Shane Watson urges CA not to cut down Shield cricket
The winner of two back-to-back Allan Border medals, Australian cricketer Shane Watson, urged Cricket http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 not to cut down the Sheffield Shield season as Test cricket would suffer.
“... (Sheffield Shield is important) because you need to get good consistent cricket under your belt as well,” Watson stated.
He believes that the Board would be making a serious ‘blunder’ if they decided to scale back the domestic season.
Watson’s statement comes ahead of a crucial, high-profile CA meeting to be held on Tuesday, 8 February, 2011 at Melbourne.
The agenda of the meeting is to review the Ashes 2010-11 embarrassing debacle that saw Australia slump to three innings defeat against England. The CA’s spokesman, Peter Young hinted that the Board will be examining everything that contributed to the loss and a revamp of domestic structure is also on the cards.
It is understood that the CA will be considering slashing back the tournament schedule from ten matches to eight to accommodate the new domestic Twenty20 Big Bash league 2011-12. The state-sides are also being modified as city-based teams are being considered to take part in the extravaganza.
Watson argues that such a move might hamper the essence of the game in Australia, as the longer-format of the game helps a player’s body to be in form.
Watson stated that ‘playing consistent cricket’ for a longer period of time is the backbone of Test cricket. He added that ten games of first-class cricket in the Sheffield Shield tournament is a ‘great challenge’ for one’s body.
The 29-year-old bagged the Allan Border Medal for the best Australian Test player and One Day International (ODI) player of 2010-11 on Monday night. Watson, whose international career was disrupted by injuries, stated that he knows from experience that a grueling schedule at domestic level is needed to shine in International cricket.
“If you make the next step up to international cricket, the schedule is all year round, so it’s something people need to get used to...,” http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 said.
He also suggested that Cricket Australia needs to find a ‘balance’ between the money-spinning T20 tournament and the Sheffield Shield event.
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