The Flowers will be blooming in Essex next summer following the arrival at the County Ground of Grant Flower.

Grant Flower is put through his paces at Colchester's Castle Park Picture: STEVE BAINBRIDGE

Flower will be teaming up with his older brother and fellow Zimbabwe international Andy, who is still blossoming in his third season with the county.

And the pair could be writing a new chapter of history as the first set of Test-capped brothers to play for the same county.

After signing a morale-boosting two-year deal the 33-year-old Rhodesian-born Grant - a right-handed batsman and slow left-arm bowler - cannot wait to get started with Essex as a non-overseas player under the controversial 'Kolpak' ruling.

"I'm really looking forward to the new challenge," Flower told the Evening Gazette as he trained with his new team-mates for the first time at Colchester's Castle Park ahead of today's festival opener against Durham.

He said: "Essex head coach Graham Gooch invited me along to meet the boys and, having enjoyed a three-week spell with Leicestershire two years ago, I am relishing the prospect of playing county cricket again."

A hero of 67 Test matches and 219 One-Day Internationals, Flower's cricketing career with Mashonaland is almost certainly over in his native Zimbabwe where the game continues to suffer amid political controversy.

He and Andy recently announced their retirement from the beleaguered national squad after playing leading roles in the ongoing disputes between the so-called 'rebel' players and the Zimbabwean Cricket Board.

Published Wednesday August 18, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette