India Is One Of The Few Teams Who Have Enough Skilled Quick Bowlers In Reserve To Meet The Challenges Of The Cramped Schedule: Ian Chappell

Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has reckoned that the life of a modern cricketer is becoming harder and harder due to cramped up schedules and the creation of bio-secure bubbles in a pandemic ravaged world.

Writing in his column for ESPNCricinfo, the veteran Aussie cricketer said that while the modern cricketer is substantially better rewarded than cricketers of the previous eras, the rewards have come at a cost of cramped up scheduled due to extra formats and now the bio-bubbles in the post-pandemic world.

“The modern cricketer is substantially better rewarded than players of the previous century. However, like with all such things in life, there is a downside involved. This comes in the form of the numerous adjustments to be made because of the extra formats that are now played and the resultant crowding of the schedule,” Ian Chappell wrote in his column for ESPNcricinfo.

Chappell cited the example of the recent India-Australia series where the Aussie pacers were ground into the dust due to back-to-back-to-back Test matches.

He also added that India is one of the few teams currently that have enough skilled pacers on their bench that allows them to continue being competitive despite injuries as highlighted during the last Australian summer.

“This was highlighted in the last Australia-India series, where the home side used the same fast-bowling trio in all four Tests. As the Australian pace bowlers wore down in the final stages of the series, their Indian counterparts may have caught a break as injuries meant they had to constantly change personnel. India is one of the few teams who have enough skilled quick bowlers in reserve to meet the challenges of the schedule and still remain competitive,” Ian Chappell added.

Talking about the effect Covid-19 has had on players, Ian Chappell wrote:

“The Covid-ravaged world has meant cricketers spend extended

Aperiods in bubbles, which challenges their skills and their mental health. It has also resulted in scheduling that has Test matches crammed together, which is physically and mentally demanding, especially for the fast bowlers.” wrote Ian Chappell.

“Modern fast bowlers do a lot of varied training to prepare for the demands of constant cricket, but still the injuries continue to pile up,” he added.

Ian Chappell further wondered whether the retired cricketers would want to earn rewards that a modern cricketer enjoys or is it now the other way around with current cricketers missing being part of the past era where scheduling wasn’t as cramped up as it is today.

“It would be interesting to discover if retired cricketers envied the rewards paid their modern counterparts or whether current players would swap today’s whirling merry-go-round for the casual approach of the past. I suspect most international cricketers are just happy to have played,” signed off Ian Chappell.

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