Morgan confirms England will play Tests in Zimbabwe

David Morgan: denied leaning on players © Getty Images

England have not yet arrived in Zimbabwe for the five-match one-day series that few of their players seem to have any appetite for, but David Morgan, the ECB's chairman, yesterday said that there was every chance that England would be back there soon to play Tests.

Morgan, who is accompanying the England side to Zimbabwe, made his comments as the team arrived for a short period of acclimatisation in Namibia. He told The Guardian that Zimbabwe's impending return to the Test arena meant that England would "have to return to play two Tests at some stage, as will Australia." He added: "We will be in discussions with Zimbabwe Cricket about when that will happen during the course of this tour."

He also denied suggestions that the board had leant on players to persuade them not to back out of the tour. "I made it absolutely clear to the coach, captain and the other players that anybody for reasons of personal conscience who did not wish to go to Zimbabwe would not be penalised," he said. "Is that leaning on players?"