The rotation policy and views around it

Opinions are like backsides, everybody has one. Whenever there is an introduction of a new element in our everyday life, there is always a resistance to change; that applies to cricket too. After the DRS debate, the next big thing that has caused a divide amongst cricketers of the past and present, is the debatable rotational policy. There was once a time when the only idea in picking a team was putting forth your best players; the best XI in the country. Now, looking at the state of Australian cricket, it seems far from it. From an ardent fan’s perspective, I don’t quite know what the best XI is anymore, based on selections this summer. Australia, over this summer, have played 33 players: Cowan, Warner, Quiney, Ponting, Clarke, M Hussey, Wade, Siddle, Pattinson, Hilfenhaus, Lyon, Hastings, Johnson, Starc, Watson, Hughes, Bird, Finch, Khawaja, Bailey, D Hussey, Maxwell, Haddin, McKay, Doherty, Smith, Richardson, Cutting, Henriques, Marsh, Vogues, Faulkner and Laughlin.

There are some who have come out in support of the policy which is being adopted to manage a player’s workload. There have been players coming out and criticizing the policy, while others have come out backing and defending its consequence.

Here are some of the arguments for and against the policy.

Dennis Lillee – the Australian great – said he thought rotation was necessary even 20 years ago, but now it’s a reality. He added, the rest given to a player is not just a rest, but it is rehab and conditioning, which would include cardio and some good core strength work. The fast bowling great added that the experience he has had working with Australia’s senior bowlers in the past is that sometimes it is not being addressed as well as it could be.

“The reality is that there’s a lot more cricket on. The bowlers need this active rest. There’s very little in the way of a pre-season nowadays. The pre-season was a way of building up all the areas you needed to address, then kept them topped up during the season. If you don’t have a proper pre-season, you’ve got to somehow get some work in and make sure that in all areas your levels aren’t dropping. It’s a double-edged sword really. Just having games off doesn’t help the fitness side of it. We’ve got to look into it a lot more. It’s pretty complex really,” he added.

On the contrary, Shane Warne, the Australian spin legend has lashed out at the officials at Cricket Australia, calling them ‘Muppets’ and the policy, ‘absolute rubbish’. Warne took to Twitter to express his angst. “I think CA really need to look at the people who are making decisions on all facets of cricket in Australia, we are seriously becoming a joke! Absolute rubbish re-selections, rotations, resting & farcical decisions on matches, joke.. dudding (cheating) the public & too many excuses. Wake up CA,” he added.

The legendary Ricky Ponting, on the other hand, backed the policy saying that it’s infeasible to expect the best players to be at their best every game, given the packed calendar that includes the T20 big bucks on offer in the Indian Premier League and the Champions League. He said he totally supported the rotation policy, adding that the people that are making these decisions are making them for the right reasons and for the betterment of the team and the individual players. He also went on to say that he could understand that the public sometimes can be a little bit disappointed that the best players aren’t playing every game, but he really thinks it’s impossible to expect the best players to play every game.

Australian paceman Brett Lee sided with Warne on the matter and questioned the legitimacy of the program. “I believe, and I’m a bit old school, that you’ve got to earn your right to play for Australia,” he said. “You don’t want to breed a culture where you’re looking over your shoulder every time — who’s out this week? Who’s getting rested? Who’s coming in because there are four or five guys waiting to take my spot? On the one hand I think it’s great that everybody’s getting an opportunity. But also, if I’m a paying member of the public, I want to see Australia’s number one side. What is that side? I don’t know, no one knows.”

Is the policy the right way forward? Is it really ticking the boxes the management is looking at? Only time will tell.