Reluctant tourists' flights of fancy stun Australian public
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Your support makes all the difference.England's players provoked disbelief in Australia yesterday as they began to book early flights home. Despite their sincere protestations it quite clearly meant that they expected to lose to Australia in the second VB Series Final, which would allow them time for a five-day breather before departing for South Africa to play in the World Cup.
Australians merely viewed it as another indication of Pommie weakness and wasted no time in saying so. The break, deemed necessary by several players who have been living from suitcases in Australia for three months, would nominally break their contracts with their employers, the England and Wales Cricket Board.
It would also mean that they would be the only team that would not arrive in South Africa as a unit. Since they are also expected to play in dribs and drabs, the ECB were keen to promote a spirit of team unity.
Players were reserving flights in case they lost to Australia in the second final here which would render unnecessary the third match. However, there was no official comment.
The ECB are extremely reluctant to pay for them considering the players have agreed to an itinerary which involves leaving Australia and heading straight for the World Cup in South Africa. There were suggestions that a deal was being brokered. The players would pay for their flights to England, the ECB for the trip to South Africa next Saturday.
The day was notable for the continued refusal by the team's coach, Duncan Fletcher, to state his preference. It was being suggested that he may wish his team to arrive together – the medical advice is against two long-haul flights in a short time – but then his home is in South Africa.
Several England players asked for permission last week to return home and were rebuffed. They were determined, however, to have their way and asked Richard Bevan, the managing director of the Professional Cricketers' Association, to lead their negotiations. When this became public knowledge on Thursday, England were being hammered by Australia in one of their biggest one-day humiliations. The plain fact that they were beaten by a side playing cricket on a different planet, could not quite conceal the unfortunate juxtaposition.
There was no official comment from the England camp yesterday, but Paul Collingwood, the leading scorer in their last two defeats, said: "Just to get out of the heat would be nice. It is tough living out of a suitcase. A few days at home and we'd probably refresh ourselves."
The team have to be in South Africa for an official function on 2 February. Their first warm-up match is on 4 February, the opening ceremony on 8 February and their opening fixture, the controversial affair against Zimbabwe, on 13 February.
Four years ago, England went into the World Cup on the back of a bitter pay dispute with the ECB. They were eliminated at the first stage.
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