Australia A set to play Zimbabwe A in 2011

[CrimsonAvenger]

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sp ... -ygpd.html

Australia are set to host a Zimbabwean touring team next year for the first time since 2003, following a meeting between Cricket Australia and the strife-torn country's sports minister, David Coltart.

In keeping with Zimbabwe's plans for gradual re-engagement with the cricket community, any series will be played between "A" teams from the two countries. This still represents a major step for the African nation after years of sanctions and international condemnation.

The Zimbabwe tour, likely to take place in mid-2011 at a time once slated for Test matches between the two countries, would also be the first step in a reciprocal agreement that would also see an Australia A side play matches in Zimbabwe.

David Coltart is doing a great job here...

[Boundary]

Ha ha ha, I love it. It seems to be Zim A is the place to be. I bet Mutizwa will be the best groomed Zimbabwean Test batsman to make a debut when the time comes

[maehara]

I can't take all this good news. Coltart must be very persuasive...

[Conant]

I can't take all this good news. Coltart must be very persuasive...

And gets the respect of his peers because he's so highly principled. This is a man who shunned the latest Ministerial Merc for his four-years old Nissan Hardbody...

[maehara]

And gets the respect of his peers because he's so highly principled. This is a man who shunned the latest Ministerial Merc for his four-years old Nissan Hardbody...

...an example pretty much everyone else in government should learn from.

Also, never underestimate the value of a tough old 4x4 on Zimbabwean roads. They go were many a Merc can't!

[maehara]

Another SMH article on Coltart & Zim cricket this morning - the Coltart roadshow is moving to the UK next week:

Coltart travelled to New Zealand prior to Australia and will next meet with English officials as he fights for support to strengthen the tentative progress made under the joint government of Zanu-PF and the MDC (Movement For Democratic Change).

You can't fault the guy for effort, and he's been getting results, too. Hopefully he can make it three for three and get some sort of commitment out of the ECB, although I reckon they'll be the hardest of the three to deal with.

Rest of the article looks at Zim's position on John Howard becoming ICC Chairman. Read it here:
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-sp ... -yhr6.html

[shumbat]

Let him be Minister of sport forever and ever, so i reckon he will need the Merc sooner or later for his travels.lol

[sloandog]

Let him be Minister of sport forever and ever, so i reckon he will need the Merc sooner or later for his travels.lol