Balancing the hectic schedule

Milind Bhise

The recent news about the hectic schedule of the Indian cricket team triggered some thoughts. Staggering is the word that comes to mind. The team is scheduled to play 22 Tests and 41 one-day internationals during that period. Let's do the maths here: that is 151 days of cricket in roughly 425 days! Put it another way, the team will be on the field for an international fixture every third day. Allowing a very conservative 5 per cent time for travel adds another 20-25 days of demanding activity. And remember, this does not include any other scheduled first class fixtures and practice matches. Neither have we considered commitments of the domestic circuit (which may be a whole new debate).

Cricket is fast becoming a true professional sport. Players often use their fame to gain lucrative endorsements (and, why not?). Most countries have embraced the contract system for their cricketers. Television royalties often outweigh gate receipts at the stadium. The sheer amount of direct and indirect revenue related to the sport has increased dramatically in the past five years. Just notice the trend in TV royalties for the World Cup. Given all this, no wonder the pressure to perform is mind-boggling.

Any cricketer representing India knows that a billion eyes are watching every move he makes, every ball he bowls, every ball he hits and every ball he fields. Athleticism is the buzzword in current day cricket environment. You have to maintain a certain level of fitness to be a productive member of the team. The more cricket you play, the more difficult it is to be 100 per cent fit all the time. Also important is the question of "burn-out". Of course, some players can handle the hectic schedule better than others. But is there a way out of this?

Certainly, one way would be reduce the number of matches scheduled. A lot of captains and senior players in the cricketing world have expressed their preference of limiting the matches they/their teams would like to play. However, the grim reality is that the game is a revenue-generating machine. No match or a series would ever lose money, even accounting for poor management and organizational inefficiencies! Efficient organizers just draw better profit, that's all. Part of the blame should also go to the audience, whose appetite for matches (more so the ODIs) seems to be insatiable.

Consequently, any proposal to limit or reduce the number of games the Indian team plays will have to involve the players, organizing bodies (BCCI, ICC, etc.) and media.

And then there is the controversial policy of rotation, championed by Australia and talked about everywhere. Adopting a rotation policy will ensure that cricketers do not "burn-out" because of excessive cricket. It will also help ensure their fitness level. And last, but not the least, it will increase the available talent pool while ensuring a more efficient "use of the resources". The criteria for rotation is open to debate and under ideal circumstances should be proposed by the players and team management.

What is certain is that an overdose of cricket is not in the best interest of the game for anyone involved - players, organizers, audience or media and that the Indian team is not the only team affected by the hectic schedule.

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