Sussex League: Axed Zimbabwe batsman Mark Vermeulen is poised to join East Grinstead.

Vermeulen was dismissed from the Zimbabwe tour party this week for a breach of discipline after the second Test defeat to England at the Riverside.

The 24-year-old opener from Harare was widely reported to have been "sent home" by team management.

Instead, his next port of call will be Saint Hill, where he will make his debut in the Shepherd Neame competition against Worthing on Saturday.

Meanwhile Grinstead all-rounder Richard Sims has joined up with Zimbabwe's one-day squad for the next four weeks.

Vermeulen has played three Tests, his average now standing at 15 after a quickfire pair at Chester-le-Street on Friday.

He made his debut last November against Pakistan in Bulawayo and hit his best Test score of 61 at Lord's recently.

Sussex members will remember his innings of 198 for the tourists in their drawn game at Hove earlier this season.

Former Sussex player Alex Edwards is now skipper of East Grinstead, who are going well in the county league.

He said: "Mark had a little bit of a disciplinary problem and was not required by Zimbabwe but he will step in for four weeks for us and we are delighted to have him.

"He will be coming here later this week and be training and coaching with East Grinstead."

Vermeulen has been staying in the south of England since being dismissed by Zimbabwe after allegedly refusing to travel on the team bus.

He will bat at No. 3 for his new club.