Mark Vermeulen
Encyclopedia
Mark Andrew Vermeulen is a Zimbabwe
an cricket
er in both Test
matches and One Day Internationals.
He is a right-handed opening batsman and occasional off spin
bowler, playing for Matabeleland Tuskers (Zimbabwe) in the Zimbabwean Logan Cup
, with a very good record at domestic level.
The former captain of the national Under-19 team, Vermeulen was first selected for Zimbabwe
to play in the second Test against Pakistan
in November 2002, after impressing in the local competition.
in 2003 after ignoring management instructions to travel with the rest of the squad. Then in 2006 he was banned from all cricket played under the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board
after a violent altercation with spectators at a match between Ashton
and his club, Werneth
in the Central Lancashire League. The original ban imposed was ten years, but on appeal it was reduced to three years, two of which were suspended. The ban took effect from 1 April 2007.
On the 2003–04 tour of Australia, Vermeulen fractured his skull
during a One-Day International match against India
. This was the second time this had happened to him inside a year, after the identical injury occurred in February 2003 while practising. Successful surgery
has limited the impact that these injuries have had on Vermeulen's cricketing career.
Vermeulen was one of the few white Zimbabwean cricketers to make himself available to play for the national team after a mass exodus of 'rebel' players in April 2004 during a dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket
, although as of May 2005 he has rarely been used at that
In early 2011, Vermeulen announced his retirement from all forms of cricket and has decided to pursue a career in golf. However, he reverted this decision and joined the Southern Rocks for the 2012 season.
. A fire had also been set at the Zimbabwe Cricket
headquarters. ZCU Managing Director Ozias Bvute
confirmed that Vermeulen was being held "for questioning" in the incident. Vermeulen was formally charged with arson in the incident on 2 November. In January 2008, he was cleared on grounds of mental illness, and in February announced that he was hoping to make a comeback.
In May 2008, Vermeulen offered to help rebuild the academy he burnt by using a percentage of his earnings that he would get by playing for Zimbabwe again. A complete turnaround was achieved when he was selected for the Zimbabwe A tour of Namibia in February 2009.
In July 2009, the comeback was complete with Vermeulen earning a call up to the Zimbabwe
squad for the One Day International Series against Bangladesh. In the first match of the series, played at Queens Sports Club
, Bulawayo
, Vermeulen scored 92 in Zimbabwe's score of 207, before being dismissed by being run out.
, 2002–03
Latest Test: vs Sri Lanka
, Bulawayo, 2004
, 2000–01
Latest ODI: vs Bangladesh, Bulawayo, 2009
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er in both Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
matches and One Day Internationals.
He is a right-handed opening batsman and occasional off spin
Off spin
Off spin is a type of bowling in the sport of cricket which is bowled by an off spinner, a right-handed spin bowler who uses his or her fingers and/or wrist to spin the ball from a right-handed batsman's off side to the leg side...
bowler, playing for Matabeleland Tuskers (Zimbabwe) in the Zimbabwean Logan Cup
Logan Cup
The Logan Cup is the premier domestic first-class cricket competition in Zimbabwe. The current champions are the Matabeleland Tusker.-History:...
, with a very good record at domestic level.
The former captain of the national Under-19 team, Vermeulen was first selected for Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean cricket team
The Zimbabwean cricket team is a national cricket team representing Zimbabwe. It is administrated by Zimbabwe Cricket...
to play in the second Test against Pakistan
Pakistani cricket team
The Pakistan cricket team is the national cricket team of Pakistan. Pakistan, represented by the Pakistan Cricket Board , is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and thus participates in , and cricket matches....
in November 2002, after impressing in the local competition.
Disciplinary problems
He has had a number of disciplinary problems. Two incidents in particular stick out. He was sent home from Zimbabwe's tour of EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 2003 after ignoring management instructions to travel with the rest of the squad. Then in 2006 he was banned from all cricket played under the auspices of the England and Wales Cricket Board
England and Wales Cricket Board
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales. It was created on 1 January 1997 combining the roles of the Test and County Cricket Board, the National Cricket Association and the Cricket Council...
after a violent altercation with spectators at a match between Ashton
Ashton C.C.
Ashton Cricket Club are an English cricket team, based in the town of Ashton-under-Lyne in Tameside, Greater Manchester. The club plays its home games at Rayner Lane, and competes in the Central Lancashire League...
and his club, Werneth
Werneth C.C.
Werneth Cricket Club, based in the Werneth area of Oldham, Greater Manchester, England, are an English cricket team currently playing in the Central Lancashire League.- External links :*...
in the Central Lancashire League. The original ban imposed was ten years, but on appeal it was reduced to three years, two of which were suspended. The ban took effect from 1 April 2007.
On the 2003–04 tour of Australia, Vermeulen fractured his skull
Human skull
The human skull is a bony structure, skeleton, that is in the human head and which supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.In humans, the adult skull is normally made up of 22 bones...
during a One-Day International match against India
Indian cricket team
The Indian cricket team is the national cricket team of India. Governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , it is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status....
. This was the second time this had happened to him inside a year, after the identical injury occurred in February 2003 while practising. Successful surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
has limited the impact that these injuries have had on Vermeulen's cricketing career.
Vermeulen was one of the few white Zimbabwean cricketers to make himself available to play for the national team after a mass exodus of 'rebel' players in April 2004 during a dispute with Zimbabwe Cricket
Zimbabwe Cricket
Zimbabwe Cricket is the governing body for the sport of cricket in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Cricket is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and operates the Zimbabwean cricket team, organising Test tours, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals with other nations...
, although as of May 2005 he has rarely been used at that
In early 2011, Vermeulen announced his retirement from all forms of cricket and has decided to pursue a career in golf. However, he reverted this decision and joined the Southern Rocks for the 2012 season.
Accusation of arson
On 1 November 2006, Vermeulen was held by police after apparently fleeing the scene of a suspicious fire at the Zimbabwean Cricket Academy in HarareHarare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
. A fire had also been set at the Zimbabwe Cricket
Zimbabwe Cricket
Zimbabwe Cricket is the governing body for the sport of cricket in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Cricket is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and operates the Zimbabwean cricket team, organising Test tours, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals with other nations...
headquarters. ZCU Managing Director Ozias Bvute
Ozias Bvute
Ozias Bvute is the managing director and chief executive of Zimbabwe Cricket.He replaced Vincent Hogg as chief executive in 2005. Hogg’s departure came against the background of the player standoffs, with the senior and mostly white players taking the board to task over issues of...
confirmed that Vermeulen was being held "for questioning" in the incident. Vermeulen was formally charged with arson in the incident on 2 November. In January 2008, he was cleared on grounds of mental illness, and in February announced that he was hoping to make a comeback.
In May 2008, Vermeulen offered to help rebuild the academy he burnt by using a percentage of his earnings that he would get by playing for Zimbabwe again. A complete turnaround was achieved when he was selected for the Zimbabwe A tour of Namibia in February 2009.
In July 2009, the comeback was complete with Vermeulen earning a call up to the Zimbabwe
Zimbabwean cricket team
The Zimbabwean cricket team is a national cricket team representing Zimbabwe. It is administrated by Zimbabwe Cricket...
squad for the One Day International Series against Bangladesh. In the first match of the series, played at Queens Sports Club
Queens Sports Club
Queens Sports Club is a multi-purpose stadium in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. It is used mostly for cricket matches. The stadium holds 13,000. The club is one of two homegrounds for the Matabeleland Cricket Team, which up until recently was captained by the Zimbabwean international opening pace bowler...
, Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, Vermeulen scored 92 in Zimbabwe's score of 207, before being dismissed by being run out.
Zimbabwean first-class
- Matabeleland TuskersMatabeleland TuskersThe Matabeleland Tuskers is one of five cricket Zimbabwean cricket franchises. They are a first-class cricket team, based in the Bulawayo Metropolitan and Matabeleland North area. They play their home matches at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo....
(current) - WesternsWesterns cricket team (Zimbabwe)The Westerns cricket team was a first-class cricket team in Zimbabwe. They competed in the Logan Cup from 2006 to 2009. The club played their home matches at the Queens Sports Club.-First-class record:...
- MatabelelandMatabelelandModern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
- Mashonaland 'A'MashonalandMashonaland is a region in northern Zimbabwe. It is the home of the Shona people.Currently, Mashonaland is divided into three provinces, with a total population of about 3 million:* Mashonaland West* Mashonaland Central* Mashonaland East...
Tests
Test Debut: vs Pakistan, BulawayoBulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, 2002–03
Latest Test: vs Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan cricket team
The Sri Lankan cricket team is the national cricket team of Sri Lanka. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27, and were later awarded Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket playing nation...
, Bulawayo, 2004
- Vermeulen's best Test batting score of 118 was made against West IndiesWest Indian cricket teamThe West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as the West Indies or the Windies, is a multi-national cricket team representing a sporting confederation of 15 mainly English-speaking Caribbean countries, British dependencies and non-British dependencies.From the mid 1970s to the early 1990s,...
, Bulawayo, 2003–04
One-Day Internationals
ODI Debut: vs Sri Lanka, SharjahSharjah (city)
Sharjah is the third largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. It is located along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula.Sharjah is the seat of government of the emirate of Sharjah...
, 2000–01
Latest ODI: vs Bangladesh, Bulawayo, 2009
- Vermeulen's best ODI batting score of 92 was made against Bangladesh, Bulawayo, 2009
External links
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/zimbabwe/6298946/Zimbabwes-Mark-Vermeulen-on-the-road-back-from-arsonist-to-international-cricketer.html
- http://www.brmtaylor.com/news-110.html
- Cricinfo profile on Mark Vermeulen
- HowSTAT! statistical profile on Mark Vermeulen
- Interview with Mark Vermeulen at Cricinfo
- Interview with Mark Vermeulen in the Telegraph