ZCU gives rebels a further 21 days to return

The Zimbabwe Cricket Union has given the 15 rebel players a further 21 days to return to practice and make themselves available for selection, starting from today. Otherwise, their contracts are likely to be torn up for good.

In a statement released today, the board said that, after accepting advice from senior counsel, and for the "avoidance of any doubt and for the sake of the game of cricket", it would give the players another chance to comply. In other words, this means they must be available at all times for training and matches for which they are selected.

The statement also said that the ZCU would no longer work with a mediator because of the players' attitude - allegedly, two of the rebels had commented that the mediation method might not preclude another walkout.

Since the players walked out, a second-string team, led by Tatenda Taibu, has struggled to give the touring Sri Lankans a decent game. They lost the one-day series 5-0, and were walloped in the first Test at Harare by an innings and 240 runs. They will have an even bigger struggle on their hands against the Australians, who arrived in the country today for two Tests and three one-dayers, starting next week.

The majority of the players met last week and, it was thought that, as a gesture of goodwill, they would resume training and make themselves available to play in the second Test. However, after another breakdown in communications with the board, they were all sacked on Monday.

Heath Streak, the former captain, and whose dismissal sparked off this series of events, was actually watching the Test at Harare today - but he had to pay to get in.