Players overworked? Excess of cricket leading to injuries to key players? BCCI says it’s clueless

[saneindian]

A recent TOI artcile on fitness concerns of Team India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Team-India-too-busy-to-be-injured/articleshow/6308807.cms Some of the facts mentioned in the article clearly explain where the problem lies. "In early 2008, just a couple of months before finishing his stint with the Indian cricket team, physio John Gloster had submitted a comprehensive fitness report of the players to the BCCI. The 14-page document contained a detailed assessment of each cricketer, the injuries sustained, healing suggestions and other medical information. The report had come in the backdrop of Gary Kirsten taking over as the new coach of the national team and it also listed a tentative rest period for each cricketer depending on the kind of injury he was struggling with or had come out of. It is shocking to learn that the report never managed to reach the current physio Nitin Patel and trainer Ramji Srinivasan of Team India, which continues to play major international tournaments. The same set of India's leading cricketers have figured in the last World T20 and the Champions Trophy. Shockingly, even the cricketers themselves have no idea where the report disappeared. "Which report?" is how a cricketer put it when asked. " "However, nobody is prepared to check if that right toe of Ishant Sharma, which was bruised and swollen in 2008, and for which the bowler had to take pain-killing injections in the middle of a tournament, is completely healed or whether it could recur again. Nobody, for that matter, is ready to see that Yuvraj's knee is constantly a matter of concern, Sreesanth's muscle tears continue to persist and Sharma is overweight. Gloster's document had it all. " Two articles from CI on that Gloster report 1. www.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/341698.html 2. www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/328493.html

[Chandan]

A recent TOI artcile on fitness concerns of Team India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/top-stories/Team-India-too-busy-to-be-injured/articleshow/6308807.cms Some of the facts mentioned in the article clearly explain where the problem lies. "In early 2008, just a couple of months before finishing his stint with the Indian cricket team, physio John Gloster had submitted a comprehensive fitness report of the players to the BCCI. The 14-page document contained a detailed assessment of each cricketer, the injuries sustained, healing suggestions and other medical information. The report had come in the backdrop of Gary Kirsten taking over as the new coach of the national team and it also listed a tentative rest period for each cricketer depending on the kind of injury he was struggling with or had come out of. It is shocking to learn that the report never managed to reach the current physio Nitin Patel and trainer Ramji Srinivasan of Team India, which continues to play major international tournaments. The same set of India's leading cricketers have figured in the last World T20 and the Champions Trophy. Shockingly, even the cricketers themselves have no idea where the report disappeared. "Which report?" is how a cricketer put it when asked. " "However, nobody is prepared to check if that right toe of Ishant Sharma, which was bruised and swollen in 2008, and for which the bowler had to take pain-killing injections in the middle of a tournament, is completely healed or whether it could recur again. Nobody, for that matter, is ready to see that Yuvraj's knee is constantly a matter of concern, Sreesanth's muscle tears continue to persist and Sharma is overweight. Gloster's document had it all. " Two articles from CI on that Gloster report 1. www.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/341698.html 2. www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/328493.html

I had read that Gloster report and also his slamming of the injury management. It had really affected our team the next year when half the team was injured for T20WC in 2009. It seems we are heading in the same direction come the WC next year. It will be really disappointing if our first choice players are not available. Kumble says that we need to plan for the world cup now but there is a clear disconnect between players, selectors and the board regarding this, where the latter is planning meaningless series after series without any care for the future while the former is hell bent on grinding the core group down because the bench it provides is so random that those players just can't be chosen-- no plan or vision for the future here too. We need to start planning for WC Anil Kumble August 14, 2010 After the excitement of the Test series, the one-dayers have brought the focus on next year's World Cup. It's an important tournament in any player's career, and the fact that it will be played in India means that talk of the tournament may start earlier than usual with the fans and in the media. With that in mind, too much should not be read into India's loss to New Zealand in the opening match of the tri-series in Sri Lanka. It was one of those off days - a combination of the fact that some of the players had come straight from a 3-Test series and others were fresh into the mix without any match practice. With the three formats gaining strength, it will be important for the management to judiciously handle the mix. There has to be a plan in place that helps ensure that players coming in have some way to get match-ready. You're only going to have 3-5 players playing in all forms, and the others will join the team without match practice. The importance of having camps, or getting players to play some sort of practice matches will only increase. It's important to identify 15-20 players who you think will form the core for the World Cup. Once that's done, you have to ensure that this group stays ready and fit so that the team can give its peak performance. Despite careful planning, you might still lose a player through injury. But without it, you could be without as many as 3-4 crucial players and that can really have a telling impact on your chances. While it's important that the group gets all the support it needs, it's also critical that each individual realises what his responsibilities are and be disciplined in preparation. There have to be clear and measurable goals and a careful monitoring of these to follow the progress. Each player should know the role he has to play. Fitness has been an issue with players picking up injuries from the constant cricket that's happening. This situation needs to be managed. ----- But how Anil, how?

[saneindian]

Yuvraj is down with Dengue fever and has been advised a week long rest. So Yuvraj, Ishant, Mithun, DK are all certainly out of tomorrow's match, Nehra is still nursing a back problem. Will we have 11 fit players for tomorrow's match?

[b555]

Team India gets new fitness mantra http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournaments/india-tour-of-sri-lanka/top-stories/Team-India-gets-new-fitness-mantra/articleshow/6312898.cms

[Chandan]

Yuvraj is down with Dengue fever and has been advised a week long rest. So Yuvraj, Ishant, Mithun, DK are all certainly out of tomorrow's match, Nehra is still nursing a back problem. Will we have 11 fit players for tomorrow's match?

What on earth happened to Mithun? And Dengue fever in Lanka? This has to be the hight of misfortune!

[saneindian]

What on earth happened to Mithun? And Dengue fever in Lanka? This has to be the hight of misfortune!

he suffered a heat stroke during the last match and has not yet recovered!! Even Nehra is doubtful for tomorrow's match.

[b555]

he suffered a heat stroke during the last match and has not yet recovered!! Even Nehra is doubtful for tomorrow's match.

i doubt if atleast 11 players will be lef to play the match :((

[Karan114]

Yuvraj is down with Dengue fever and has been advised a week long rest. So Yuvraj, Ishant, Mithun, DK are all certainly out of tomorrow's match, Nehra is still nursing a back problem. Will we have 11 fit players for tomorrow's match?

According to Cricinfo, Ishant and Karthik are likely to play tomorrow. Nehra isn't certain and may be replaced by Munaf Patel. Yuvraj is of course definitely not playing after dengue fever.

[achilles]

Munaf Patel, how lucky is this man ! One good game and its going to help him go a long long way.

[Karan114]

BCCI angry, will change players but not schedule August 16th, 2010 DC Correspondent New Delhi, Aug. 15: An SOS from the Indian team management to rein in an overloaded schedule has finally stirred the Board of Control for Cricket in India into introspection, but the solution it has come up with isn’t what the players would have expected. A top board official admitted there were too many matches leading up to the 2011 World Cup, but added that it could not be modified, due to commercial and contractual obligations. “It will not be possible to change it at this time, rights of these events are already sold. What we can do is give rest to bulk of the players as long as they want, so that they are fresh for the World Cup,†the official told this newspaper on Sunday. “This way, the players can have the rest they say they want, and others who have persistent niggles and long-standing injuries can get themselves ready ahead of next year’s World Cup.†The team management had shot off a letter to board secretary N. Srinivasan just after the side’s 200-run mauling at the hands of New Zealand in Dambulla on Tuesday, saying that similar results would ensue if the number of matches were not curbed. One of the suggestions made by the players was to prune the upcoming three-Test series against the Kiwis in November at home to a two-match affair so that the preparations for the following South African tour can be advanced by a week. The official denied any knowledge of the letter but floated the idea that skipper M.S. Dhoni could be rested until the end of the year, and in the meantime Suresh Raina can be made captain. “It’s an extreme alternative, but it could be tried if selectors feel it is appropriate.†In the run-up to the mega-event, however, India play a total of four Tests and 10 ODIs against tough opposition. As much as the team management is dreading the prospect of injuries to one or more of the stars who will play in the World Cup, the possibility of being an under-prepared unit is even more scary. However, the board is itself split on the issue, and a majority of officials feel the schedule is okay the way it is. According to a source, BCCI president Shashank Manohar has already flown to Mumbai from Nagpur to mediate between the officials, so that a reply can be sent to Team India’s letter. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/bcci-angry-will-change-players-not-schedule-299

[achilles]

^ This is a boon in disguise for India hopefuls. They might be playing for India on a more regular basis, given the policy of resting the key players, that I hope the board adopts.

[saneindian]

I have a feeling Dhoni and Kirsten are going to be made scapegoats by the BCCI very soon. The two of them have been vocal against the board's policies and knowing the thugs at BCCI, they would do their utmost to suppress such dissenting voices.

[achilles]

I have a feeling Dhoni and Kirsten are going to be made scapegoats by the BCCI very soon. The two of them have been vocal against the board's policies and knowing the thugs at BCCI' date=' they would do their utmost to suppress such dissenting voices.[/quote'] I think Dhoni will pull a few strings and divert the blame around. Kirsten might get the boot after the World Cup.

[b555]

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/bcci-angry-will-change-players-not-schedule-299 The official denied any knowledge of the letter but floated the idea that skipper M.S. Dhoni could be rested until the end of the year, and in the meantime Suresh Raina can be made captain. “It’s an extreme alternative, but it could be tried if selectors feel it is appropriate.” :rotfl:

[Lord]

yeah we saw how Raina captained in Zimbabwe:hehe:

[achilles]

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/sports/bcci-angry-will-change-players-not-schedule-299 The official denied any knowledge of the letter but floated the idea that skipper M.S. Dhoni could be rested until the end of the year, and in the meantime Suresh Raina can be made captain. “It’s an extreme alternative, but it could be tried if selectors feel it is appropriate.†:rotfl:

Agreed. Its beyond me as to why Raina is considered for captaincy over a World Cup winning Virat Kohli. We may consider giving Virat the captaincy.

[Feed]

We are not forcing tired cricketers to play: BCCI "If any player is feeling tired or fatigued or if he feels that he would not be able perform due to some illness, then he must inform the selector." More... We are not forcing tired cricketers to play: BCCI Posted: Mon Aug 16 2010 The BCCI on Monday denied receiving any complaint from Indian cricketers about the hectic scheduling and insisted that the Board is not forcing them to play in case of fatigue or injury. "If any player is feeling tired or fatigued or if he feels that he would not be able perform due to some illness, then he must inform the selector," BCCI Media and Finance Committee chairman Rajiv Shukla told reporters outside Parliament. "BCCI's policy is very clear. We will give the players rest. We are not forcing any player to participate in the series," Shukla asserted. Shukla was responding to recent reports that Indian players had sent an SOS to the Board, requesting it to cut down on the matches and do away with meaningless series. He denied the BCCI had received such a letter and rejected reports that the players are unhappy with the scheduling. "We have not received any letter from any player saying they are unhappy. Complaints about the schedule is absolutely wrong. There is no truth in it," he said. "The international calendar is like that. But we are still working it out," he added. There have been media reports in the last week that suggested cricketers were unhappy with the choc-a-bloc international calendar. Murmurs were heard on the necessity for key players to participate in “inconsequantial One-Dayers”, particularly when the Test series in South Africa is around the corner and so is the 2011 World Cup. The players had just two days off between the end of the Test series (August 7) and the start of the One-Day series (August 10). The discontent came to the fore after India's 200-run humiliating defeat in the hands of New Zealand last Tuesday.

[achilles]

Every player will be looking to protect his interests and prolong his stay in the team. Only 4-5 players can "rest" and return at will too.

[kabira]

BCCI is Boool shhhh...ting here. If they want seniors to rest, they could very well organize A tours.

[Chandan]

Wonder what is BCCI trying to do here? How can new players like Iahant or Mithun say that they are overworked and then expect to make a comeback after a rest? We know the incompetence of our selectors amd most importantly we can see how cruelly Irfan Pathan is getting ignored just for saying that he was not fully ready, fitness wise for a zonal tornament last year! Which player has the guts to ask for rest apart from say Sachin Tendulkar and maybe Dhoni, right now? And why do the plasyers need to say that they are tired, on the verge of breaking down, getting injured or already injured? Why can't the selectors see that? Why are the trainer's reports made to disappear?