What shoe you are into?

From the moment ICC published their new FTP (Future Tour Program) this week, too much cricket or lack of it (for some teams) is talk of the cricket fraternity. Contrasting views have been aired by present and past players, administrator and fans (like me). What else could remain to be said?

Not much for sure but nevertheless there are different angles to look at it. They say before judging someone, try to be in their shoe for a day. It’s imperative that what your spin on the issue depends on who you are. If you are a fringe player – a player who usually can only expect a chance to play if a more established one is injured out or conditions of particular match/series suits his style of play – nothing will ever be too much. Ask Stuart McGill. If you are tagged as a just one day player or test player, you are not complaining either. Ask VVS Laxman. If you are a leading cricketer of your national team and play both (soon to be ‘all three’) forms of the game yes you are concerned how much your body can take. If you are a national coach you haven’t heard complaining for too much cricket. If you are administrator you wonder what this fuss is all about. And if you are indeed a fan you complain when your favorite players are out due to injury or boring matches are being played against weaker teams but you are ready to watch 20 test matches in a year if they are promised to replicate Ashes 2005 magic.

ICC has called cricket as player’s chosen profession and some fans said if they can work all year on their jobs why can’t cricketers? Fair enough. Question is, are all jobs equally demanding on mind and body? People go on sabbatical when really tired from years of work and they of course switch jobs to refresh themselves. International cricketers can quite the game but can’t switch to a different employer if they want to play at highest level. Unlike in real world cricket playing jobs are always for just 11 or 12 at any given day. This hasn’t changed in last two centuries. Coming back after out of job is so much harder. Don’t we common men too come to work despite a mild sickness to ensure job security? In international sport job security is not easily earned since employment opportunities are limited. The bottom line is if you are absent a replacement has to be there, work can’t wait for you, never.

When a player is coming back from injury or after being dropped due to poor form too much cricket is not an issue. May be its nature’s way of balancing things that when you play beyond a human body can allow, an injury force a break and much needed rest. Central contracts have contributed in a big way in providing much needed job security. Higher match fee and other perks have made it rewarding to be an international cricketer. Just like Human Resource departments in corporate world, team staffs are now equipped with excellent support to help cricketers being match fit (both physically and mentally) as much as possible.

One more major issue needs to be touched upon here, living away from family for long period of times. Yes it is tough but some players have gone overboard with it. It’s not just cricketers but people from all walks of life go through it. Soldiers serving their nations on borders or being abroad on UN missions in hostile conditions actually deserve far better support. Cricketers are often allowed to keep their wives and girlfriends on tour with them. Even in civilian world living away from family is not so uncommon. All the kidnapping and killings of foreigners in Afghanistan and Iraq can point to how many of us live away from family for assignments much like a cricket tour. My housemate has not seen his wife and son for over a year now working in another part of the world. Cricketers do get to visit home every couple of months at least.

Each and every job or lack of it brings challenges with it. It’s almost a human nature to never be happy about what you have got. To gain something you got to loose something. There is no easy solution. I sincerely feel the onus is on cricketers. Even in the past demand on the body was significant for a leading cricketer. Kapil Dev played 18 tests (besides 18 one-dayers) in calendar year 1983 and keep in mind his burden was no less than of today’s Freddie Flintoff. Not to mention there wasn’t even a coach in that era with the team. Rotation is only answer today whether forced (by injury) or planned (team policy or player requested rest). World is not perfect and it will never be. Enough said, now let’s get on with the game if you are fit and not feeling homesick, else see you in next series.

So now what shoe you are into?