Tourists open up with one voice

British Universities 92-2 v Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's controversial second tour of England began yesterday. It was difficult to tell what there were more of at Edgbaston: spectators, players, protesters, stewards or media representatives.

The consensus among the latter was that spectators won by a short head from players and stewards with protesters in fifth place. It was as low-key as first-class cricket and protesting is likely to get. And spectating, come to that.

Universities won the toss and batted on a cold, cloudy day. Outside gate one, Andrew Hall neither knew nor cared. He had come over from Worcester to protest about the tour taking place.

Hall arrived in England from Zimbabwe nine years ago but hopes one day to return. For most of the morning he had only one English sixth form college pupil, Hari Blackmore, for company. Both held banners. It was a silent vigil. Hall was hardly dressed for the occasion, wearing a t-shirt, shorts and sturdy walking boots, the uniform of the African farmer.

"The aim is to have a presence to bring attention to the plight of Zimbabweans," said Hall. "We will stay outside grounds. There are no intentions to invade pitches because we don't want to bring ourselves down to the level of Mugabe and his people. We don't want hotheads but I suppose that our strategy could change as the tour goes on." Perhaps, he added, for advice on that, they might try to recruit Peter Hain, cabinet member and anti-Apartheid campaigner who organised the protests which led to the cancellation of South Africa's tour in 1970.

The cricket was desultory. The tourists began circumspectly, not needing or caring to move into a high gear. They had to shop for jumpers before the match. After accounting for rustiness, the attack still looked distinctly unthreatening. The Universities contained some familiar names from the counties in their ranks and their captain, James Adams of Loughborough and Hampshire, played confidently and correctly.

It was perhaps the most even contest Zimbabwe are likely to be involved in all summer. It is impossible to suppose that they can pose any threat to England in the two-match Test series. If they do, there will be a call for selectors' heads, whoever they might be.

Nasser Hussain, England's Test captain, is to relinquish his duties as a selector and will be replaced by somebody who is able to watch more county cricket. He will join the chairman, David Graveney, the coach Duncan Fletcher and Geoff Miller.

The choice is likely to be the Australian director of the National Academy, Rod Marsh who sees abundant county cricket. Others mentioned have been Vic Marks and Angus Fraser, both astute judges, who would be compromised because of their jobs as national newspaper correspondents and possibly short of time.

Another sensible candidate would be a county player such as Matthew Maynard who is still good enough to have universal respect and has his ear close to the ground. There are sound precedents for selectors as players: England won back the Ashes in 1926 with Jack Hobbs on the panel.

The protesters increased in number towards lunch when there were eight of them. Hall said there would be more at the Tests, though his email had been down for two days which made co-ordination hard.

Douglas Hondo took the Zimbabweans' first wicket when Delroy Taylor slashed a long hop to cover and on the stroke of lunch Adams lunged at a lifter to be caught behind. Streak bowled a little afternoon spell that was better than indifferent. It rained hard an hour after lunch and the players went off. Nobody protested.