Oracle of Delphi
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KC Hill
Cibbuano
Craig HillAussies exhausted?
April 15th 2006 03:37
If you're the average cricketer who plays on a Sunday arvo, you might say 6 hours a week of cricket is more than enough. But if you've got a Cricket Australia contract you're expected to play whenever, wherever.
This summer, the Aussies played a total of 11 tests and 22 one-dayers with still the tour of Bangladesh still to be completed. You might begin to wonder whether or not that amount is ridiculous or acceptable for this day and age. On one side of the story, you have those unnecessary 5 match one day series (7-match in the case of India v England). Clearly, if a side wins a series 3-0 they are obviously the better side, and the fact that the series continues even though one team has no chance to win is another facet of the one-day series protocol I do not understand.
However, on the contrary, we have many players playing for English county sides during the off-season, instead of utilising this precious off-season period to rest and recouperate from a long Summer and to prepare for the next season to come. Sure, the county competition is a useful way to maintain/develop form for the coming international season, but if players are complaining that their international schedules are too frantic, they must consider the notion that they are not putting their off-season break to good use, and should rather be exploiting the pre-season domestic games to more effect in order to boost their form for the upcoming international matches.
One might also say that a schedule like this today would be unimaginable for an international cricketer 20 years ago. However, with advancements in technology, nutrition, biomechanics, psychology and physiology it makes perfect sense that the number of matches should have increased since the 80s.
Essentially, there can be many arguments made for and against, but it is ultimately up to the players and the governing body, Cricket Australia, to determine whether or not the amount of matches is outrageous or sufficient. But when making their decision I hope both parties take into account the fact that fans pay their hard-earned to see the best - so in order for players to be at their best, they must be fresh both physically and mentally. If this is achieved then I think almost every fan watching the game will be more than satisfied with the level of cricket they're witnessing.
Without the fans, cricket would be dead.
This summer, the Aussies played a total of 11 tests and 22 one-dayers with still the tour of Bangladesh still to be completed. You might begin to wonder whether or not that amount is ridiculous or acceptable for this day and age. On one side of the story, you have those unnecessary 5 match one day series (7-match in the case of India v England). Clearly, if a side wins a series 3-0 they are obviously the better side, and the fact that the series continues even though one team has no chance to win is another facet of the one-day series protocol I do not understand.
Reaping the rewards of hard work (Getty Images)
However, on the contrary, we have many players playing for English county sides during the off-season, instead of utilising this precious off-season period to rest and recouperate from a long Summer and to prepare for the next season to come. Sure, the county competition is a useful way to maintain/develop form for the coming international season, but if players are complaining that their international schedules are too frantic, they must consider the notion that they are not putting their off-season break to good use, and should rather be exploiting the pre-season domestic games to more effect in order to boost their form for the upcoming international matches.
One might also say that a schedule like this today would be unimaginable for an international cricketer 20 years ago. However, with advancements in technology, nutrition, biomechanics, psychology and physiology it makes perfect sense that the number of matches should have increased since the 80s.
For some reason I really like this picture...(www.moviecritic.com.au)
Essentially, there can be many arguments made for and against, but it is ultimately up to the players and the governing body, Cricket Australia, to determine whether or not the amount of matches is outrageous or sufficient. But when making their decision I hope both parties take into account the fact that fans pay their hard-earned to see the best - so in order for players to be at their best, they must be fresh both physically and mentally. If this is achieved then I think almost every fan watching the game will be more than satisfied with the level of cricket they're witnessing.
Without the fans, cricket would be dead.
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Comment by Cibbuano
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thanks for the link, but can you link-link it, using the link tool? Technorati will pick it up that way!
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Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak