Brown Appointed Mat Tuskers Coach

[maehara]

http://www.sundaynews.co.zw/inside.aspx ... 4186&cat=5

FORMER Zimbabwe senior national cricket team coach Robin Brown has been appointed the Matabeleland Tuskers coach.

He is not new in the set up as he was the coach of Westerns as Tuskers were known in 2007.

Playing as Westerns last season, Matabeleland Tuskers had a poor showing in the country’s premier first class competition where they finished winless. However, they did well in the shorter versions of the game, finishing second to Easterns in the Faithwear one-day competition and won the Metropolitan Bank Twenty20 competition. Brown was appointed Zimbabwe coach in August 2007, taking over from Kevin Curran. Despite posting an upset victory over Australia at the International Cricket Council World Twenty20 held in South Africa in September 2007 and recording another shocking win over the West Indies at the end of 2007, he only lasted for a year in the post before he was replaced by Walter Chawaguta in August last year.

Matabeleland Tuskers have secured almost all their key players for this season with only injured left handed all-rounder Keith Dabengwa and top order batsman Mbekezeli Mabuza who is with the Zimbabwe A side preparing to take on Afghanistan the only players yet to put pen to paper.

Tawanda Mupariwa, Mark Vermeulen, Sean Williams, Charles Coventry, Christopher Mpofu, John Nyumbu, Simba Kusano, Sydwell Ndlovu, Titus Chipare and Matt Williams are the players who have all signed their contracts.

Fast bowler Njabulo Ncube is the only player who has been lost by the franchise. The former national Under-19 player has signed for Mutare-based Mountaineers franchise. However, Matabeleland Tuskers spokesperson Donald Khumalo said the player has shown willingness to come back to his home franchise.

Matabeleland Tuskers have also set their sights on signing some former Zimbabwe internationals who are playing club cricket in the United Kingdom at the moment. These are former Zimbabwe captain Terrence Duffin, former Zimbabwe opening batsman Dion Ebrahim and off spinning all-rounder Gavin Ewing and a J McClean, who is understood to be playing international club cricket in the UK.

Fourteen other players have signed pay as you play deals. These are Thabo Mboyi, Freedom Takarusenga, Romeo Kasawaya, Kendrick Moyo, Taurai Madiri, Mxolisi Dube, Bernard Mukondiwa, Cunningham Ncube, Khawulani Ntuli, Godwin Mamhiyo, Steven Chimanhiyo, Dumisani Mankunzini, Vincent Dururu and Mduduzi Fuzwayo.

[zimfan1]

Matabeleland Tuskers have also set their sights on signing some former Zimbabwe internationals who are playing club cricket in the United Kingdom at the moment. These are former Zimbabwe captain Terrence Duffin, former Zimbabwe opening batsman Dion Ebrahim and off spinning all-rounder Gavin Ewing and a J McClean, who is understood to be playing international club cricket in the UK.

I reckon thats Jonno McClean a South African batsman who used to play for Hampshire in the UK and has been knocking around in many of the English county second elevens

Nice to see that young Matt Williams and pace prospect Khawulani Ntuli are back in the first class system and Duffin has allready signed as far as i know but would be great of Dion Ebrahim would return

[Detective RDS]

That's right, zimfan1. Jono McLean (Jonathan James McLean) is a South African batsman currently playing for Berkshire CCC, which is a minor county. Click here for his statistics. I also found an article about him including a picture of his batting, click hereto read it.

[zimfan1]

Well they talked about getting a few South African and Englishmen over into the domestic game which will strengthen the stadnadrd. On the other hand i hope the B version of the logan cup is being planned to take place this year as the players who will be pushed out by the overseas imports will need somewhere to home there skills and push for a first team place, but i suppose league cricket will do this.

I reckon we will see a few of the under 19 boys such as PJ Moor and Nathen Waller in the faithware games which will take place on sundays when they are not at school.

[Detective RDS]

A fact surprised me that Bradley Staddon isn't listed in the Tuskers squad. He played for Westerns in 2008 and I reckon he was very close for a national callup with Malcolm Waller in the Bangladesh tour early this year.