England in Zimbabwe 2004-05

'Calm, strong and in control'

The Paper Round by Debashish Biswas

December 6, 2004

Now it's over, Fleet Street's finest look for anyone who has come out well from England's tour of Zimbabwe:

Michael Vaughan looks to the heavens © Getty Images

"The sight of Andrew Strauss delivering the penultimate over of this mismatch said more about the state of Zimbabwe cricket than any number of words," wrote Richard Hobson in The Times. "There is something seriously wrong when a full one-day international match meanders to its inevitable conclusion with the spotlight on a declaration bowler."

Writing in The Independent, Angus Fraser was all praise for at least one man in the whole affair. "[Michael] Vaughan's manner during the crisis talks in Johannesburg, and his handling of the difficult situation in Zimbabwe, have been exemplary. He has remained calm, strong and in control. The players know he has been representing their views and this has allowed them to concentrate on their cricket."

But cricket was never really the only thing on the menu. "Cricket has a rich tradition of politicisation," wrote Paul Kelso in The Guardian. "It was possible to see the past fortnight as little more than a sporting non-event, a curiosity in an apparently tranquil corner of Africa. But to do so is to ignore the reality of life in Zimbabwe. It was always impossible for the tour to remain free of politics.

"Judged on the narrow terms by which he defined the affair, [David] Morgan at least can look back on the past fortnight with some satisfaction," Kelso added. "With moral considerations discarded and financial imperatives the prime motor, he delivered on his promise to make the tour happen and gained credit within the ICC."

Derek Pringle pointed out in the Daily Telegraph that despite the squeaky-clean tranquillity there was at least one material loser in the England party: "Of the sanitised view afforded players, press and the handful of travelling supporters, the only incidents around the cricket were when three teenage protesters in Harare waved placards at the team and when the England masseuse Vikki Byrne had her sunglasses pinched."

But Pringle also sounded a worryingly familiar warning note: "With England set to play a minimum of two Tests here within the next four years, the muddle could be raised all over again. The moral argument for not touring Zimbabwe, cited by England fast bowler Stephen Harmison - but unacceptable for entire teams under current ICC directives - holds good, at least while diplomatic relations between the two countries remain in tatters."

Debashish Biswas is on the staff of Cricinfo

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