England [Images] cricketers will consider boycotting matches against Zimbabwe next year if President Robert Mugabe is still in power, batsman Andrew Strauss [Images] said on Tuesday.

"In the past there've been chances to show the strength of feeling here and the government chose not to," Strauss told reporters.

"If it comes down to players to do that we'll definitely have to look at it."

Strauss, who captained England against Pakistan two years ago, was speaking at a question-and-answer session at Lord's following an address by South African archbishop Desmond Tutu.

"There's a great sense among the general population that our last tour to Zimbabwe shouldn't have gone ahead," he said.

"It has come down to a certain extent to personal preference and there have been some tough decisions made in previous tours.

"When we come round to the issue again we all hope that the political situation in Zimbabwe is very different.

"But if it isn't there are going to be more very difficult decisions to be made."