What Burn Out?

By the looks of it, Indian vice-captain Virender Sehwag hasnot been allowed to forget the rap on his knuckles that he received before theteam left for the West Indies. A couple of days before the opening one-dayinternational in Kingston, the media reminded him about his statement on therisk of player burn out and the flak that he received.

So was the Board of Control for Cricket in India secretaryNiranjan Shah right in reminding Sehwag that if he had a problem with thescheduling, he should be talking to the BCCI and not airing his views in themedia? Stung by that, the media itself castigated Shah for 'warning' Sehwag. Ibelieve the Board was right in serving Sehwag a timely rebuke.

So are some Indian players risking burn out?

Some cold figures first: In the span of nine months betweenJuly 30 and now, India has played 11 Tests and 34 one-day internationals whichis a maximum of 89 days of international cricket. It is scheduled to play 25days of Tests and one-day internationals in the next few weeks. That makes it 15Tests and 39 one-day internationals amounting to 114 days in a year. It is notas if they have spent seven hours of these days on the field, there would bedays when they have been able to put their feet up and stay indoors.

Of course, like actors get choosy with films, the players canchoose - in conjunction with the team management and the selectors - when theywant rest. They just need to have the confidence in themselves that that theyhave the skill, temperament and form to reclaim their places in the nationalteam. Now, in an age when competition for nearly all slots is hot, that appearsthe biggest challenge.

Just for the record, tennis ace Roger Federer played in 22tournaments (stretching to 26 weeks) last year. That would be close to 100playing days. And a certain Tiger Woods featured in 29 tournaments, translatingto 126 days of competitive golf. The cricketers must really stop making thesepolite noises and get on with the game.

On a larger perspective, it is surprising that the playershave chosen not to present their case in the right forum. The InternationalCricket Council calls for a meeting of the captains every year. I am not sure ifany captain has ever raised this issue there. Cricket Australia, for instance,has pointed out that the players were consulted when the schedule was firmed up.

Yet, I could understand Australia skipper Ricky Pontingmaking a point about having to play five Test matches in South Africa andBangladesh in as many weeks. "One (extra) day doesn't sound a lot, butcoming here (Bangladesh) if we had one more day before the first Test we wouldhave been better off," he said, drawing attention to the fact that therewas not too much gap between matches.

Indeed, it is not as if the players do not have any case atall. So what are they really complaining about? There could be two things thatthey have not been able to articulate well enough. First, they have beenreferring to the scheduling of back to back matches. And then, to the lack ofadequate gap between successive series.

Time was when Test tours were leisurely affairs. A warm-upgame or two would precede every Test match but with the advent of TV and itsfocus on Tests and one-day internationals, cricket Boards did not need muchconvincing that these less intense matches be taken off modern tour schedulesand the costs for TV companies.

This has resulted in the narrowing of gap between successiveTests and one-day internationals, crowding the schedule of stressful games intofewer days than before. It has led to Test matches or one-day internationalsstarting within three days of the previous game ending. And invariably, there isa day's travel thrown in.

Perhaps, the Boards will not miss the wood for the trees andadd that extra day so that players are not weary when they take the field at thestart of a big game. They really need to be able to tell the TV productionhouses that an extra day between games will do them some good too, especiallywith a set of entertainers who look and feel fresh.