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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Cricket’s efforts to woo back players with Zimbabwean heritage scored a major success yesterday after top order batsman Gary Ballance signed a two-year contract which will make him available for domestic and national team selection for the country of his birth.
Ballance, who was born in Harare and previously played for the Zimbabwe Under-19 team at the ICC World Cup in 2006 before representing England at senior level, yesterday completed his switch of allegiance back to Zimbabwe.
Indications are that he will be available for selection when Zimbabwe host Ireland for a white ball series to take place next month.
Ballance made the move just a day after he had reached a mutual agreement with English County side Yorkshire to terminate his contract, which still had two more years on it.
ZC, who have been courting the left hander for a long time, were excited by the latest development.
“Zimbabwe Cricket is delighted to announce Gary Ballance has agreed a two-year contract to play domestic and international cricket in and for the country of his birth.
“This follows the Harare-born left-handed batter’s release from his contract with county cricket side Yorkshire,” said ZC in a statement.
Ballance featured for England between 2014 and 2017, playing 23 Tests, scoring four centuries at an average of 37.45, as well as 16 one-day internationals.
His last Test for England came in July 2017, making him eligible to play for Zimbabwe straight away. Ballance is a product of the Zimbabwe system. Before moving abroad, he had starred for Zimbabwe at the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2006 while still a schoolboy at Peterhouse Boys School in Marondera. Now 33 and with four or so more years of international cricket still ahead of him, Ballance said he was excited to get the opportunity to represent Zimbabwe.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Zimbabwe Cricket and can’t wait to start work with some great coaches and talented players.
“The opportunity to represent Zimbabwe has given me a new-found passion and excitement for the game.
“I have kept in touch with a number of people within Zimbabwe cricket over the years and it has been great to watch their recent progress especially,” he said.
Zimbabwean cricket legend Hamilton Masakadza, who is now the ZC Director of Cricket said Ballance was a huge addition to Zimbabwe.
“We are elated to have Gary, an immensely talented and experienced cricketer, back home where it all started for him.
“He is a great addition to our domestic and international set-up and we are looking forward to him making a massive difference for us,” said Masakadza.
But Zimbabwe’s gain was Yorkshire’s loss. The left-handed batsman and former England international requested to be released following a challenging period off-field in the last year.
Darren Gough, Managing Director of Yorkshire Cricket, said: “We are sad to see Gary go, but he leaves with our best wishes. He has been a mainstay of our side for many years, and a superb batsman.
“As a Club, we recognise that the last 18 months have been difficult for Gary, for numerous reasons, and the most important thing for him is to get better and play again.
“He felt he could not do this at Headingley, and we agreed to his request reluctantly, knowing that it was the right decision for him personally”.
Ballance, who faced serious off-field challenges which took a toll on his mental health, is hoping to rediscover himself with Zimbabwe.
“It has been a privilege to play for this great club. On a personal level, I have gone through a challenging period – and after much discussion I decided, together with my family, that it would be right to make a change.
“I asked the club if it was willing to release me from my contract, and I am grateful for its understanding as we have reached an agreement. “The support Yorkshire has given me off the pitch over the past year has been fantastic and I am appreciative of the club’s help, but I hope that my decision will mean that my career can have a fresh start”.
Apart from Ballance, ZC are also understood to be pursuing more overseas-based players with Zimbabwean background with the hope of persuading them to consider playing for the Chevrons.
One of them is Eddie Byrom, who was born in Harare 25 years ago but currently holds an Irish passport. The Glamorgan top order batsman played for Zimbabwe’s age-group teams but now qualifies to play international cricket for both Zimbabwe and Ireland.
Currently he is back home playing for Mid West Rhinos in the Logan Cup First Class competition. Another prospect is Nick Welch (24), who is currently in the books of Harare-based Eagles.
The former Zimbabwe national Under-17 top order batsman was once tipped to be the next big thing at Leicestershire County Cricket Club in England. He is yet to decide his international future.
Zimbabwe-born pace bowler Dustin Melton (27) has also been linked with an international cricket career with the country of birth after English county cricket side Derbyshire confirmed that he would be leaving at the end of the 2022 season.
ZC could also be monitoring players such as Dane Schadendorf (20) who played for Zimbabwe at the ICC Under-19 World Cup two years ago before moving to England where he signed for Nottinghamshire in the 2021 County Championship.
Then there is 21-year-old Tawanda Muyeye who plays for Kent County Cricket Club in England and Australia-based all-rounder Hilton William Raymond Cartwright who plays for Western Australia and the Melbourne Stars.
Cartwright was born in Harare 30 years ago and spent his early life in Marondera, but emigrated to Australia at the age of 11 years with his family
Cartwright made his Test debut for the Australian national team in January 2017, having earlier played for Australia A and the National Performance Squad.
Zimbabwe head coach Dave Houghton said in previous interviews that he would welcome former England international Ballance representing his country of birth if he ever desired to do so.
“I think he’s probably got another eight to nine good years in him, so if he wants to come back we certainly won’t turn him away.”
Commenting on the other players like Byrom and Welch, Houghton said: “I think it has been made clear to everyone that if you wanna come and play for Zimbabwe you’re welcome to. But I don’t think it’s a case of us running around throwing contracts at guys we haven’t seen play for five years.
“Anybody who wants to come and play is welcome to join our domestic competition. If you play well enough then you can get selected.”
Online Reporter