Lancashire offer was just irresistible, says Jarvis

The Herald

By Jeff Murimbechi 

19 August 2013

ZIMBABWE’S right arm fast bowler Kyle Jarvis has revealed that after turning down a number of overseas offers, he could not resist the three-year offer from English County cricket side, Lancashire, and the chance to play on the Twenty20 circuit around the globe. The 24-year-old seamer, one of the leading players in the national team, was part of a group of key players with central contracts with Zimbabwe Cricket.

ZC announced on Saturday that Jarvis had pulled out of the squad preparing for the tour of Pakistan to take up his country cricket deal with Lancashire but the organisation said Jarvis had not closed the door on his international career.

In  fact, ZC believe that Jarvis will use his stint in England, where there is a possibility he could play alongside England’s pace spearhead James Anderson, to turn himself into a better player and expect him to come back a better player for the national team.

“He told Zimbabwe Cricket authorities that he has received a lucrative offer from Lancashire County Cricket Club in England, and has decided to take it up moreso as it also offers him an opportunity to grow his game by playing alongside the likes of England international James Anderson and former South Africa batsman Ashwell Prince,” the ZC said in their statement.

“Jarvis said that he has not turned his back on international cricket and that given his age, the three-year contract provides a unique opportunity to mature as a player who would then give back more then than he has been doing now. The 24-year old seamer, whose father Malcolm also played for Zimbabwe and then served as a member of the technical staff for the national team, will leave for the United Kingdom early next month.”

Jarvis said he will always be supportive of the Zimbabwe team.

“Zimbabwe will always be my home, and I would just like thank everyone for their continued support over the past few years,” said the bowler.

“I wish my teammates and coaching staff the best of luck for the forthcoming Pakistan series and know what the players giving the right support and environment are capable of.”

The outgoing Minister of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture, David Coltart, who has been caught in the political battles that have raged within the ZC before, said he was hopeful this would not be Jarvis’ last appearance for Zimbabwe.