Lost Zimbabwean Talent

[Paoli]

Many players who could've become stars. The ones with a star next to their name, I know where they are, but the others, if anybody has information please discuss. PS Use this for players who haven't played test matches.

They include:

• Matt Townshend (son of Derrick)
• Shaun Commerford
• Guy Croxford
• Scott Brant*
• Piet Rinke
• Colin de Grandhomme (I don't think he is in Zim anymore)
• Greg Lamb *
• Andrew Durham
• John Vaughan-Davies
• Ryan Bennett (might still be in Zimbabwe)
• Glen Barret
• Ian Coulson
• Tinashe Chaerenda

Feel free to add more names.

[Prince EWS]

What exactly did happen to Greg Lamb? I know he had shoulder injuries at one stage but just never really came back. He was looking promising as well.

De Grandhomme, Rinke and Bennett actually played one day matches in Zimbabwe in the 04-05 season.

[Paoli]

Yes...I know, but they played in the pre-christmas matches, not the post christamas ones.

Greg Lamb is at Hampshire. I don't know about the shoulder injury stuff, he went to further his career (probably for financial reasons as well) in England.

Vaughan-Davies was being billed as one of Zimbabwe's brightest pace bowling assets. Townshend and Commerford were going to be real stars if they had people to help them get their minds on the job and control their wayward bowling.

Andrew Durham, Peterhouse boy, applied for the Academy but got knocked back when it transpired he had a South African passport. He was another excellent allrounder.

I don't know where de Grandhomme is, but he certainly is an immensely talented opening bat.

[stone bird]

lamb has a english g/f he settled there years ago.


peac.ock is anyone who could be added to that list...he lives and plays club cricket in the UK

[stone bird]

dylan de beer is another player


andrew durham from what i have heard from friends wasn't much of a player...there was an article about him on cricinfo that hyped him up.

i think he is in south africa...couldn't get or didn't want a zimbo passport

[Paoli]

I saw Andrew Durham play, and in Form 2 was the best Petrean, and by Form 4, from what I'd heard, was the most promising cricketer at any school in the system.

With a bit of work he could've become a very good player...a bit like Townshend and Commerford, those guys would never have been chucked straight into the arena at the start, but with a bit of work those guys would now be ready to perform at international level.

[Paoli]

And another name, Ian Englebrecht. Never saw him play, but Derrick Townshend writes:

Originally Posted by Derrick Townshend

He has represented Matabeleland age group sides and was Man of the Series at the annual Christian Brothers College Cricket Tournament in South Africa in 1996. Ian is a good left-arm spinner who likes to bowl protracted spells. He bowls good line and length, reads the game and is a thinking cricketer. He is capable of batting and a good fielder, and a player who will I think make the Zimbabwe side in time to come; if not, he will come very close to it. I think he should get a game.

Obviously not the best writer is old Derrick, but he didn't hype any other Matabeleland players up like this. Englebrecht's stats show why as well...

class mat balls runs wkts bbi ave econ s r
First-class 9 1637 768 38 6/56 20.21 2.81 43.07

[stone bird]

engelbrecht stats look quite good!

andy wallers son...i forget his name, but he is being touted to play for england one day...he is lost talent!

[stone bird]

This was the zimbabwe A squad that played sri lanka A in 2000



AJ Mackay (Vice-Captain) - gone
DA Marillier
MA Vermeulen
DD Ebrahim
TN Madondo - deceased
GJ Rennie - gone
DJ Peacock - gone
RW Price - gone
DJR Campbell - gone
EZ Matambanadzo - gone
DT Mutendera - gone
GA Lamb - gone
NR Ferreira - semi gone
A Maragwede
AM Blignaut
CB Wishart - semi gone

[Paoli]

Gus Mackay- Too old to make an impact when he came on to the scene
Trevor Madondo- Tragedy, he was better than any other black batsman who is currently in the team and showed potential during his brief stay
Gavin Rennie- Recalled after '03 World Cup, dropped after Chingoka said the then 27 year old was "too old"
Peacock- Could've been ok, don't think he would've been great though
Mutendera- Are you sure his gone. It says on Cricinfo that he played one dayers last year?
Everton- Liked the lad, liked him alot. Very interesting prospect.
Campbell- Never really rated him, at least not as high as Croxford anyway.