Strauss: Zimbabwe tour poses problems

Andrew Strauss believes England's top players face some "very difficult decisions" next summer if Zimbabwe's tour goes ahead and Robert Mugabe remains in power.

Matches against Zimbabwe have long been a problem for England, who were forced to pay £135,000 in compensation having cancelled a Test tour to the country in 2004 and also declined to play a World Cup match against the national team the previous year.

"In the past there have been chances to show the strength of feeling here and the government chose not to," said Strauss, speaking on the panel following Archbishop Desmond Tutu's 'Spirit of Cricket' lecture at Lord's. "If it comes down to players to do that we'll definitely have to look at it. There's a sense that we've been left in the lurch before."

The England and Wales Cricket Board is due to host Zimbabwe in three one-day internationals in 2009 and the issue of whether or not those games should go ahead is sure to keep debate raging.

But Middlesex opener Strauss also feels that public opinion is clear on the subject.

"There's a great sense among the general population that our last tour to Zimbabwe shouldn't have gone ahead," he added.

"It has come down to a certain extent to personal preference and there have been some tough decisions made in previous tours.

"When we come round to the issue again we all hope that the political situation in Zimbabwe is very different.

"But if it isn't there are going to be more very difficult decisions to be made."