A surprise pick for an understrength Zimbabwean side, Sean Ervine made his one-day debut in the fourth match of England's tour in October 2001. At the start of his professional playing career, Ervine was primarily a medium-paced outswinger with a frantic whirling action and a handy lower-order batsman although as his batting stocks have increased his bowling has fallen away. A member of the 2003 World Cup squad and an ever-present during the England tour later that year, he had begun to show signs that he was maturing into a genuine international player, with his last three Test innings all half-centuries - 53 against Australia, and 86 and 74 against Bangladesh. He also played 42 one-day internationals, aggregating 698 runs at nearly 26, and taking 41 wickets. Arguably his best moment in international cricket came in the VB Series against India in 2003-04, when he struck a superb 100 and nearly pulled off an incredible run-chase at Adelaide. But he was one of the rebel cricketers in dispute with the ZCU, and in May 2004 he slipped out of Zimbabwe to start a new life in Australia. He signed with Western Australia but spent two seasons on the sidelines before breaking into the side for two Pura Cup games and five one-day matches in 2006-07. His departure epitomised the player drain which had undermined Zimbabwean cricket.

Ervine left Australia for England and, while becoming an increasingly influential figure at Hampshire, it appeared he was committed to qualifying for England. After a successful county season in 2009, it came as some surprise when Ervine returned to Zimbabwe and agreed to a contract with the Southern Rocks franchise, for whom his brother Craig was already a regular. Ervine celebrated his return in spectacular fashion, cracking 208 - his first double-hundred in first-class cricket - in his first match back and sharing in a 178-run partnership with his brother.

It seemed he would make an unlikely comeback for Zimbabwe at the 2011 World Cup when he was named in their squad for the tournament, but weeks before the team departed for India Ervine re-thought his decision and pulled out, opting for the safety of a county contract rather the uncertainty that would come with returning to the country of his birth.
Martin Williamson