Cricket: Rebels return to the wreck

It's hard to decide whether the controversial homecoming of four rebel players will help or hinder Zimbabwe's short-term international prospects.

Brought to their knees by a mass player walkout and allegations of racism earlier last year, the Zimbabweans were so weak that they not only lost to Bangladesh, but also had their test-playing status temporarily suspended by the International Cricket Council.

But with Zimbabwean administrators looking to patch up their relationship with some of the key white players in the team, New Zealand's opponents now look a shade more useful than expected, and will be watched with interest when the first test starts on Sunday.

Possibly more fascinating, however, is the likely chemistry within the different factions of the test side after the past year's internal wrangle, on-going sniping between players, and rumours of continued discontent among the ranks.

Returning to the fold after self-imposed exiles of various lengths are sacked skipper Heath Streak and fellow dissidents Stuart Carlisle, Craig Wishart and Andy Blignaut, all of whom will be playing at home for the first time in 16 months.

For Streak, it will the first time since those tumultuous times in April, 2004, when his sacking as captain sparked a 14-player revolt against Zimbabwe Cricket amid allegations of racism in the selection process.

A solid performer for Warwickshire this season, he signed a new contract with ZC in February, played against the South Africans in March, and is now thrilled to be returning to his old hunting ground in Harare.

"I'm delighted to be home, and especially as I seem to be in decent form," he told reporters yesterday. "Thankfully, I also found everything okay at home, though the drought is bad."

For all that, his return is unlikely to be celebrated by former team-mate and Zimbabwe batting star Andy Flower, who gave Streak a roasting this year for his decision to break ranks and re-sign.

Flower, comfortably Zimbabwe's finest international batsman, has not set foot in Zimbabwe since the 2003 World Cup, when he and the now-retired fast-bowler Henry Olonga wore black armbands as a protest against the death of democracy.

Now playing for Essex, he told the Wisden Cricketer Magazine that Streak was out of line in returning to the establishment, and that his actions had effectively marooned half-a-dozen young players in no-man's land.

"That Heath led them into it [the player boycott] and is now back playing is poor form," said Flower, who claimed none of the rebels' demands had been listened to, and that little progress had been made.

"There haven't been the wholesale changes they were demanding yet they [the returning players] want to go back. You don't make a big stand then when nothing changes go back and say, 'Actually I do want a contract'.

"Now there are half a dozen or so young white players out of a job."

And Flower also suggested that the mix of philosophies and beliefs within the Zimbabwean camp couldn't help but affect relationships in the dressing room, particularly when careers and livelihoods had been on the line.

"It [the return of the rebels] will add to the strength of the side a little, but there was a lot of damage done with all the racial discussion and I think there is a limit to the improvement the rebels are going to make.

"I find it very surprising that they can return after the relationship breakdowns during that year-long struggle.

"I don't know what the relationship between the rebels and other players is, but it has to be awkward. How do you build harmony out of a situation like that?"

Before marking his return against the South Africans, Streak hit back at the sentiments, and took particular umbrage at the suggestion that he led or otherwise persuaded fellow players to strike.

"At no stage did I force the other players into not playing international cricket," he said.

"I feel that Andy is not fully up to speed with what has been going on in Zimbabwe cricket recently. I regret that the matter took the course it did, and that it went on as long as it did.

"But we've settled our differences and now the aim is to make sure that we perform well on the international stage."

Of the 14 who quit with Streak a year ago, only Blignaut, Carlisle, Wishart and Trevor Gripper have returned.

Sean Ervine, Ray Price and Grant Flower are all playing county cricket while Andy Flower retired after the 2003 World Cup.

BLACK CAPS ON TOUR

Tests

August 7-11: v Zimbabwe, Harare
August 15-19: v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo

One-day tri-series

August 24: v Zimbabwe, Bulawayo
August 26: v India, Bulawayo
August 31: v Zimbabwe, Harare
September 2: v India, Harare
September 6: Final, to be announced