Strauss voices doubts about Zimbabwe

As England's selectors prepare to name their squad for the controversial five-match tour of Zimbabwe, which takes place in November, Andrew Strauss has become the latest player to voice serious doubts about the morality of playing sport in such a troubled country.

Last week, Steve Harmison announced that he would not be undertaking the tour, for personal and political reasons, and despite the England & Wales Cricket Board's assurances that a full-strength side would be named for the trip, it is clear that, with hours to go until the announcement is made on Tuesday, several others are still battling with their consciences.

"All the players have deep-rooted moral problems with going on the tour," Strauss told BBC Sport. "It's not an easy situation for us to be in. The ECB is going to be sending out a cricket team to Zimbabwe - it's just a question of which personnel go. I can only speak for myself and I haven't made up my mind yet."

One man who has overcome his misgivings is the team's vice-captain, Marcus Trescothick. He has publicly declared his availability for the trip, although he couldn't speak for his team-mates, as to whether any of them would be seeking a break from cricket ahead of the South Africa series.

"There are several weeks now until the start of the Zimbabwe trip," said Trescothick, who preferred to skirt round the moral arguments for a boycott. "That should be a long enough break, but we'll only really know at the end of the South Africa tour."

The ECB remain committed to sending the strongest side available, although they insist they will not penalise any player who chooses to opt out of the squad. If the speculation in British newspapers is to be believed, Andrew Flintoff is on the verge of joining his good friend, Harmison, on the sidelines.

"The core players have been on the road playing constant international cricket for a long time," said David Graveney, England's chairman of selectors, who acknowledged that Flintoff has been carrying an ankle injury all summer that could doubtless do with an extra few weeks of rest. "The tour of Zimbabwe gives us an opportunity to rotate a little more."

Michael Vaughan, meanwhile, who likes to run a close-knit team, has asked his players to toe the ECB line. He was reportedly disappointed with Harmison's original decision to pull out of the trip, although it remains to be seen how many others will follow suit.