Vermeulen named in the top order by Chawaguta

Posted by brmtaylor.com admin on July 19, 2009

As widely expected, Mark Vermeulen's return to top flight cricket has all but been made official with coach and member of the selection panel Walter Chawaguta saying to the Sunday Mail that Vermeulen will definitely be in the top three.

"Vermeulen has been working hard since his return and will definitely be in the top three, but I am not sure as to whether he will open the batting or will come in at number three", he said.

Also in contention for the opening positions are Vusi Sibanda, Chamu Chibhabha and Hamilton Masakadza. Masakadza is almost certainly going to take one of the positions, having had reasonable success as opener in the past year. Sibanda has opened the batting regularly also but has had a poor run of form. Brendan Taylor, who has said he will be returning to Zimbabwe in the coming weeks, was not mentioned.

The upcoming series against Bangladesh will be played in Bulawayo, and Chawaguta has not ruled out naming a 19 man squad instead of the usual 15 man squad.

"So intense has been the competition that we are yet to decide whether to name a 15-man squad or just stick with 19, which is something we can afford to do as we are having a home series".

The current 19 man preliminary squad will be travelling to Victoria Falls next weekend for a team bonding exercise. The full squad announcement is expected to be made on August 5.