The Hindu : ECB is ready to ward off protests to Zimbabwe tour

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 01, 2003

Sport

Sport - Cricket

ECB is ready to ward off protests to Zimbabwe tour

By Ted Corbett

LONDON April 30. The England and Wales Cricket Board is ready to ward off the political protests which threaten the tour by Zimbabwe which flys into London tomorrow. It has already talked to police and stepped up its security measures, particularly at the two grounds which will stage Tests in the next six weeks.

An ECB spokesman said: "We have been reading about what may happen. We have been discussing security around international matches and the appropriate measures will be put into place.'' Human rights activists, concerned about the way Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe governs the country, have joined politicians in what is likely to be the biggest sporting protest seen in England since the South African tour was called off 30 years ago when defensive measures included barbed wire round Lord's.

The problems began when England failed to play its World Cup tie in Harare this spring and there have been regular calls for the tour to be cancelled. The players and the ECB have been severely criticised for their attitude, particularly after the black fast bowler Henry Olonga and the former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower wore black armbands as gestures of defiance at what they called the "death of democracy'' in their country.

Zimbabwe, led by Heath Streak its veteran fast bowler whose parents have been driven from their farm by Mugabe thugs, have appointed a high profile public relations officer — the former International Cricket Council official Mark Harrison — as part of their preparations.

It is almost certain there will be both protests and attempts to interfere with play during both the two Tests and afterwards in the triangular tournament in which South Africa will also take part. The first Test between England and Zimbabwe begins at Lord's in only three weeks and the second takes place in June at Chester-le-Street, in county Durham and the most northerly venue since Tests began in England 120 years ago.

One of the bowlers in that match is likely to be the Durham quick Steve Harmison, 24, who was a success on the tour to Australia last winter and who has been given a contract for the next six months. His deal with the ECB means that in future he can only play for Durham when he is given permission by Duncan Fletcher, the England coach. A contract has also been given to the impressive Lancashire fast bowler James Anderson, who is not yet 21, but who produced several outstanding spells in Australia and during the World Cup in South Africa. Unless Darren Gough, who appears to have fully recovered from his knee operations in a number of fiery early season bursts, is pronounced fit Anderson is likely to play in the opening Test and make his home debut. Harmison is more likely to be saved for the match at Durham where he honed the bowling skills that brought him to the attention of the selectors three years ago when Justin Langer, the Australian opening bat then playing for Middlesex described him as "seriously fast.''

As Andrew Caddick has retired from one-day international cricket and is rapidly approaching the end of his long career the arrival of Anderson and Harmison in Tests is being looked on as an important step in long-term England selection. The pair joins nine others who were given year-long contracts before the Australian tour. They are the only newcomers to the list which some critics will read as a sign of the ECB's lack of ready cash after their World Cup money was withheld because they failed to travel to Zimbabwe.

Anderson said: "The challenge for me is now to win a regular place in the Test side and reinforce what I achieved in the winter.'' Harmison, a reluctant traveller even when an England spot beckoned said: ``There is every incentive for me to do well, particularly with a game at Chester-le-Street in the offing.''

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