Preparation for a challenging tour like SA

[cowboysfan]

instead of practise games' date=' have ODI series before the Test Series. It works for India.[/quote'] or you can follow my idea and rest all test players and dont play them in the kiwi series,send the seniors to south africa early.

[Sooda]

^ I think cowboysfan means its the ODIs they need resting from as the tests finish a good while (im guessing) before the SA tests begin. So any test players who could be in the ODI squad should not be picked, once the NZ tests end, send them to SA.

[kabira]

Sri Lanka triseries: Meaningless Tourney But.. Why Meaningless scheduling. Its played at same venue. Why two days rest between two games. Its not really needed. Even Asia Cup did not have that many break. IIRC there were back to back games. And then our BCCI has only 4 days between NZL and SA series Bravo

[varun]

Because, this is how decisions are made in India: Paisa, Influence, and a wilful ignorance of what is right. - It's why Indian match scheduling makes no sense ('coz they schedule it to some holiday, or when the stats show that the TRP are highest, or when some babus can travel with their family). - It's why a great idea like the Indian Premier League is sullied with DLF maximums and Karbonn kamaal catches. - It's why Indian TV cuts to ads as soon as the last ball is bowled or a wicket is taken without letting the viewer savour it. In short, these big old traditional organisations in India love to milk every last paisa from the viewers and every last drop of sweat from the players because they can, and are used to doing it. Viewer-satisfaction, common-sense, or even player-burnout are the least of their worries. Apologies for the slightly Off Topic rant.

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[fineleg]

Very well said, Varun. Esp. the part abt not being able to savor the cricket moments because of irritating commercials. Its so jarring.

[Karan114]

Because, this is how decisions are made in India: Paisa, Influence, and a wilful ignorance of what is right. - It's why Indian match scheduling makes no sense ('coz they schedule it to some holiday, or when the stats show that the TRP are highest, or when some babus can travel with their family). - It's why a great idea like the Indian Premier League is sullied with DLF maximums and Karbonn kamaal catches. - It's why Indian TV cuts to ads as soon as the last ball is bowled or a wicket is taken without letting the viewer savour it. In short, these big old traditional organisations in India love to milk every last paisa from the viewers and every last drop of sweat from the players because they can, and are used to doing it. Viewer-satisfaction, common-sense, or even player-burnout are the least of their worries. Apologies for the slightly Off Topic rant.

Good post...these things are immensely frustrating but as you say, the interests of the fans and players are the last thing on the minds of these people.

[Guest Hiten.]

I've stopped carrying about Indian players' concern because these guys don't have an iota of sense or courage to stand up against the illiterate nincompoops in charge. The "chalta hain...dekha jayega" attitude of our players is a causing BCCI to take advantage of it and milk money out of their misery. I'm surprised there is no Indian player's association to deal with the dumb***s in the office and act as intermediary between players and BCCI. Stand against BCCI's itinerary and threaten to go on a strike if meaningful tours are not setup with adequate time to prepare for it as well as some leisure time; and see how BCCI babus will stop thinking about how they can fill their already filled coffers. TV channels can't be blamed because they're being sold the rights at a high price forcing them to hire cheap commentary panel, advertise after second 5 seconds and god knows what not. BCCI is the core of our problems (both advertisement and player's lack of fitness routine), until these guys get their vision right, no amount of moaning and *****ing will help our cause.

[Desi Cartman]

Its retarded to not schedule game on Sunday and instead have it on Monday. I mean who the hell took this decision. even from the TRP pov it doesnt make any sense but then this is how itineraries are prepared in the sub continent. I wont even comment on Kamaal catches , the mobile phone , the car and the bikes. Its ok to give these things away but to use commentators to advertise the products is just awful. As for the commercial breaks, I am sure in a couple of years they will come up with a channel which will show the game ad free but it will be at a premium.

[Sir john]

Its retarded to not schedule game on Sunday and instead have it on Monday. I mean who the hell took this decision. even from the TRP pov it doesnt make any sense but then this is how itineraries are prepared in the sub continent. I wont even comment on Kamaal catches , the mobile phone , the car and the bikes. Its ok to give these things away but to use commentators to advertise the products is just awful. As for the commercial breaks, I am sure in a couple of years they will come up with a channel which will show the game ad free but it will be at a premium.

for NRI only,

[Desi Cartman]

for NRI only' date='[/quote'] Here its mostly ad free anyway unless its Ind Vs Aus even then there are few ads and they are well placed between overs

[Chandan]

Can India rest the entire test squad bound for SA, for the 5 ODIs vs NZ? That way they can send the team earlier and even get a 3 day or 4 day match arranged before the series starts. 3rd test with NZ ends on 24th Nov. First test with SA starts from 16th Dec. So we get 22 days, for travel, rest/acclimatisation and practice match. I don't think it should be that big an issue if all the test players are absent from the ODIs. The only issue is how can a team play a practice match in SA and ODI in India at the same time. I think that issue can be resolved too, by naming the team playing practice match in SA as Board President of India XI. But will BCCI agree?

[zubinpepsi]

BCCI agrees to send players early to South Africa This is fantastic.. glad to see BCCI acting sensible for a change.. --------------------------- BCCI agrees to send players early to South Africa Nagraj Gollapudi October 21, 2010 The BCCI has approved the Indian team management's request to send a group of Test players early to South Africa to get "acclimatised" to the conditions and make up for the absence of practice games before the three-Test series that begins on December 16. It is not yet clear who the concerned players are and how many will be part of the group which is expected to depart immediately after the third Test against New Zealand that ends on October 24. India and New Zealand play a five-match ODI series that concludes on December 10, six days prior to the first Test in Centurion. Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI's chief administrative officer, confirmed the development, stating the request had come from coach Gary Kirsten. "The plan now is to send some of the Test players early. The team management and the coach expressed the desire that there is a need for acclimatisation in South Africa," Shetty said. In his discussions with the board, Kirsten had emphasised the importance of early preparation and had pointed out India's 1-2 series defeat on their last trip to South Africa in 2006-07. Back then, India were ranked No. 4 on the Test ladder. However, this time, India go into the series at No.1, a ranking they've held on to since beating Sri Lanka in December 2009. The board's nod is a small victory for Kirsten, who has been busy putting a structure in place as part of his plans for the future. It is understood that as early as February this year Kirsten asked the BCCI to consider rescheduling the home series against New Zealand. He wanted to cull the three-Test series to two. This would have served the dual purpose of giving rest to the core group of seven to eight players and providing them ample time to recover to get an early feel of South African conditions. But the board's response was not favourable at first. However, immediately after the Sri Lanka series in August this year, Kirsten was informed that a few Test players could leave for South Africa early. Kirsten then sent an email - a copy of which is available with ESPNcricinfo - to his team management. "There is no change to NZ schedule and we will play last ODI on the 10th Dec," the e-mail read. "It has however been agreed to get as many Test players as possible to South Africa early and we will rotate players during ODI series against NZ." For the ongoing ODI series against Australia, at least five first-choice players were rested in order to keep them fresh for the Test series. Shetty mentioned that the same exercise would be repeated in the five-match ODI series against New Zealand. He said his was part of the drill to keep the Indian team in the perfect shape for the World Cup. "The process has started already. Except MS Dhoni, no senior player is there in the present ODI team (for the Australia series). Despite that our team performed really well yesterday. I hope this will work because this is one way the team management is working out a plan towards the World Cup," Shetty said. At the same time, he said, it was an opportunity for youngsters to excel and make a point in the lead-up to the World Cup. Dhoni had recently echoed these sentiments. India play 12 more ODIs before the World Cup, hosted jointly by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, gets underway in February next year, and Dhoni wanted to make sure his first-choice players aren't hampered by fatigue or injury. "In last few series, we have not played with our strongest side and rested most players. Maybe injuries were a bit more concern, we are a bit cautious," said Dhoni. "We don't want our big players to get injured before a tournament especially when it's happening in India. Hopeful everyone will get fit and for World Cup." Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at Cricinfo Feeds: Nagraj Gollapudi

[Sachinism]

They should reduce the ODI series to 3 matches

[SachDan]

Great news :yay::yay:

This is fantastic.. glad to see BCCI acting sensible for a change..

Don't forget it was BCCI that took the initiative to convert Australia's seven-match ODI series in to two Tests and three ODIs :P

[zubinpepsi]

^^ yea i know.. i think this no.1 rank has done lotsa good for us....

[ZodiaC]

BCCI Rocks :yay:

[zubinpepsi]

They should reduce the ODI series to 3 matches

no thts fine.. the backup players get to play some games and make their claim for WC spot.. so its actually good to have 5 games...

[saneindian]

Looks like the BCCI gang has been reading threads on ICF!! Well done. Now lets go there and win the series.

[SachDan]

Looks like the BCCI gang has been reading threads on ICF!! Well done. Now lets go there and win the series.

My thoughts exactly :--D