By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

Now we know just how close this tour came to being abandoned. Michael Vaughan told me that, on the Thursday morning, he believed he would be flying home that night.

From Vaughan's perspective, anything less than a 4-0 whitewash simply won't do

I must admit, I thought the trip to Zimbabwe was doomed, and so did those who feel so strongly that England should not be playing cricket here in the first place.

The banning of the journalists, England's stand-off in Johannesburg and the Zimbabwean government's record of intransigence, gave the tour's opponents fresh hope.

They are now even angrier, and feel an easy opportunity to stay away from here was missed.

Theirs have been the loudest voices in this debate and, of course, no-one can find fault with their argument.

But it is easy to moralise without having the responsibility of actually having to make the decision.

It has been ECB chairman David Morgan's finger on the button this week.

Conversely, there will be English cricket administrators, grass roots coaches and players, all of whom were seriously threatened by the ICC's blind commitment to its tours programme, who will feel he's pulled off quite a coup.

There were two alternatives.

First, England play four matches in Zimbabwe, as they are legally bound to do and stand accused of being morally bankrupt by purely protecting the interests of English cricket

Prior is likely to be used as an out-fielder not a keeper on this tour

Alternatively they could refuse to tour and suffer the consequences.

Something we can be absolutely certain of is that one position would not be affected in the least by either option.

If he is alive, President Mugabe will still be here, and in power following next spring's general election.

In the knowledge of that, do we still think it is worth placing the future of English cricket under threat? Morgan clearly thought not.

Without Steve Harmison, Andrew Flintoff and Marcus Trescothick, England have the opportunity to blood new players in the four matches that lie ahead.

Vaughan hinted that everyone would have a go this week and, after all, if these matches have to be played, England might as well make best use of them.

Simon Jones is desperate to prove that he can be effective in one day cricket - it seems that he needs to convince Glamorgan of that too.

Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen and Matt Prior will also be looking forward to making their one day international debuts.

Zimbabwe certainly needs some cricket, too.

Vastly inexperienced, Tatenda Taibu's team has won only two of its last 25 matches - and they were against Bangladesh.

From Vaughan's perspective, anything less than a 4-0 whitewash simply won't do.