Players ask for less cricket

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Players ask for less cricket

India's cricketers have joined the debate over player burnout, with Virender Sehwag, the vice-captain, telling reporters than the board (BCCI) had been asked to reduce the number of matches played by the team.

"There is too much cricket," Sehwag said. "Players need a break because they may burn out. They need time for fitness also, time to think about their game and to recharge their batteries. If we want to win the World Cup, we need every player to be fit."

Sehwag added that several players, including Rahul Dravid, the captain, had taken the matter up with the BCCI but had been told that there was nothing the board can do because the cricket calendar had already been fixed. But he said that the board had promised to give the players adequate breaks after the commitments fixed were fulfilled.

The action by the Indian players could be a watershed in the dispute. Until now, senior administrators across the world had argued that rather than fewer games, some countries wanted more. The Indian side was cited as an example of such a side on several occasions, but Sehwag's comments indicate that is not the case.

And the Indian board's response is at odds with their seeming desire to play lucrative one-day tournaments whenever there is a gap in the ICC's Future Tours Programme. Last month, they had no sooner finished a grueling three Test, seven ODI series against England than they were in Abu Dhabi playing two more one-dayers.

It is only a month ago that the BCCI signed a US$219 million five-year deal with Zee Sports for broadcast rights for all India's "home" matches played outside the country. Venues such as Abu Dhabi, London, Malaysia and Canada were discussed, but it is inconceivable that this will be limited to a handful of matches each year. And all such games are outside the FTP and, as such, will need to be squeezed into gaps in an already crammed schedule.

And Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, recently told Cricinfo that the boards had to recognise their responsibilities in scheduling. "The ICC recognizes the need for members to look to maximize their revenue in order to grow the game," he said, "but, at the same time, they have to be mindful that the players are their prime assets and overworking them would benefit no one in the long run." Privately, the ICC is thought to be annoyed that it is in the firing line for accelerating player burnout, when it feels that it is the boards and their extra money-spinning matches that are largely to blame.

Sehwag, meanwhile, said that players needed three or four weeks rest to recover between series. "If a player gets a three to four-month break in a year, it is good for players and good for the BCCI also."

Martin Williamson is managing editor of Cricinfo

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I hope the BCCI will take their statements seriously. These guys are out there for 90 overs a day, rather than sitting in air-conditioned rooms chattering about nothing.

I think the crowds are losing some excitement about matches too. There is a match almost everyday now.
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Players ask for less cricket

Harbhajan wants more cricket, let's hope this doesn't create conflicts within the team.
 
Players ask for less cricket

Hopefully it creates some healthy competition.
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Players ask for less cricket

Chappel might have identified player burnout and thus the rotation policy, the way things are going many key players could be injured by the World Cup, and India could hold the advantage.
 
Players ask for less cricket

Whoever wants rest take rest other could play
 
Players ask for less cricket

[quote="zaphod_da ":265vdaa1]
but more money , i guess
[/quote:265vdaa1]

You're right !! reduce plays with also reducing money.

what you say..
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