Cricket: Tour of England on the cards

By RICHARD BOOCK in Port Elizabeth

New Zealand Cricket is staying tight-lipped over suggestions they have been lined up as 11th-hour substitutes should either South Africa or Zimbabwe renege on this year's tours to England.

The two southern African nations, livid at England's decision to boycott last month's World Cup match in Harare, have made noises about a tit-for-tat response in terms of the tours, reportedly leading to some emergency contingency plans.

Zimbabwe are due to start a 5 1/2-week tour of England on May 3 that overlaps with a seven-week visit by the South Africans, who have been sorely disappointed by the England and Wales Cricket Board's decision.

New Zealand, who are committed to a series comprising three tests and three one-day internationals in Sri Lanka until mid-May, have a window of opportunity at the end of that tour before they visit India in October.

Asked whether it was true that the New Zealand side were being arranged as cover for the disaffected teams, NZC chief executive Martin Snedden said "it would be inappropriate to comment" at the moment, which only added to the speculation.

The call for New Zealand to play in England evidently came after an outburst from United Cricket Board of South Africa president Percy Sonn, who floated the idea of a boycott of England if the World Cup game in Harare was forfeited.

Sonn reportedly told David Morgan, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, that if England did not go to Zimbabwe, South Africa might refuse to go to England, where they are due to play five tests and up to seven one-day internationals.

Sonn referred to reports of a terrorist threat in Britain, including the death of a policeman in Manchester, and comments made by Prime Minister Tony Blair on this issue.

He later confirmed the sentiments, suggesting England could only blame themselves if similar boycott action was taken against them.

"Relationships are built on trust and mutual respect," he said. "If one starts believing there is no trust and that there is no mutual respect, one re-examines the relationship, and that may well be a point of re-examination after the World Cup.

"I am not sympathetic to England's situation at all. We all live in a world where there are various risks and we all have to deal with them.

"It is our tournament and they are obliged to follow their commitments, so if they do pull out, they will snub us as hosts, and we will definitely have to look at that."

ECB chairman Tim Lamb has reported cordial and friendly relations with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union and expressed a wish that no retaliatory action should be considered.

"I phoned the chairman and chief executive of the ZCU on the day we announced our decision not to play, to express my sympathy to them and the regret in which we had come to our decision," Lamb said.

"We knew it was going to be a massive event for them and I know how disappointed the ZCU would have been, but I just hope that they would understand why we took the decision we did and we can move forward as friends in the future.

"I haven't received any specific assurance, but I am very much hopeful there won't be any repercussions as far as the South African tour to Britain is concerned, and certainly as far as the Zimbabwe Cricket Union sending their team to England this summer as well."

* New Zealand's decision to send the Australians into bat in Port Elizabeth last night paid immediate dividends, with the capture of four early wickets. After 27 overs, Australia were 84-7. Shane Bond had six for 21 from nine. ON TV

Sticky wicket

* South Africa and Zimbabwe could bypass England, who refused to go to Harare.

* South African officials say the blame lies with England.

* The Black Caps could be called on. They are free between tours of Sri Lanka in May and India in October.

* Martin Snedden's "no comment" adds to speculation.

Tonight: Live coverage of Zimbabwe v Kenya, Sky Sports, channels 10, 11, from 8.30.ON THE WEB

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