Commercialization of the sport and managing the modern-day cricketer’s workload – Opinion - Part 2
Who remains at fault, it is the players or the BCCI, who have invested heavily in the shorter format? Even their most loyal fans need a break and they too have understood the reality of the sport. Attendances for the longer-version format are bound to dwindle
when all everyone wants is short; exciting three-hour long matches, which further offer conclusive results.
For nations like England and Australia, Test cricket may be the pinnacle format but that has much to do with their own rivalry. South Africans can be put into that bracket, owing to their overall impressive team prowess but one cannot deny the fact that
they also have vested interests in the shorter format, an example of which remains the Champions League T20.
That event, which concluded recently, was criticized by the Aussie management for hindering the national team preparation ahead their upcoming cricketing season, but good a fan gets if the best players don’t play in the tournament. Despite their legitimate
concerns, they themselves remain partly to blame for injuries to the likes of Shane Watson and Pat Cummins, both of whom will miss the start of the home summer.
If Cricket Australia thought their bodies were fragile and not up to the rigours of continuous cricket, periodic measures should have been taken in the first place.
AB de Villiers opted out of the event following his own hectic workload over the past couple of months, where he has kept gloves, batted and further captained the side. MS Dhoni does the same for his country but his body is not as fragile as some of the
others.
Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka premier ODI pacer’s example is a unique one. It is different, yet offers a balancing act. He has often been criticized for not devoting himself to the national team’s longer version endeavours, but the truth of the situation is
that his body simply cannot withstand the demand of Test cricket. He needs to choose among all the formats and has every right to do so.
England players will probably face a burnout phase, if one looks at the absurdity of their fixture list. However, that opens doors for other players to cement their place. Kevin Pietersen’s saga was a perfect example where the player was evidently annoyed
by the amount of cricket he will eventually play in the coming months.
But being a batsman, as oppose to fast bowler, one tends to get lesser injuries. James Anderson and Stuart Broad‘s workloads have been managed periodically, and they have somewhat reaped its benefits by featuring constantly for their team.
The put it simply, the situation is dangerously complex. At one side of the coin, there is the commercial aspect of T20 cricket, which offers ICC respite in the face of strong crowds, and on the other side, there is the grave concern over the future of Test
cricket, which players want to play, but cannot afford to, largely owing to its demanding nature.
A few, the likes of Watson and Malinga, will fall prey to it, while others, like Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis, will excel under all circumstances. For the cricketing authorities, the task to balance the two formats is indeed a difficult one. However, if
everyone can set aside their personal interests, a lot can be achieved. Minting money nonetheless, may not be the right way to tackle it.
Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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