent.
Seems the Cricket365 quote was lifted from the Sunday News - here's the relevant piece:
Two years after he made a comeback into international cricket, Brent has turned his back on Zimbabwe. He confirmed to Sunday News on Thursday he had retired from both first class and international cricket in Zimbabwe and would be soon heading to England to start a new career.
“I have quit first class and international cricket in Zimbabwe, I decided that it is time to get on with my life and get myself a qualification in cricket. I gave Zimbabwe Cricket a one-month notice in terms of my contract and I am happy to say that I am leaving on happy terms,” said Brent.
The 32-year-old said that he had found a club in England but the deal fell through, as the club could not accommodate the rest of his family.
Brent last turned out for Zimbabwe when they took on the Eagles in an MTN domestic championship match played at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo early this year, a match Zimbabwe sensationally won by two wickets. The pace bowler broke his finger during that match and he said that injury forced him to have a re-think about playing cricket for Zimbabwe.
“When I came back I had thought of playing for at least five years but when broke my finger, it just occurred to me that I could lose my place in the national team and never get picked again. I want to get qualified as a coach and the only way I can get that qualification is going overseas,” Brent said.
In other words, it's a realisation that he's getting old and needs to plan for the future that was behind the decision, and not the "selection issues" the CricInfo had mentioned.
The same article also gives more details about Duffin's departure:
Former Zimbabwe captain Duffin has called time on his international cricket and is now believed in England where is playing international cricket.
Reliable sources told Sunday News that Duffin applied for leave from ZC in order to take up a contract with an English club but his application was turned down, despite his leave forms having been signed by national team coach Robin Brown. He then decided to resign and head off to England and sources close to him have disclosed that he will then proceed to New Zealand at the end of the England domestic season in September.
Full article here - remember that Zimpapers don't archive their posts, so it'll shuffle off their website next Sunday.
It's important to realise, even with these departures, Zimbabwe is still in a much stronger position than it was 2 years ago.
This is the team that played against Kenya in 2006:
HP Rinke, T Duffin, H Masakadza, BRM Taylor, E Chigumbura, CK Coventry, GM Strydom, NB Mahwire, P Utseya, AJ Ireland, KO Meth, (EC Rainsford)
That team had 4 debutants.
The last ODI Zimbabwe played had the following players:
V Sibanda, H Masakadza, SC Williams, T Taibu, BRM Taylor, CJ Chibhabha, E Chigumbura, KM Dabengwa, GB Brent, RW Price, CB Mpofu, (T Mupariwa) + Utseya who was injured
We have lost, most likely permanently: Rinke (avg), Duffin (avg), Coventry (good), Strydom (avg), Ireland (had potential), Brent (retired)
Have been dropped, and seem unlikely to return soon: Mahwire, Meth, Rainsford
But what we have gained in the past 2 years: Taibu, Brent (come and gone), Williams, Sibanda, Chibhabha, Dabengwa, Price, Mupariwa, Mpofu (bearing in mind, some of those players - such as Mpofu - could have played in the Kenya series but were not selected)
And in that time there are some other players who have come and gone (internationally) such as Mawoyo, Maruma, Kamungozi. Cremer has been on the fringes, but hasn't played any internationals since 2005.
It is quite clear, what Zimbabwe has gained far outweighs what they have lost. Charles Coventry (can't see him returning) was a huge loss. He is as good as Brendan Taylor. Anthony Ireland was a huge loss - I always thought he was perhaps overrated based on his performances, but nobody doubted he had huge potential, and was going to be a key member of the squad in years to come. Gary Brent of course was a solid performer, but I feel Mupariwa can fill his shoes adequately.
So 3 players of note have been lost. Enter Sean Williams, Chris Mpofu and Tawanda Mupariwa and bang - they have all been replaced. Throw in Tatenda Taibu and Ray Price alone, and you already have a much stronger squad.
While it is a shame Gary Brent has retired from international cricket, Zimbabwe is actually in a decent state at the moment. As long as the young members of the squad stick together, Zimbabwe will be traveling well in years to come.
Another interview with Brent and Robin Brown in this week's Zimbabwe Independent:
Brent:
"I didn’t want to leave when people are saying he should have retired five years ago. It’s time to move on. This is about my future. There are other important things in life other than cricket. I have two lovely kids and a whole life ahead of me."
"I would love to be a coach and hopefully coach the (Zimbabwe) team in the future as I believe I got a lot of stuff to pass on."
"I’m not satisfied [with my cricketing career]. No one can be satisfied. But I feel I have played my best cricket in the last two years than I did in my first spell, which was eight or so years. I’m chuffed to have achieved that."
"There are some talented seamers coming through, in particular Jaiq (Taurai Muzarabani) and Prosper (Tsvanhu). They are great prospects and they are going to get better and better. They are nice kids as well. They’ve got good work ethics. There are other talented players but I don’t believe they have the right attitude, which is very unfortunate."
Brown:
"It has left a huge dent. He was very useful to the team. He had some match-winning performances for us and helped out the younger guys as a senior player.
"We’II miss him terribly, but there are quite a few suitable replacements waiting in the wings. Chris Mpofu has found his form again and there is the likes of Ed Rainsford and Tawanda Mupariwa in the frame."
Maybe Kyle Jarvis could be a replacement in the future, maybe when he is about 22 or 23. He performed well in the under 19 world cup and ZC said he will most likely be playing in the Logan Cup next year in an E - Mail they sent me back about him.
