Mark Vermeulen - Zimbabwe - Batting Allrounder

Born on 2nd August 1979 in Harare, a promising career changed for the worse on January 20, 2004 when Vermeulen was struck a sickening blow on the head by Irfan Pathan during a VB series encounter in Australia.

Vermeulen was arrested in August 2006 on charges of setting fire to the offices of the Harare Sports club, but was subsequently cleared after a trial in January 2008, on the grounds that he was suffering from psychiatric problems and partial epilepsy on account of the blow on that fateful day. Vermeulen never came out of that episode and declared his retirement from all forms of the game in 2011, preferring instead to start a fresh career in golf. However, he made a U-turn, signing up for the Southern Rocks Zimbabwe cricket franchise, for the 2012 season.

As a cricketer, Vermeulen was a naturally positive player with a wide range of strokes and was one who was pleasing to the eyes. His favorite shots were the cut and the pull which he used to great effect. He was drafted into the squad at the expense of Guy Whittal in 2002. He had a lone century, a patient innings of 118 against West Indies at Bulawayo. He had more success in the shorter format of the game though and represented Zimbabwe in the 2003 World Cup.

Being a gritty player, Vermeulen did make one final comeback in 2009. He marked his return with a fine knock of 92 against Bangladesh.

Vermeulen was also noted for his petulant behaviour and had several off-field disciplinary issues. Two incidents in particular stick out. He was sent home from Zimbabwe's tour of England 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.

By Pradeep Krishnamurthy