Butcher concern over West Indies tour

Wednesday, January 28, 2004

LONDON, England (AFP): Mark Butcher has urged England's cricket authorities not to allow the controversy over the proposed tour to Zimbabwe to have a negative impact on the forthcoming Test series in the West Indies. 

The Surrey left-hander is due to fly out to the Caribbean with the rest of England's 16-man party on February 25 but is concerned their preparations are being undermined by the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the tour of Zimbabwe in October. 

The England and Wales Cricket Board have already sought advice from the Government on the issue and held talks with the International Cricket Council at Lord's on Monday. 

"The best difference this time is that the ECB and the Government are trying to pre-empt any disasters like those that happened last time with the guys waiting to play in the World Cup," said Butcher. 

"With a bit of luck we can go off and concentrate on playing a series in the West Indies and it will be taken care of back here." 

The drawn-out process last winter - where players were consulted before the final decision not to play the World Cup match - possibly affected England's challenge and Butcher is hopeful that his employers will take a firm line that the players can abide by. 

"I'd like to think I keep myself aware of pretty much what is going on in the world and it's plainly obvious to everyone that things are not right in Zimbabwe," stressed Butcher, a veteran of 61 Tests. 

"But it's one thing to say what I'd do, but in a team game it's not about what you want, it's what everyone wants to do. 

"It's not an individual decision to be taken and with a bit of luck there will not be a decision for us to make anyway. Our employers, the ECB, and the Government at the moment are talking about what should happen and what is going to happen. 

"We don't make the decision on where we go on these tours, we don't organise the fixtures, we don't do any of it. That's all taken care of, that's what our employers do - it's in their hands and until it comes back to us that's it." 

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