Zimbabwe and politics

The Green Party have spotted a way to get the New Zealand team out of the tour to Zimbabwe without penalty, but the Labour party isn't having a bar of it.

My feeling is that only an intervention from the New Zealand government will stop the tour. Without it, New Zealand Cricket will almost certainly go ahead with the tour, but will allow players to make their own decision about whether to go or not. And I think that New Zealand Cricket probably thinks this will turn out quite nicely for them. Senior players who probably need a rest and who are not worried about their place in the team will turn the tour down, but those players fighting for a place in the side will go. Given the state of the game in Zimbabwe, New Zealand Cricket may see this as a great opportunity for the youngsters to showcase their talents and for the selectors to try a few new tricks without much chance of defeat. Given Stephen Fleming is one of those who will opt out of the tour, it will also give the selectors a chance to blood a potential replacement.

Frankly, while this kind of experimentation has its appeal in benefits for the future of the New Zealand game, it would ultimately be disappointing. Test cricket is the game's pinnacle and should always be played in the hardest possible way by the best players available.