Australia to renew ties with Zimbabwe

Australia could renew cricketing ties with Zimbabwe next year starting with a series between the two countries' A teams, the African country's Sports Minister David Coltart has revealed.

The Zimbabwe A team will likely tour Australia in mid-2011, the first step in an agreement that would also see an Australia A side play in Zimbabwe.

No Zimbabwean team has toured Australia since 2003.

"There is a spot in 2011, but the trouble is that slot was for two tests in Australia, and... there's a recognition that to throw this young team into the test arena against Australia at this stage would be counter-productive," Coltart told Australian Associated Press.

"We've discussed other means of utilising that slot but with more appropriate opposition.

"It's very much tentative at this stage.

"(An A series) is what the discussions are centering on, the exchange of A teams rather than at test level.

"We've discussed an exchange of tours, in other words (tours) both ways."

On Monday New Zealand announced that it too was looking to restore cricketing ties with Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe recently hosted India and Sri Lanka for a triangular one day international series.