Grant Flower will join his older brother Andy at Essex next season.

The announcement that the Zimbabwean is joining the county is expected today.

And it will come as a disappointment to Derbyshire and Leicestershire.

Both counties were rumoured to be keen to sign the 33 year-old middle order batsman and Leicestershire must have fancied their chances as he spent a short time with them last year.

But the opportunity of joining his more famous brother at Essex was no doubt the deciding factor in Grant's decision.

He has made 65 Test appearances for Zimbabwe while scoring nearly 3,500 runs at an average of just under 30.

That includes six centuries with a top score of 201 not out against Pakistan.

Grant Flower will come to the county on a Kolpak agreement having decided to retire from international cricket with Zimbabwe.

Published Tuesday August 10, 2004

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