Zimbabwe include controversial cricketer Mark Vermeulen in list of probables

Mark Vermeulen is down after being hit by a delivery against India in Brisbane, 2004.

Zimbabwe selectors have made an interesting selection for their home series against South Africa in naming 35-year-old Mark Vermeulen as one among the 25 probables.

Arson incident

The player was accused to have set fire to his nation’s cricket headquarters and also the academy in 2006. By 2008, he admitted to arson but was cleared without punishment by the court, since he was suffering from partial complex epilepsy (central nervous system disorder).

The batsman was hit on the head twice in his early cricketing career and the resulting identical injuries have had a telling impact on his career.

"I spent two years in court and another year-and-a-half out of the game so it was three-and-a-half years totally wasted, and at that time of my career that should not have happened.

"I didn't ever lose any love for cricket. I still think I have two or three years left in me and I think I will give it one last full go in the hope that I can play a Test again. I've become more determined because I know I don't have many years left in me. I've become more focused," Vermeulen was quoted saying to ESPNcricinfo a few weeks before.

Numerous disciplinary issues

He was also involved in quite a few other disciplinary misbehaviours in his past. In 2003, the player was advised to return home from England in the middle of a Test series after refusing to travel with his team. In 2006, England and Wales Cricket Board banned him for his violent act against spectators in a domestic fixture.

The Zimbabwean’s last Test match was against Sri Lanka in 2004 and his last international appearance was back in 2009.

He made a comeback from retirement in 2012 after announcing his decision to quit in the previous year. His recent century against the visiting Afghanistan side might have prompted the selectors to go back to the batsman, with 8 Test and 43 ODI caps to his name.

Brendan Taylor has been retained as Test captain while Elton Chigumbura will lead the ODI team. Australia will join Zimbabwe and South Africa for a triangular ODI tournament that begins on August 25.

Zimbabwe probables list

Brendan Taylor, Sikandar Raza Butt, Regis Chakabva, Tendai Chatara, Elton Chigumbura, Steven Chimhamhiwa, Michael Chinouya, Luke Jongwe, Tafadzwa Kamungozi, Neville Madziva, Hamilton Masakadza, Shingirai Masakadza, Tinotenda Mawoyo, Natsai M'shangwe, Cuthbert Musoko, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, John Nyumbu, Tinashe Panyangara, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Donald Tiripano, Prosper Utseya, Mark Vermeulen, Malcolm Waller, Sean Williams