Former captain Graeme Cremer available for Zimbabwe recall after seven-year hiatus

Zimbabwe could receive a major boost as their former captain, Graeme Cremer, is once again available for selection. The veteran leg-spinner has not played an international match since March 2018. Cremer led the national team from 2016 to 2018 before leaving cricket for golf.

After bidding farewell to cricket, Cremer settled in the UAE with his wife, Merna, who works as an airline pilot. The 38-year-old has now made his comeback in Zimbabwe’s National Premier League, the 45-over club competition.

According to an ESPNcricinfo report, Cremer is eligible for selection for the national side and could be in contention for September’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers, which will be played in Zimbabwe.

For the unversed, Cremer didn’t stay away from cricket in the past eight years as he was involved in coaching roles in Dubai, including with the Rajasthan Royals Academy. He is now playing for the defending champions, Takashinga Patriots 1 Cricket Club, and is the leading wicket-taker after two matches.

“It’s amazing being back. Kwekwe was my home ground for many years, so it was great walking out and being part of Takashinga, which is such a prestigious club. They welcomed me into the team and it was an amazing team environment. I’m really happy with the start,” Cremer told 3-mob.com about his return after the match against Queens Sports Club in Kwekwe.

Cremer bagged a four-for and conceded 43 runs as Takashinga defended a 264-run target and won by 134 runs. That match, played on August 3, also featured Brendan Taylor, who has subsequently made his return to the Test side after serving a three-and-a-half-year ban for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code. Taylor scored 61 in that match, showing that he has still got plenty of cricket left in him. Cremer explained how special it was for him to share the field with Taylor once again.

“We are close friends, myself and Brendan, so it was an amazing feeling being on the field with him again and nice to see him score some runs. It’s great watching him bat, and then walking out onto the field with him, just how we communicate because we have played so much cricket together. It really helps someone like that out with me,” Cremer said.

Cremer has played 19 Tests, 96 ODIs, and 29 T20Is so far, bagging 57, 119, and 35 wickets in the three formats, respectively. His return will add a lot of strength to Zimbabwe’s bowling line-up, as the African nation hopes for a strong Africa Regional Qualifier campaign for the upcoming T20 World Cup from September 26 to October 4.

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