Zimbabwe recall Grant Flower after six years

Zimbabwe has included veteran Grant Flower in their T20 and ODI squads for this month's tour of South Africa. The 39-year-old has been recalled despite not playing any international cricket for six years.

Flower has been playing county cricket for Essex since 2004 after featuring in 67 Tests and 219 One-Day Internationals for his country since making his debut in 1992.

Flower, who has been acting as Zimbabwe's batting coach recently, said: "There can be a conflict of interest with my role as the batting coach if I can't turn things around as a player.

"It can be awkward if I don't. If it works, however, it can come out in positive fashion. I've just had a good season with Essex, playing some of my best one-day cricket with them, but international cricket is a step up."

Flower, in his first spell with the Zimbabwe cricket team, made his Test and One-Day International debuts in October 1992 against India at Harare. His last appearance for Zimbabwe also came at the same Harare ground on 14 March, 2004 against Bangladesh.

Flower, who had been coaching Essex Eagles for the last six seasons, returned home in August to join the national team of Zimbabwe as its batting coach. Besides his role with the national team, Flower was also appointed as the player coach of the Mashonaland Eagles, a domestic franchise of Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe Twenty20 squad: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Hamilton Masakadza , Chamu Chibhabha, Tatenda Taibu (wicketkeeper), Shingirai Masakadza, Ian Nicolson, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Charles Coventry, Ed Rainsford, Chris Mpofu, Keith Dabengwa, Grant Flower, Brendan Taylor.

Zimbabwe ODI Squad: Elton Chigumbura (captain), Hamilton Masakadza , Chamu Chibhabha, Tatenda Taibu (wicketkeeper), Shingirai Masakadza, Ian Nicolson, Prosper Utseya, Graeme Cremer, Ed Rainsford, Chris Mpofu, Keith Dabengwa, Grant Flower, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine, Brendan Taylor.