Sports - Injuries! Bench strength and more in cricket

Two test matches are in progress right now, England playing Pakistan in England and Sri Lanka hosting South Africa. Three of these teams are fielding teams well below their best. Cricket is a sport which finds it tough to replace their top class players at any level. A long standing opening batsman or opening bowler or a genuine allrounder whose work load cannot be shared by the rest of the team is hard to replace. A specialist is of such value to the team that a replacement is almost impossible.

These days a common phase is “bench strength” and how formidable a team’s bench strength is, is often assessed. To have a sufficient number of players in the wings to take over the specialist positions require a very strong domestic tournament and regular, quality ‘A’ team games to be played at home and around the globe is essential. Who has got that equation right? The answer is simple. It’s the Australians.

Getting back to the games in progress, England are really hard hit with Michael Vaughan, Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones, Ashley Giles, James Anderson and now Liam Plunkett sidelined through injury. The core of the team that conquered the Ashes aren’t in the team. Their opponents Pakistan are no better off with Shoaib Akthar, Mohamed Asif, Younis Khan, not able to make the team, again because of injury. There is a test match being played alright, but both teams are not anywhere near full strength.

It’s the same story with South Africa. They are doing battle without their captain Graeme Smith, allrounders Jacques Kallis and Shaun Pollock. In terms of test match strength that is about 40 percent of their team. Pollock returns for the next test. His absence is due to his wife giving birth to their second baby and his presence by her side taking precedence over a game of cricket, and rightly so.

The other reason for unavailability – family matters. Australian pace ace Glen McGrath has been on long leave, being by the side of his wife who is being treated for cancer. It is a traumatic times for any human being and more so when it happens to be a young family. Very recently McGrath now thirty six years of age had decided to prove his fitness to the coach and selectors. Although many of the quick brigade would have hung up their boots on reaching the mid-thirties age, McGrath was part of both one day and test teams at the time he took this break.

Australia have missed him. No bowler has been able to fit into his slot, although Australia has a regular supply of quick bowlers coming through the channels. It underlines the value of the established player and the difficulty of replacing him.

A few days ago England’s new find Kevin Pieterson was heard saying on radio that other players have got the opportunity to put their hands up and make use of the opportunity. Eighteen months ago Pieterson was on the outside trying to make his mark. In such a short space of time he has become the team spokesman! Similarly Andrew Strauss who only two years ago walked into the England dressing room now leads the team! All this is because of injuries.

Most teams, particularly captains and coaches find some kind of solace by believing that players chosen as replacements will come good. That is what they hope for and that comforts them and is a sort of self assurance. Such was the case when the West Indies toured Sri Lanka last August. It was almost their ‘A’ team. The issue was different. It revolved around their contracts. Today, barring the wicket keeper Dinesh Ramdin no one else made the mark, from that touring party.

Twenty, thirty years ago or even earlier, when a test match was played, it was the best representation from the two countries. Surely, it was cricket at its best. Go through the team cards and all the favorites were in there. A player missed out due to poor form or another being in better form. Today, the game has progressed and progressed. There is every type of knowledge and technology being adopted to ensure the game moves with the times. Financially the game is becoming more and more prosperous.

Yet three of the four teams representing their country is at under strength. Severely short of their best. Still no remedy, perhaps not thought about. It is a matter that must be addressed.