Adelaide: Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower would play for South Australia for the next three seasons, the state association announced on Wednesday. The 34-year-old batsman, a veteran of 63 Tests and 213 One-day Internationals for Zimbabwe, had been in negotiations with SA for the past five months. The dashing left-hander, who scored 4,794 Test runs at 51.54, would arrive in Adelaide with his family in September, SA Cricket Association chief executive Michael Deare said here on Wednesday. Deare said SA wanted Flower to end his World Cup commitments for Zimbabwe before announcing his recruitment. "Andy is a world-renowned cricketer and we are absolutely delighted that he has agreed to join the Redbacks for the next three years," Deare said. "He'll bring not only his outstanding cricket ability but also leadership skills. "We think he will contribute substantially to the squad and the performance on the field, he's an outstanding batsman." During the World Cup in southern Africa, Flower and Zimbabwe teammate Henry Olonga caused controversy by wearing black armbands to signify "the death of democracy" in Zimbabwe. Flower will play for Essex in the English county championship during the Australian winter, Deare said. Copyright AFP 2001

Tags: cricket, andy flower, south australia, adelaide, sa cricket association, michael deare, redbacks, henry olonga, essex.