Andy Flower Photo AFP

Confirming rumours that have been circulating in the game for some time, Essex have issued a press release to the effect that their new overseas player for the 2002 season will be Zimbabwe's wicket-keeper batsman Andy Flower.

Essex have a splendid record over the years for success with overseas players, going back to the days when they signed Keith Boyce as an unknown youngster before the all-rounder went on to establish himself as a key member of Clive Lloyd's great West Indian team. Ken McEwan fell into the same category in that he made his name in county cricket during South Africa's international exclusion, while, more recently, established Test stars like Allan Border, Mark Waugh and Salim Malik have been prolific with the county.

Flower will replace Stuart Law who had phenomenal success with Essex before a much-publicised disagreement that saw the Queenslander move to Lancashire for next season.

The 33 year-old Zimbabwean is currently listed as the number one Test batsman in the world by the Price Waterhouse Coopers Ratings after a series of consistent scores, which have taken his average to 102 in his last 12 Tests.

A colossus in Zimbabwean cricket, Flower has been the cornerstone of his country's batting in recent years with more than 4,000 Test runs averaging in excess of 50 since making his Test debut in 1992. Left-hander Flower is also a leading exponent in the one-day game who currently enjoys a position of fifteenth in the international rankings. He holds the record for the highest Test score by a wicket-keeper when he made an unbeaten 232 against India last winter.

Essex chief executive David East said; "The signing of Andy Flower underlines the commitment by the county to reclaim their status as one of the country's leading clubs. He will be a terrific asset to us in both championship cricket and one-day cricket and I am both delighted and excited that we have been able to successfully conclude our negotiations to bring the best batsman in the world to Essex on a one-year deal."

During the recent Zimbabwe-England one-day series, there was a much-publicised spat between Flower and the man who will be a new county colleague, James Foster. The England wicket-keeper claimed a catch, Flower stood his ground, and there was a lengthy discussion between the two and England captain Nasser Hussain. All three received reprimands from the ICC match referee.

Bearing in mind Hussain's involvement with Essex, it would suggest that Foster is pencilled in as England wicket-keeper for some time. The fact that Essex have gone for a direct replacement as their overseas player means that they are assuming Foster's England involvement might make him unavailable for county cricket. At the same time, he is still studying at Durham University and that will also affect his availability whatever international calls he might receive.

Flower already has considerable experience of English conditions. Apart international tours with Zimbabwe, he has also spent time playing league cricket in Birmingham and, for one season, was coach to the Oxford University side.

Flower will join the county after Zimbabwe complete their final Test against Australia on 7th May, although it is expected that he will have to leave Essex in early September to represent his country in the ICC Knock-Out Competition.

© CricInfo