The BCCI’s diktat to the players returning from South Africa to play the Ranji Trophy matches, is not only a welcome move but a long overdue one. For far too long have players feigned tiredness to play Ranji Trophy or domestic tournaments but have used those very dates to shoot for a commercial, for their sponsor.
Since sport has a short shelf life, there is nothing wrong with the players trying to earn more to secure their futures but it should not be a priority over playing domestic cricket which propels them to international stardom. Yes of course, if a player is genuinely injured, like Sachin Tendulkar was in the last Test in South Africa, then he should take rest and give the injury time to heal and these injures have to be certified by the team doctor and not by local doctors from whom it is easy to get such a certificate. The team management also must be extremely thoughtful before asking a player to rest. Zaheer Khan who bowled splendidly in the South Africa series was asked to rest by the chairman of the selection committee before the One-Day Internationals with the West Indies begin, and Sreesanth who was the success of the tour does not have any cricket because his state team Kerala has no matches. So, two bowlers who bowled their hearts out, as also the indefatigable Anil Kumble, have been given a break by the team management. This discretion has to be used wisely, and if the state team needs the player to play because it is vital for their chances of winning the Ranji game then that should be looked at too. After all it is Domestic cricket that makes Indian cricketers and not vice versa.
So far, there has been no clash between the Indian team management’s decision and state selectors but it may well happen in the future and the BCCI would do well to prepare for it. The BCCI must also ensure that the diktat to play domestic cricket does not defend on the success or failure of the Test team on a tour overseas.
Invariably if a player has done well on a tour, he is given time off when it makes cricketing sense for him to play on, so that he does not lose the rhythm and the groove he is in. As any good player will tell you that even in a match, if a batsman who is batting well loses strike because his partner is batting most of the deliveries, he cannot always recapture the fluency that was with him earlier. That’s why rotating the strike becomes so crucial, for not only does it keep the scoreboard moving and gives the bowlers a hard time trying to adjust the line and length to different batsmen, it also makes the batsmen feel they are on the move and not bogged down. Most importantly if the team management gives the player a break from the game to rest and recuperate then that’s exactly what he should do and not go running around doing other things because then the purpose of giving him the rest is defeated. If a player is found not resting then what will BCCI do?
The Test players who are playing for their state sides on their return from South Africa will hopefully have noticed how their participation has energized the tournament and brought in more interest and crowds through the gates. They will have also noticed how other players from their own team as well as the opposition are trying that much harder to raise the level of their game.
All this bodes well for Indian cricket and if the players genuinely care about Indian cricket then they must forget fatigue and participate in the domestic game because it gives it a big boost. It’s a rejuvenating feeling to get back in the dressing room with the guys who have helped you to become an international cricketer. By swapping cricketing stories and experiences with the Ranji team colleagues, the Test player makes a huge contribution to the development of younger players not only from his team but also from the opposition who are inspired being on the same 22 yards with him and want to emulate him.
Let the Test player just think back to the time he was a Ranji player with dreams of playing for India and the excitement and energy he felt when in the presence of a Test player. If they can do that, believe me all thoughts of tiredness will vanish. A player doesn’t make a contribution to Indian cricket only by scoring runs and taking wickets in Test matches and One-Day Internationals but also by participating wholeheartedly in the domestic events and adding to the competitive element of these events.
Indian cricket is blessed with the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble to name a few, who are not only great cricketers but also perfect role models. Breathing the same air as these guys do is a great lift for budding cricketers.
The BCCI needs to be complimented for taking the long overdue step and the players too have responded well. But let it not be just because the Indian team lost in South Africa but even when they win. Therein lies the interests of Indian cricket.
