Is overkill killing cricket?

 

 

The golden goose is bleeding

The often back-breaking and soul-destroying pyrotechnics of Twenty20, could turn out to be a game-changer that world cricket can do without, writes satish chapparike

As Team India takes on the world’s number one-ranked ODI outfit led by Ricky Ponting in a seven-match series at home, will all eyes be on Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s boys? Well, we can’t be sure. The appeal of an Australia-India clash in the one-day cricket arena is immense no doubt, but too much of a good thing can prove counter-productive. Cricket overkill is beginning to take a toll on spectator interest.

Both sides are somewhat depleted owing to injuries picked up by key players in the course of proliferating tournaments. The Indian team in particular has the looks of a recovery ward of a general hospital. Aggressive openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag and dashing all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, a crucial trio, are coming off injuries.

And what’s happening in Sachin Tendulkar’s body and mind? Only he himself has the answer. He is not getting any younger. Although he still pulls more than his weight in the side, he is far more injury-prone now than he has been ever before in his long, illustrious career.

Consider Dhoni's case. He is the busiest player in world cricket today. Since November last year, he has played five Test matches, 25 ODIs and eight T20 internationals, all of them as captain. In between, Dhoni played in the domestic Challengers and Corporate Trophy tournaments. That apart, his calendar is overflowing with non-cricketing commitments. He is at present the most sought after brand ambassador in India and the market loves him. Money is flowing into his bank account all right, but it is pushing him to the verge of snapping point.. Then we have younger players like Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma in the middle order. Though both are talented, neither has lived up to his billing yet.

Among the bowlers, pace spearhead Zaheer Khan is out of action. Munaf Patel is returning from a long lay-off. Irfan Pathan has gone into a limbo. And the temperamental Sreesanth has all but vanished from the scene. This has left the selectors with rather limited options: Ishant Sharma, R.P. Singh, Ashis Nehra and Praveen Kumar. The quartet looked all at sea during the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa.

“Too much of cricket is having a negative impact on players as there is no respite for international cricketers. Indian players are especially busy. Everybody is in a hurry to grab as much as possible as quickly as possible. They are paying a price for it,” says former India wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani.

It is not as if Australia is free from injury worries. Michael Clarke and Callum Ferguson, the backbone of the Aussie middle order during their ICC Champions Trophy triumph, are injured. Australian speedster Brett Lee has only recently recovered from injury.

An overdose of cricket is pushing the players over the edge and wrecking their technique. Young cricketers are picking up bad habits in the T20 arena – these are becoming increasingly difficult to shrug off. Players have little time to go back to the nets to iron out the chinks. Former selection committee chairman Dilip Vengsarkar, speaking exclusively with TSI, said: “Injuries are a part and parcel of a game. But players must know how to manage themselves.” “T20 is making a major impact on world cricket. Now cricket has become a moneyspinner, especially in India. Everyone, not the least the cricketer himself, wants to grab his share in this mad rush,” says Kirmani. Due to the financial implications, younger players are concentrating more on IPL rather than on domestic tournaments.

Legends like Sunil Gavaskar have warned about this type of undesirable trend in Indian cricket. He cautioned youngsters to “place the India cap ahead of the IPL.” Are our youngsters in a position to pay heed? So, is T20 is killing cricket? Vengsarkar says, “All formats of the game, including T20, have their space in cricket. It is for an individual player to decide what he wants to focus on.”

Another way of keeping breakdowns at bay is for players to pick and choose tournaments. But while that may work in Australia or England to some extent, it isn't feasible in India. Only a player of Tendulkar’s stature can be selective about the games he plays. In India, even a Rahul Dravid isn’t assured of his place.

The impact of too much cricket is a worrying factor at the individual level as well. To prolong his career, Andrew Flintoff is toying with the idea of operating as a freelance cricketer while he gradually eases himself out of England duties. “If Flintoff succeeds, many players will follow in his footsteps,” Kirmani cautions.

If the Flintoff concept does become a reality, it would change the face of cricket. Playing for the nation will take a backseat and individual cricketers might become available to clubs and other teams around the world for a price. The game as we know it will die instantaneously in that scenario. “Don't tinker with Test Cricket’’

Gundappa Rangnath Vishwanath was a purist’s delight. The game has changed beyond recognition since the master was at the height of his prowess, but the diminutive right-hander still ranks among the most elegant batsmen the world has ever seen. His square cuts were a sight for the Gods and his straight drives had inspired artistry written all over them. In an exclusive interview with TSI’s Satish Chapparike, Vishy, as the cricketing world knows him, looks back on a glorious international career and airs his concerns about the rapidly changing face of Indian and world cricket. Excerpts from a free-wheeling conversation:

You’ve been a part of international cricket for 40 years. How do you view the evolution of the game?

Oh, I didn’t know this! From 1969 to 2009....yes, it is 40 years. In my days, we played only Test cricket: five days plus a rest day in between. I did play two World Cups in 1975 and 1979, but I still find it a bit difficult to believe that I did. Cricket has come a long way since then. When I watch an ODI or a T20 encounter, I often wonder, “Did I actually play two World Cups?” The game has changed beyond my imagination.

India won only one match in those two World Cups!?

Yes, but I don’t think that was surprising. It had something to do with our approach towards the one-day format. We used to play 60 overs a side. Sixty overs were a hell of a lot. We thought that the steady and classic approach was enough. Today, ODIs are a completely different ballgame. T20 cricket is now in. IPL was a huge success and now KPL, being organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), is about to take roots. The T20 format is here to stay. The crowds love it.

As a cricketer do you love the Twenty20 format?

To be frank, I don’t, certainly not. But as a spectator I enjoy it. I am part of the crowd now and I really enjoy it. But this format is for the spectators. It is a fast game and some cricketers also really enjoy it. I don’t think all of them really enjoy this format. Those who are playing international cricket really love Test cricket. Not only old and established cricketers, even youngsters who have got the opportunity to play one or two Test matches will tell you about the value of Test cricket. Test matches are the real thing.

At what stage of your life did you begin to take cricket seriously?

I started playing seriously probably when I was 10 or 11. My brother played for his college and a private club. A neighbour played for Mysore those days and he hit a hundred on his Ranji debut. That really inspired me. I started watching these two regularly when they played. I followed in their footsteps. Is it true that during your school selection you were nearly discarded because of your short stature?

That was during the state school team selection. I went for trials and the chairman of the selection committee, Dr Thimmappaiaha, a medical doctor, was worried about my safety. I was rejected. Later on, when I was captain for the state team, Thimmappaiaha was the chairman of the selection committee. I once asked him casually whether I had been rejected because of my lack of inches. He told me, "Yeah, that’s true. I was really worried that you would be hit.” I was very lean and short. I can imagine his fatherly feelings towards all of us.

You hit a double hundred on your Ranji Trophy debut...

I scored 230 actually. With that I broke a record – 210 – that had stood for nearly 40 years. I was 18 and that innings boosted my confidence no end.

Within a year, Kanpur happened and you become an integral part of the Indian team.

Yes. But in the first innings I got out for a duck to Australian bowler Allan Connolly. I thought that was the end of my international cricket career. I wasn’t sure I would get a second chance. Back then, the pace of Test cricket was much slower than it is today. You have to play 90 overs in a day now whereas in those days there was no such stipulation. Sometimes a team would bowl only 60-70 overs in a day. Luckily I got a chance to play a second innings. I got a hundred on debut. The Vishy square cut was magical. Was that a natural gift?

No, it was not. I worked hard throughout my career to master the stroke. In the end you can always say that it was a natural gift. But whatever strokes I played and perfected, it was the result of hard work. Playing against Chandra and Prasanna in the nets helped me hone my skills. Not only me, but every batsman in our state team got that rare opportunity to play against two world class spinners in the nets. Chandra, Prasanna and the other bowlers in our team would take bowling in the nets very seriously, setting imaginary fields. The batsmen benefited a great deal as a result.

Many regard your unbeaten 97 on a pace-friendly pitch against the West Indies in the 1974-75 Madras Test as the best-ever knock of your career. Do you agree?

I wouldn’t say it was the best. But naturally even now people rate it as my best. I think everything just clicked that day. The team was 6 down for 60 and I had to play with the tailenders. Naturally I went for my strokes. They came off. But I always feel that the knock of 137 in my debut Test was the best. Then 139 against West Indies in Calcutta – this was just before the Madras Test – was the best innings of my life. We won that Test match.

Both you and Sunil Gavaskar scored a hundred in the historic win against the West Indies in Port of Spain in 1976? How satisfying was that?

Scoring over 400 runs in the fourth innings of a Test match is no joke, especially against West Indies in West Indies. Sunny scored 102 and I scored 112 and we won the Test by 6 wickets. That was very satisfying. Getting a hundred in that type of situation is satisfying and winning is even more satisfying. Contributing to a victorious effort is far more rewarding than achieving an individual milestone.

I think the 1981 Melbourne Test was also a memorable one?

Absolutely, I scored a century and Kapil got five wickets in the second innings and we won that match. That was one of the most memorable wins we had.

The Sunny-Dennis Lillee spat also happened in the same Test. Why did Sunny lose his temper?

As he has himself said earlier, it all happened in the heat of the moment. I don’t think he liked it. It just happened. He was not among runs in that series. When he was really batting well, he was adjudged LBW. Frustration got the better of him. In protest, he sought to stage a walkout with his opening partner Chetan Chauhan. Our team manager, Wing Commander Durrani, went down and pacified Sunny and the match continued. We eventually won that Test match and levelled the series.

In the Golden Jubilee Test match against England in Mumbai, you disputed an umpiring decision…

No, there was no dispute. At a crucial stage of the match, the umpire erroneously declared Bob Taylor out. I took his permission to recall Taylor. Before that we all discussed the decision among ourselves and decided to recall the batsman. We lost that Test match. But I don’t have any regrets. I always feel that the game is above everything else. You were known for bailing India out of tight corners. What was it about you that made you click under pressure?

I probably used to concentrate harder in pressure situations. When the chips are down and you perform under pressure, you feel great. I used to love that type of feeling. I felt that I had done my bit for the team.

Your last century was a double ton and you batted for almost 11 hours. Do you think the present generation lacks that type of concentration?

That’s the longest innings of my life. No doubt that was one of my most satisfying knocks. That showed the world that I was not only a stroke-maker but could also stay at the crease as long as I wanted. A perfect batsman has to take this type of challenges on and off. Whenever the team needs him, he has to hold one end up. You are not there to simply hit the ball. You have to defend when needed.

On the 1983 Pakistan tour, you seemed to have lost your touch. What actually happened?

In Pakistan, I had a couple of good scores. One or two decisions went against me. I am not complaining. If you look at my career graph my performance was consistent all through. That was a six-Test series. In 3 or 4 innings I was really batting well and some decisions went against me. So I missed out. I tried to stage a comeback. It didn’t work. But I don’t have any real regrets.

Coming back to the evolution of cricket, do you really like the T20 format?

In this form of cricket if someone really plays good cricketing shots, everyone can enjoy it. I really appreciate good cricketing shots in any form of the game. But there is no scope for genuine strokeplay in the abbreviated version of the game.

Is this shorter format allowing youngsters to learn basic techniques of cricket?

Even in this format you have to concentrate on correct technique and temperament. If a player has good technique, he can play in any format. Be it T20, ODI or Test matches, he can make mark. Only with good technique a player can survive long. Without that he can produce one or two good innings. But at the end he will be exposed.

Some people are now talking about tweaking the format of Tests and ODIs. What’s your view on the issue?

I think Test cricket should be left alone. It’s the most beautiful format of the game – it’s the greatest platform for a cricketer to demonstrate his skills. What will they achieve by introducing three or four-days Tests? People who genuinely love cricket still watch Test matches. In a Test match, played over five days, the pendulum swings from one team to the other and that is the real beauty of the format. It should be preserved come what may. It is the ultimate format of the game and the real test for a cricketer. Why should we tinker with it when there isn't any need? Not quite cricket

The hasty Bangalore police action against two young Kashmiri cricketers has deepened the sporting schism between India and the Valley, reports Haroon Reshi

The treatment meted out in Bangalore to two members of Kashmir’s under-22 CK Nayudu Trophy team could have long-term repercussions on cricket in the Valley. Parvez Rasool and Mehraj-ud-din were detained by the Bangalore police on October 17 on suspicion that they were carrying explosives in their kitbags. They were let off because the securitymen found nothing incriminating on the two boys.

This hasty action has dealt a body blow to the spirits of a host of young Kashmiri cricketers who are seeking to use the game as a means to step out of their isolation and make their presence felt at the national level.

The incident has sparked widespread anger and concern in Kashmir. Many observers here believe that Parvez and Mehraj were targetted only because they are Muslim boys from Kashmir. “I suspect our players were targeted only because of their origin. It’s a conspiracy to create a fear psychosis among our talented cricketers,” Abdul Qayoom, coach of Kashmir’s under-22 team, told TSI over phone from Bangalore.

“The detention of the two innocent boys has stunned all the players in our team. I am now hard-pressed to boost their confidence. I hope this episode does not affect their on-field performance,” the coach said.

Qayoom castigated the mass media for playing a “biased role” in the incident. “As soon as the Bangalore police raided Parvez and Mehraj’s common room, some television channels jumped to the conclusion that a residue of some explosive substance had been recovered from their possession. “It was an obvious example of the media fanning a hate campaign against Kashmir across the country," he added.

Kashmiri youngsters who have taken up cricket as a serious pursuit are understandably feeling slighted. They have described the incident as something that has brought dishonour to the entire sporting fraternity in the state.

Abid Nabi, a leading Kashmiri cricketer, told TSI in Srinagar: “My dream is to play for India but such things are really disappointing. I am still in shock. I think our boys were singled out in Bangalore because they are from Kashmir. We should not take this episode lightly.”

Nabi, who played for the under-19 Indian team before joining the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL), called upon the state government and the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) to lodge a strong protest over the issue so that such things do not recur in future.”

Nabi, now 24, is regarded as one of the fastest bowlers in India. He was trained at the MRF Pace Foundation in Bangalore. He dropped out of India contention when he joined the ICL. But now that the official ban on ICL cricketers has been lifted, Nabi has another opportunity to work his way back.

Another budding cricketer from Kashmir, Waseem, says: “I feel there is a section of the police and the authorities in other states of India who are attempting to prevent Kashmiris from playing at the national level."

JKCA has demanded an apology from the Bangalore police and the Karnataka Cricket Association. Immediately after JKCA received information about the detention of its two players in Bangalore, an emergency meeting was held in Srinagar. JKCA members strongly condemned the incident and a letter was dispatched to BCCI lodging a strong protest. "How can we keep quite over this humiliating episode? The Karnataka police have behaved in an extremely irresponsible manner. We will seek an unconditional apology from them for this unwise act,” JKCA secretary general, Muhammad Saleem Khan, told TSI.

He added: “I personally know the boys of our team; they are all professionals, it is impossible for them to indulge in any unlawful activity as they don’t have time to concentrate on such things. How can one accept the police claim as true? Our players underwent security frisking at four airports before reaching Bangalore. Why did no alarm go off anywhere else?”

Mr Khan is baffled at the national media hype that erupted over the incident. “If they had any information about our boys, the police should have handled the issue discreetly. It seems they were trying to defame Kashmiri cricketers by making an unnecessarily hue and cry,” he said.

He said Union Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah, who is the patron of JKCS, was very quick to react over the detention of Kashmiri players in Bangalore. However Abdullah said that the Bangalore police alone could not be blamed as “they were fed with wrong information by some people from here.”

While asking the Director-General of J&K Police to investigate, Dr Abdullah said that he suspected the “hand of those who could not find a place in the team”.

The Bangalore episode has deeply irritated cricket lovers in Kashmir. As soon as word spread, violent protests and clashes erupted in several areas of Srinagar city. Groups of youth came on to the streets and staged demonstrations against the Bangalore police, demanding the safe return of the Valley players.

Both mainstream and separatist politicians, too, have voiced their annoyance. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has alleged that Kashmiri cricketers were being made “scapegoats.”

"It is not that we are kepping silent on this. We have been on the job since the moment we received the news about the detention of the two boys. The episode has rubbed salt into the wounds of the people in the Valley,” Omar told the media in Srinagar.

The chief Muslim cleric of Kashmir and chairman of a faction of the Hurriyat Conference, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while terming the incident unfortunate said it is regrettable that Kashimi youth are being victimised outside the Valley. “If the dialogue process goes on we will raise this issue and will press New Delhi to stop such things,” Mirwaiz said.

People's Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti told TSI: “It’s an emotional, psychological and physical alienation, and these things rub salt into our wounds. Our cricketers are our stars, if they are not safe in the rest of country, then who else is?”

The unfortunate Bangalore incident could have been avoided with a bit of tact. The ruckus may not have really been about politics alone, but what happened to the two budding Kashmiri cricketers at the Chinnaswamy Stadium certainly wasn’t cricket. It was probably symptomatic of a deep-rooted prejudice against boys from the Valley. It is quite clear that the challenges that Kashmir’s young cricketers face are not confined to the field of play alone. They go well beyond the sporting arena.