Murphy stands down as Zimbabwe captain

Leg-spinner Brian Murphy has become the latest Zimbabwe captain to relinquish the job when he opted to stand down for the first Test against Sri Lanka starting on Thursday.

"I have hardly played any cricket for the last six weeks. I am not bowling well. In the best interest of the team I have decided to stand down from the Test," Murphy said during a practice session on Tuesday.

Murphy will be replaced by batsman Stuart Carlisle who led Zimbabwe during the one-day triangular series with Sri Lanka and West Indies.

Carlisle is Zimbabwe's fifth captain since the 1999 World Cup with Alistair Campbell, Andy Flower and Heath Streak each resigning.

Murphy, 25, missed the one-day series while recovering from a fractured finger sustained during the first Test against Bangladesh last month.

He bowled 27 overs without success in the three-day warm-up match against a Board XI in Colombo last week, conceding 103 runs.

"Brian feels that he cannot give his 100 percent in the Test and has taken a decision of his own to stand down. We hope he can regain his confidence and be available for the rest of the series," said Carlisle.

Zimbabwe have named four fast bowlers and seven batsmen to face Sri Lanka in the first of three Tests. Their only slow bowlers on a dry pitch which will take spin are part-timers Grant Flower and Trevor Gripper.

Also read:
- Streak quits as Zimbabwe captain
- Zimbabwe recover from humiliating defeat

Mail Cricket Editor