It is a topic I have touched upon before but it needs reiterating: Zimbabwe's continued presence as a Test match playing nation is seriously damaging the game. Even former Zimbabwean players such as David Houghton and Neil Johnson are publicly saying that.

Last week I spoke to Andy Flower about it and very sadly he said he could not bear to watch what was going on.

I did watch some of last week's Test in Cape Town against South Africa but only out of some morbid fascination - to see how bad Zimbabwe really were and to see how many records would be broken. And yes, they were seriously bad and, yes, records were broken.

It was an unedifying spectacle which unfortunately will be repeated this week, with the second Test starting tomorrow. Hopefully, we can get that out of the way and then the International Cricket Council (ICC) can take some positive action by suspending Zimbabwe from all international cricket (including one dayers ) until they can prove that they are ready to return.

It might take two years; it might take five, maybe even longer, but they should not be allowed a reprieve until they sort themselves out. Yes, the ICC should help them with funding and allocation of fixtures against the likes of Kenya and Namibia, who are their equal at the moment, but it should not be over-lenient towards their current plight.

They are making a mockery of the international game and that very obvious fact should be recognised immediately.

I also spoke to Mike Powell last week, shortly after he and Glamorgan team-mate David Harrison had arrived in Sri Lanka, as he pondered over Rod Marsh's invitation for him to open the batting in England A's opening match against the hosts' A team.

I told him I thought it a good idea because in Sri Lanka it can often be the best place to bat, because you have time to get your eye in against the seamers before the much more arduous task of dealing with the spinners.

Sadly, it did not work out quite right for Powell in the first innings as he missed out while others made hay, but thankfully the second innings proved much more rewarding with a half century for 'the big man' from Crickhowell.

Something which I am sure is bothering many Glamorgan fans - because it concerns me a little - is what is going to happen if Mike Kasprowicz is included in Australia's Ashes tour party this summer. I say 'if' but surely that should be 'when'. There is no doubt that given his recent international form, Kasprowicz will be over here.

There is also little doubt that he will be involved in a battle royal for the final seamer's spot with Brett Lee, who has also been putting in some strong performances lately, and maybe with Jason Gillespie. But all three will be here, have no fear. So who will Glamorgan turn to then? Last year's recruit, Mick Lewis of Victoria, would seem the obvious answer, but it seems he did not make the impression last season that many expected.

I did not see a lot of him 'live' so can hardly make a considered judgement, but what I can say is that his performances for his state side this Australian summer have been mighty impressive. In the four-day competition, the Pura Cup, he stands fifth in the bowling averages, with 32 wickets at an average of 22.

In the ING one-day cup he has fared even better, taking 18 wickets at an impressive 17.83. Only Greg Blewett, a part time seamer, is above him in the list of bowlers who have played more than four matches.

If the replacement is not to be Lewis, then I am not sure who it will be. Of course, Glamorgan might choose not to have a second overseas player at all and instead back their posse of home grown seam bowlers.

While that would be commendable in one way, it would essentially be wrong in my opinion because I believe the team would be at a disadvantage, just as I was unhappy at the start of the 2003 season when the club would only allow me, as captain, one overseas player (Kasprowicz).

As it turned out a second, Jimmy Maher, was signed mid-season when my knee let me down. If the ECB decree that you can have two proper overseas players, then I believe you should have two. That is an entirely different argument from the ludicrous EU situation, on which I have ranted often, one which is being exacerbated by the likes of Yorkshire signing a 'Kolpak' player - in their case a chap called Deon Kruis - to complement their overseas players.

Glamorgan might have one overseas player this season while other counties will have, in reality, four or five. Strange.