Australia’s cricketers have been briefed on the latest situation in Zimbabwe and will fly out to the country on Thursday with neither fear nor regret, John Buchanan, their coach, has declared

Christian Ryan11-May-2004

John Buchanan and Ricky Ponting: honouring their board’s commitments© Getty Images
Australia’s cricketers have been briefed on the latest situation in Zimbabweand will fly out to the country on Thursday with neither fear nor regret,John Buchanan, their coach, has declared.”I wouldn’t think there is any concern,” Buchanan said at a pre-tour camp inBrisbane. “Basically Cricket Australia, and virtually all the information wehave from a security point of view, has allayed anybody’s fears. I thinkthat’s pretty fair to say.”The players were updated on Monday on the state of play in Zimbabwe by TimMay, head of the players’ association, and Cricket Australia’s operationsmanager Michael Brown.”I’m sure every player and all of us think about the issues and come totheir own conclusions,” Buchanan said. “But in the end we’re invited there as cricketers, we’re invited there through the ICC programme. Zimbabwe cricket wants us there and Cricket Australia honour those commitments. We go there as cricketers and that’swhat we’re trying to do.”It is only a week since batsman Darren Lehmann hinted at a deeper clash ofconscience within the Australian team: “We are not a political side,”Lehmann said, “but I would be lying if I said there wasn’t a concern aboutthe whole scenario.”However, Buchanan indicated that if any players had serious concerns theywould have expressed them by now. So far, only Stuart MacGill has pulled outof the tour. Lehmann did not attend yesterday’s briefing because he isplaying county cricket in England.Buchanan made his comments before last night’s latest dramatic twist, whenZimbabwe’s 15 rebel white players were sacked by the national board for notreturning to work. The move seemingly ensures that a third-string Zimbabwe side, similar to the team slaughtered recently by Sri Lanka, will meet world champions Australiain a farcical mismatch. Apparently it matters nought.”I guess we’re still waiting to see what the make-up of the [Zimbabwe] teamwill be once we get to Zimbabwe,” Buchanan said. “But whatever that is we’regoing there to tour and play Test matches and one-day cricket and everybody’s committed to doing that.”Indeed they will not only play but help out where possible, with players andcoaches willing to stage coaching clinics and offer any other off-fieldassistance where desired. “If that presents itself and security is not anissue,” said Buchanan, “we’ll dive at it.”Buchanan meanwhile stood up for Sri Lankan’s champion offspinner MuttiahMuralitharan, who has been lauded and besieged in equal measure sincebreaking the world Test bowling record last week.”He’s a class bowler,” said Buchanan, “and class bowlers should be able tobowl how they see fit.” He described the recent biomechanical testing ofMurali’s doosra as “more a bit of a grease and oil change than anythingelse”.The Australians leave for Zimbabwe on Thursday morning, playing two Testsand three one-day internationals.