Vermeulen returns to official cricket along with Coventry and Hondo

Posted by Detective RDS on February 26, 2009

Faithwear series which is the domestic one day competition of Zimbabwe is going to start from February 28th, Saturday. The squads of Faithwear series have already named by ZC. The most surprising inclusion of the series is of Brendan Taylor who is named in the squad of Northerns, even though it has since been confirmed that Taylor will not be playing in the Faithwear Cup - at least not until next month at the earliest.

The official website of Zimbabwean cricket says that,

"But it is the line up featuring world class wicketkeeper-batsman and former Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu, opener Brendan Taylor, all rounder Elton Chigumbura, spinner Raymond Price, Regis Chakabva, Graeme Cremer and Trevor Garwe that look firm favourites for the title come round six."

Brendan Taylor quit Zimbabwean cricket last year and played club cricket in Australia for North Melbourne in the Victorian Premier League. Before that he has spent the northern summer in Europe playing club cricket there. He also played for Lashings World 11 in England with many greatest cricketers of the world.

The return of Brendan Taylor would have been a big boost for the Zimbabwean cricket team. He is already treated like a class batsman and one of the Zimbabwe's all time best. He was the hero of the Twenty-20 match against Australia hitting 60* in the World Cup T-20 in South Africa which Zimbabwe went to win. He won the match for Zimbabwe against Bangladesh in 2006 hitting six on the last ball of the match.

Brendan Taylor is an experienced player who is well respected by the oppornents. Being a 23 year old, he has got the experience of playing 75 ODIs and 10 Tests for Zimbabwe under his belt. Scoring 1929 runs in 75 ODIs at 28.36 with 12X50, best 98 shows his potentiality in batting. In 10 Tests he has scored 422 runs at 21.10 with 3X50, best 78. He isn't selected for the 'A' side, that means he is available for the selection of national team which will tour Sri Lanka if he does return. He will be a big prospect as far as the batting part is concerned for Zimbabwe and which has struggled previously. Taylor has performed the work of a wicket keeper when Tatenda Taibu wasn’t available for selection and did very well.

Mark Vermeulen is named in the squad of Westerns. He is also returning to official cricket after playing his last First Class cricket in 2005. He has achieved the prize of showing decent performance in the club level. Vermeulen played for Royal Cricket Club in the National League of Zimbabwe. He is also selected for the 'A' side which will tour Namibia. This means he wont be available for national selection. But it is hoped that 29 years old experienced Vermeulen will return to the international cricket soon. Probably in the next series of Zimbabwe after Sri Lanka's.

Zimbabwe 'A' team coach Stephen Mangongo said this about Vermeulen:

"Mark is a good player whom I am working with to give the side what we believe he can offer.His fitness is fine and we are working with getting him the right technique so that he starts scoring runs for the side, something we believe he can do. If that happens, then our reconstruction on his career would be on the right path".

Vermeulen has remained in the news in recent times:

(Vermeulen and Coventry return ahead of Faithwear series)
http://www.brmtaylor.com/news-117.html

(Vermeulen poised for national return)
http://www.brmtaylor.com/news-114.html

(Vermeulen is allowed to play official cricket by ZC)
http://www.brmtaylor.com/news-110.html

Charles Coventry is also named in the squad of Westerns. Coventry returned to Zimbabwe and played in the National League for Bulawayo Athletic Club. He last played First Class cricket in the Logan Cup 2007. Before that he went to play club cricket in UK in the 2006 season after having a dispute with former coach Kevin Curran. He was to include in the Zimbabwean squad of Twenty-20 world cup when he returned to Zimbabwe in 2007. But he didn't continue further and left Zimbabwe to play club cricket in South Africa and played for Pretoria Boys High School Old Boys. He is also selected for the 'A' team which means he won't be available for national selection like Vermeulen. 25 years old Coventry is a very hard hitting batsman and also does the job of a wicket keeper. He has represented Zimbabwe in 2 Tests and 11 ODIs.

Douglas Hondo who is the current bowling coach Zimbabwean national team also returns to official cricket after 2005.He is named in the squad of Easterns.He told about his intention to return in the national side when Zimbabwe was in Bangladesh to a daily newspaper of Bangladesh:

"In the last week before coming here I have taken 5 wickets giving 17 runs in the club cricket.Now I am bowling even better than before. From 2005 I was out of cricket for one and a half year due to my back injury.Then(During injury period) I started coaching.After recovering from injury I am playing cricket too."

Douglas Hondo represented the national side of Zimbabwe from 2001 to 2005. 29 years old Hondo has played 56 ODIs and 9 Tests for Zimbabwe. After the rebel strike in 2004, Douglas Hondo shared the new ball with Tinashe Panyangara. He was one of the few black players who had good relation with the 'Rebel' players of Zimbabwe in 2004. After recovering from hamstring injury, he was set to return in the national side. But quit Zimbabwe in February 2007 after the controversial 'Cut your hair be dropped' and went to play club cricket in UK. He played club cricket for Sandford CC in UK in the 2008 season and played club cricket in Zimbabwe too. It is yet to be seen that if he can manage a place in the national side beating Rainsford, Mupariwa and Mpofu.The ongoing injury of Rainsford still offers a chance.But everything will depend on the performance of Hondo. If he can perform impressively, I think he will be selected for the national side as he isn't in the 'A' side.

Squad of Faithwear Cup:

Easterns: Hamilton Masakadza (capt), Stuart Matsikenyeri, Forster Mutizwa (wk), Johnson Marumisa, Timycen Maruma, Prosper Utseya, Shingi Masakadza, Silent Mujaji, Steady Musoso, Philimon Kadzitye, Natsai Mushongwe, Douglas Hondo, Steven Nyamuzinga, Tendai Chatara, Bezel Sanyika, Donald Tiripano

Northerns: Elton Chigumbura (capt), Tatenda Taibu, Brendan Taylor, Regis Chakabva (wk), Cephas Zhuwawo, Bernard Mlambo, Sam Mwakayeni, Raymond Price, Admire Manyumwa, Trevor Garwe, Graeme Cremer, Tinashe Chimbambo, Patient Charumbira, Peter Moor, Clement Rizibhowa, Mohammed Bala, Tinotenda Mutombodzi

Centrals: Chamu Chibhabha (capt), Erick Chauluka, Richmond Mutumbami, Robertson Chinyengetere, Bothwell Chapungu, Malcolm Waller, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Tendai Chisoro, Mike Chinouya, Rememberence Nyathi, Solomon Mire, Tendai Chitongo, Simbarashe Gupo, Nathan Waller, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Friday Kasteni, Alester Maregwede (wk), Roger Kahiya

Westerns: Keith Dabengwa (capt), Mark Vermeulen, Tafadzwa Ngulube (wk), Sean Williams, Charles Coventry, Mbekezeli Mabuza, Freedom Takarusenga, Romeo Kasawaya, Tawanda Mupariwa, Christopher Mpofu, John Nyumbu, Njabulo Ncube, Titus Chipare, Kendrick Moyo, Thabo Mboyi

There is absences of Edward Rainsford, Bonaparte Mujuru, Blessing Mahwire, Taurai Muzarabani and Bradley Staddon. Rainsford is said to be injured from Kenyan tour. The reason of others absence is still unknown.

Update by Detective RDS: Brendan Taylor will miss the lion share of the Faithwear series.

The Zimbabwean cricket website also ensures that Peter Moor, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Tawanda Mupariwa, Alester Maregwede and Friday Kasteni will also miss the Faithwear series. Peter Moor is in South Africa with his school. Sibanda, Maregwede and Kasteni all are in Australia.