Grant Flower      

The younger brother of Andy Flower, Grant is an experienced top-order batsman who began his career as an opener but then slipped down to No. 6 after success there in one-day internationals. Grant has the stubborn temperament needed to play long innings, but he is also a powerful hitter when required. He is also a brilliant fielder anywhere close to the wicket, and a handy left-arm spinner at one-day level, although his bowling action has been questioned occasionally.

After an impressive start to international cricket, including 82 on his debut against India in October 1992 and an unbeaten double-hundred in Zimbabwe's first ever Test win, his average in both forms of the game gradually crept down. Asked to open ...

The younger brother of Andy Flower, Grant is an experienced top-order batsman who began his career as an opener but then slipped down to No. 6 after success there in one-day internationals. Grant has the stubborn temperament needed to play long innings, but he is also a powerful hitter when required. He is also a brilliant fielder anywhere close to the wicket, and a handy left-arm spinner at one-day level, although his bowling action has been questioned occasionally.

After an impressive start to international cricket, including 82 on his debut against India in October 1992 and an unbeaten double-hundred in Zimbabwe's first ever Test win, his average in both forms of the game gradually crept down. Asked to open the batting on the 2003 England tour after his brother Andy's retirement, he failed to lead his side out of trouble, except for a matchwinning 96 not out at Trent Bridge in the NatWest Series. A broken thumb ruled him out of the 2003-04 Australian tour, meaning that for the first time in 15 years, the name `Flower' would not be on a full Zimbabwe team scoresheet.

He emerged during the dispute between the Zimbabwe board and the rebel players as spokesman for the latter, speaking his mind with courage. An introverted but amiable character, he is a fitness fanatic and spends hours in the gym. In 2004 he announced his retirement from international cricket, although that had already in effect been sealed by the dispute between the rebels and the ZCU, and signed a contract with Essex, where Andy had already established himself.

Flower spent five successful seasons with Essex, guiding the club to victory in the Friends Provident Trophy in 2008 and playing a key role in the claiming of the NatWest Pro40 Division Two title in 2009. He has signed a new contract with Essex which will keep him at the county until the end of the 2010 season, in what could be his sixth year with the county, although, in what would be a remarkable turn-around in his relations with ZC, he has also been linked with a possible coaching post with the Zimbabwe national side.

Geoffrey Dean and Liam Brickhill January 2010