Thread: Carlisle, Gripper, Wishart return
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Old 20-03-2005, 02:46 AM in reply to Zainub's post starting "So, in something like a year or two's..."
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Paoli Paoli is offline
(WI) Passed Jeffery Dujon's 3322 Test runs
  
Join Date: Dec 2004
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If it were only that simple, Zainub...Once Flower's 2 year deal has finished with Essex, he'll most likely prefer to settle with his brother Andrew in England...Travis Friend, at only 22 years old will weigh things up after his Derbyshire season---There is no doubt he has been assisted by Derby coach, former Zimbabwean Captain Dave Houghton...I'd expect him to return after what I believe will be a patchy season...Ray Price is the big one...Will he or won't he??? His agency are tight lipped, saying him and Richard Sims are "Weighing up their options", but Worcs are adamant he'll be back at New Road come April 1.

As for Sims, Brent and Ferreira, I can't really see them getting pro contracts outside of Zimbabwe, last I heard Brent was playing for Burridge in the Southern England Power League or something....Ferreira I believe is playing club cricket in Zimbabwe and if he's there he may as well make himself availabe, and Richard Sims is playing club cricket in England..

Gary Brent IMO is a workhorse...He's only got ODI's left in him, but at 29, he may as well come back to aid Heath Streak and co..(If the ZCU want him), if not have him as a bowling coach (provided he wants to stay in Zimbabwe). Ferreira is an immensely talented batsman who is unlucky to have never played for Zimbabwe. The best batsmen by far on the domestic circuit to have never represented his country. Ferreira is an elegant player whose average has dropped in recent times, but as Manicaland captain he is still a formidable force. I saw Richard Sims in a match in England, where he made 24 off 25 balls opening the innings. He looked promising. However, the reason why Sims and Brent aren't brilliant at their trade is because they are bits and pieces players. Sims probably wasn't told to concentrate on his batting only at the CFX academy instead of continuing his loopy off-spin, as we see now with the likes of Panyangara, who is wasting his bowling potential by practicing lower order-tailend batting.

Zimbabwe need the right people to point players in the right direction.