New Essex overseas player Scott Brant is eagerly anticipating the start of the new season having flown in from Australia to join his new team mates just over a week ago.
"I've always hoped that I would get the chance to play in England and now it's become a reality," said the 20 year-old.
Born in Zimbabwe, the family moved to Australia in 1999 and the left-arm fast bowler is now qualified to play for cricket's world champions.
With the county desperately seeking a replacement for Ashley Cowan who will be sidelined for the entire summer as he recovers from a knee operation to correct a degenerative knee condition, it was fellow Overseas player Andy Flower that first alerted the county to Brant's ability.
"When Zimbabwe were on a tour of Australia, he was one of a number of bowlers that were brought along to give us net practice and I remember that he looked useful even though he was relatively inexperienced," said Flower.
Essex followed-up that observation also gaining endorsements from former players Allan Border and Mark Waugh and offered Brant the chance of a one-year contract. The fair-haired 20 year-old needed little convincing to sign.
And he revealed that Essex were not the only team interested in securing his services explaining, "Hampshire and Lancashire made approaches but I decided that I would join Essex. This is a big step for me on the learning curve and although I haven't set myself any targets for the season, I just want to do myself justice."
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Published Wednesday, April 16, 2003
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