Downgrading England's status?

[Rik E Boy]

REB - what do you mean?

Robert Mugabe is the Zimbabwe president (came into power in 1980). The South African president is Thabo Mbeki. He succeeded Nelson Mandela in 1999. Whay should we boycot South Africa because of the leader of Zimababwe? It would be like the West Indies boycotting New Zealand because of the politics of John Howard.

POOR FORM indeed...

No, merely poor comprehension.

regards,

REB

[Booney]

We shouldn't be playing against Zimbabwe because

a) They are crap and couldn't beat the Redbacks

and

b) For the same reason we didn't play against South Africa for nigh on two decades. Mugabe's murderous regime is legitmised by our premier sporting team. POOR FORM.

regards,

REB

I understood.You're right.

To suggest the oldest of on field cricket foes not play as equals smacks of ignorant,arrogant,biased uneducated opinion.How could one of these two countries possibly have the gaul to suggest to the other they are not worthy of having equal billing? Too many posts made on this thread already.

[RustyCage]

We shouldn't be playing against Zimbabwe because

a) They are crap and couldn't beat the Redbacks

and

b) For the same reason we didn't play against South Africa for nigh on two decades. Mugabe's murderous regime is legitmised by our premier sporting team. POOR FORM.

regards,

REB

how about:

c) They are 3-0 down in a one day series against Bangladesh.

[Rik E Boy]

see point a)

regards,

REB

ps - Sorry Booney that's another post

[Squawk]

The Mugabe regime is a terrible one. My outlaws are all from Zimbabwe and the country has been progressively and systematically torn apart by Mugabe and his thugs.

It is such a shame that sport is so affected by politics. I wish that somehow the team and the players could be supported in a way that got around Mugabe himself - ie we could refuse to tour Zimbabwe but still play them here or in a neutral country. We could donate equipment and we could pay their players in the same way as we pay prizemoney - just pay them an appearance fee plus a "non-appearance" fee to the second X1!

As for downgrading England's status - forget it. They are no 2 in the world, FFS! Mind you, I would like to see 5-test series plus the ability to give Tests to Darwin, Cairns, Hobart and Canberra without taking away any fixtures from the traditional big 5 venues. Maybe we could invite Zimbabwe to play 'home' games at those venues?

[westozfalcon]

In retrospect it was an ill-considered and silly post by me because England do attract the best crowds in Australia and we really shouldn't tamper too much with the traditions of the game. There's been enough of that already in cricket at first class level e.g. Sheffield Shield to Pura Cup!

In my short time reading this forum I've noticed that a lot you blokes are very sharp with your knowledge of cricket and give thoughtful opinions which I enjoy reading. So I deserved the spray for my less than clever suggestion.

My idea came more from the perspective of getting the message through to England that they need to lift their game. Maybe the regular thrashings will eventually work.