Zimbabwe's Grant Flower hit 3,457 runs for his country in 67 Test matches

Veteran Essex all-rounder Grant Flower is to leave the county at the end of the season after six years' service to become Zimbabwe's batting coach.

The former Zimbabwe Test player, 39, younger brother of England coach Andy, first came to Chelmsford in 2005.

He has hit 1,511 runs in 60 one-day games for the county at an average of 37.77, as well as compiling 1,468 runs from 36 County Championship matches.

He has also hit 507 runs for Essex in 38 Twenty20 games in those five years.

He told the county's club website: "At the end of this season it will probably signal the end of my playing career and I do not want to have any regrets.

"I have had five great years at Essex and I am looking forward to my sixth season and want to give everything that I have.

"At the end of this season I aim to complete my Level 4 Coaching Course.

"I start my new role with Zimbabwe in October and have the main objective of helping them reach Test status once again."

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