Taibu Retires

[butchering lee]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

does anyone,..... know if it is the case that Taibu will move to SAF?

well, it is quite common for zimbabweans to end up in the SA rugby team - Adrian Garvey, Ray Moordt, Bobby Skinstad, Gary Teichmann, and most recently and significantly - Tonderai Chavhanga.

and yes he would be a good replacement for boucher (who i quite like)

[Notts Exile]

It does sound like Taibu might go and play Standard Bank cricket for the Cape Cobras and also county cricket next summer.

Is this finally the sign for the ICC to act? Or will they just carry on regardless? My club side would probably beat Zimbabwe now.

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by ajithlalm

Well, does any one know the criteria for playing for one country and playing another country? How many years does it requires..? What are the methods to qualify for another country.. whats the criteria..?

I think qualification is still 4 years, although I'm not 100%. Kepler Wessels played for Aus before returning to SA, although he was SA by birth. I'm can't think of any other players who've made their test debut with the country of their birth before qualifying for another nation.

[Sean Beynon]

This is very, very sad. Zim have lost a couple of excellent cricketers and lots of decent ones in the last few years, but this will be the final nail in the coffin for them in terms of being even half-way competitive.

People assume that there are no decent cricketers left in Zimbabwe. It's not true, there are. Sadly, they have all be thrown in at 18/19/20 way too early and will be utterly ruined by continuing humiliation.

A side of:
G. Flower, Ebrahim, A. Flower, Carlisle, Ervine, Mazakadza, Taibu, Streak, Blignaut, Murphy and Olonga wouldn't be a bad one. Talented in the field, four half-way decent batsmen, quality keeper, reasonable bowling. They wouldn't be world-beaters, but they would compete. Zimbabwe Cricket need to take the blame for that - can't really see a way out of this mess.

[Zainub]

John A. Tracious (not sure of spelling) is the only man in test cricket history to have played for two countries but born in niether.

He was born in Cairo , Egypt. Played for Rhodesia (former Zimbabwe) and SA. And later Zimbabwe. Although I could be wrong.

[butchering lee]

Originally Posted by Mongoose

I'm can't think of any other players who've made their test debut with the country of their birth before qualifying for another nation.

hick played for zim before he played for england - i'm pretty sure!!

[Statto]

I thought he left Zimbabwe before they had test status though, so that would be different.

[Paoli]

Now, chaps...ease up a little. Taibu is only 22 and could well find himself back in Zimbabwe in a couple of years, despite the fact the government is notorious for treating dissident blacks worse than dissident whites.

Before thinking of where Taibu's going to go, spare a thought for the rest of Zimbabwe's cricketers. In October, we were almost back to where we were a while ago...making teams bat twice again was one good thing. But now, all of this political turmoil has taken its toll. The sign of when you know it's getting bad is when a black player walks out. Not many of them have; Olonga did, but he's far more educated than many in this team, and I believe he also holds a University degree.

Where to now for Taibu? South Africa seems logical, as does England. But could you really have a bloke called Tatenda Taibu standing the stumps for England? Actually, anythings' possible, i.e Captain Nasser Hussain, Kevin Pietersen in the side etc. However...Tatenda Taibu may well turn out to be a journeyman, playing in South Africa in the northern winter, and England in the summer. An incredibly talented cricketer, I hope he isn't lost to Zimbabwe.

Edit: BL, as Statto says, Hick was completely different. He didn't play an international for Zimbabwe.

[butchering lee]

Originally Posted by Paoli69

Edit: BL, as Statto says, Hick was completely different. He didn't play an international for Zimbabwe.

i'll take your word for it - i just read his player page info and major teams said zim.,eng.,... i made the leap

[flanflinger]

Hick toured with the Zimbawean side when he was 17, as part of the World Cup team 1983, but never played. Got spotted by Worcester after playing for Kiddiminster in the Birmingham league in 1984, and ended up playing playing for Worcester 2nd's.

In 1985 he withdrew from the Zimababwe ICC Trophy side, so he could qualify for England, which he did in 1991.

So he never actually played for Zimbabwe in a full international game.