Ok here's mine:
As a kid growing up in Zimbabwe, I was always obsessed with cricket, probably because of the side we had. The usual names were knocking about back then i.e the Flower sisters, Campbell, Streak, Olonga. The past 10 years have been difficult to say the least, what with all the off field politics playing such a huge role. But I tell you what Brendan, seeing your name on that team sheet was always reassuring to me as a dedicated Zimbabwean. It provided hope and a realization that we still had a world class player in the side, maybe not when you first started out, but certainly as your career took off around 2007.
Having been at Harare on the day you played against Sri Lanka in 2004, me being an 11 year old kid wondering where my heroes were, I can honestly say it has been an absolute pleasure following your career. You played for Haywood in the CLL in 2008 and I watched you in a few games, highlighting your class more and more. You truly are a hero mate, both off the field and on it, you've always conducted yourself well and have dug in with Zimbabwe for as long as you can. But it's time to move on, as the old saying goes, nothing lasts for ever and so all good things must come to and end. It's emotional to think that I won't see you play at Harare anymore when I go back home and holiday, but you (like Flower) will live on in the memory and go down as one of Zimbabwe's greatest cricketers. Like Flower and Houghton, you're in good wicket keeping company there mate.
Farewell mate, I wish you and your family all the success In the world, you deserve it. Just wrap up in Nottingham, it can get a bit nippy
Ryan
