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MASHONALAND Eagles’ English batting sensation Nick Compton wants to play for the Zimbabwe cricket national team, IndependentSport has learnt.
Compton has told friends and teammates at Eagles that he wants to play for Zimbabwe when they recommence playing Tests next year.
Zimbabwe will resume playing the longest version of the game after a self-imposed break in 2005.
Insiders at Eagles said the player has been seriously considering playing for Zimbabwe after making a huge impact on the local league in all three formats of the game since signing for the Harare franchise earlier this year.
Zimbabwe Cricket general manager Ozias Bvute said that the player had not yet approached him over donning Zimbabwe colours.
“He has not yet approached me about that, but it would be interesting if he did,” said Bvute.
But sources at Eagles said that the player had made up his mind and was excited about the prospect of representing the country in Tests.
“Everyone at Eagles is aware of his interest and he has told us that he will approach the cricket chiefs over playing for Zimbabwe,” said the source. “He knows it would be tough for him to break into the England squad and with the impact he has made since he came here he is convinced he can secure a place in the team in all three formats of the game.”
National team assistant coach Steve Mangongo said that he had got wind of Compton’s interest, a move which interested him after the poor show by Zimbabwe’s opening pair of Brendan Taylor and Hamilton Masakadza in the recent tour of Bangladesh by the national team.
“I have heard something like that but it’s not an official position. However, if it were to happen it would certainly be a good development,” said Mangongo.
“It’s not that we do not have good players, but they tend to get complacent so we need competition and a player like Compton would certainly cause a shake up. The batsmen were a huge disappointment in Bangladesh. We expected better from them especially after they accounted for themselves well against tougher opponents South Africa.”
The 27-year-old Compton, who is currently on holiday in the United Kingdom, was born in South Africa to a Zimbabwean mother and has not represented either England or South Africa.
He was not readily available for comment this week. However, in an interview with the Zimbabwe Cricket website he said: “The one thing I would like to outline most of all is that I have really, really enjoyed my experience here. I can’t tell you how impressed I have been with the cricket. I would love to continue helping as much as I can.”
He has been in top form since leading his team to the Stanbic Pro-20 Championships. He scored a magnificent 74 off 63 balls in the final match of the championship against Mid West Rhinos.
More recently he scored a century in a 40-over match against Mountaineers in a match his team lost.
Compton is just one of the numerous players who have been making manoeuvers to turn out for Zimbabwe. Others include all-rounder Sean Ervine who has been included in the 30-member provisional squad for the World Cup.
On the other hand Pakistan born Razza Butt will soon be available for selection as he is regularising his papers with the immigration department.

Kevin Mapasure

eugene wrote:Who wouldn't want to play for Zimbabwe.