No Werneth return for Mark

Reporter: CRICKET by KEITH McHUGH
Date online: 12 November 2009

WERNETH Cricket Club have strongly denied rumours that Mark Vermeulen is to return to the club as professional.

The Zimbabwe international batsman, who has featured in recent one-day series against South Africa and Kenya, left the Coppice club in disgrace following an infamous incident during a Central Lancashire League match in 2006.

Playing as professional for Werneth, Vermeulen lost his temper after being barracked by home supporters at Ashton’s Rayner Lane ground. He hurled a cricket ball at them and then, armed with a boundary-marker spike, he marched towards them before he was wrestled to the ground by Werneth supporters and officials.

He was subsequently banned from all cricket matches under the jurisdiction of the ECB for a year and, on his return to Zimbabwe, was arrested after setting fire to the country’s cricket academy building in Harare.

The charges against Vermeulen were dropped by a Zimbabwean court after it heard medical evidence which stated he had not been in control of his actions.

Vermeulen had twice been hit on the head by cricket balls delivered at pace and the blows had affected his state of mind, the court was told.

Following his return to the international arena, there have been rumours in local cricketing circles that Vermeulen might return to Werneth.

But Werneth CC cricket chairman Adie McMahon, one of those who restrained Vermeulen at Ashton, said there was no chance of that happening.

He said: “Some people are unable to comprehend that we ended up as friends.

“On a personal level, I am glad that he appears to be over his problems and I am amazed but delighted that he is back playing for Zimbabwe which has always been very close to his heart.

“However, for clarification, Werneth Cricket Club have never discussed or contemplated re-engaging Mark Vermeulen and have no intention of doing so.”