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Greg Chappells Suggestions Too Tough To Execute Cricket Australia

Greg Chappell's suggestions too tough to execute: Cricket Australia

Cricket Australia's head of cricket operations and scheduling, Peter Roach has said that the statement made by former Australian skipper Gregg Chappell about the structure of the domestic cricket does not reflect the entire picture about the health of the game in the country.

Although he conceded that there are improvements to be desired and it should be considered for change with a period of time. He added that even English domestic cricket attracts a lot of criticism and hence no system is absolutely perfect to be modelled.

“Like anyone, I enjoy thinking about whether there's a better way to be doing what we're doing. I think we'd be naïve to think our structure today, which is roughly the same as it was 10 years ago … is going to be right forever. Is it right today? There's lots of different opinions,” Roach told cricket.com.au.

“England's system has from time to time been criticised for too many counties and playing too much, but maybe at the moment that system is working more effectively than ours and we need to take a look at that and see if there are things we can learn."

Roach cited the logistical challenges to the plans proposed by Chappell which suggested that Australia A sides should be playing more matches home and abroad. He said that organising more and more A games can’t sustain without a sound domestic structure and hence it can work only as a ‘conjunction with domestic cricket'.

"Everyone sees the merit in a strong and vibrant 'A' series program that works in conjunction with a strong domestic program," he said. "Sometimes a reason for playing a lot of 'A' series is because you don't believe your domestic products are strong enough,” Roach added.

Chapell had also suggested organising the Sheffield Shield a bit early in the calendar so that it finishes well before the start of the Big Bash League. Roach, however, suggested that shifting the dates of the four-day competition will deny players the opportunity to play overseas such as in the Indian Premier League and County Championship.

“We need to balance our own thinking with the opportunities that are created overseas for players. We've got the IPL and we've got the Hundred among others, we've got county cricket, which has forever and a day proved a great learning tool for Australian cricketers,” Roach said.

“So if we started to move our season, it does come with ramifications in terms of what we can allow our players to go and experience, and it also shortens pre-seasons which are times when players can actively engage in improvements to their game, so there are some things to weigh up.”

“At the moment we've got Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Marcus Harris, three of our top batsmen, playing county cricket. If you extend the Shield season, do they still get that opportunity?”

"They're some of the things we just need to work through. It looks good with the blinkers on, but does it actually work with some of the other opportunities?” Roach concluded.

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Have as many bazookas as you can: WV Raman on why Shafali Verma should play longer formats

Former India coach WV Raman believes that Shafali Veram’s hard-hitting abilities naturally push the young opener for a place in both the ODIs and Tests. Verma has been a prolific T20I batter and Ramna feels that demoralising the bowling attack early on, for which the Haryana girl is known, is as important in Tests and ODIs as it is in T20Is. "If a batter goes on to psychologically demoralise the opposition bowlers in the first 45 minutes to one hour, I would take that any day in any format," Raman was quoted as saying to Sports Today. The 52-year-old then explained why the 17-year-old opener is important in Tests too, especially in foreign conditions where the teams are reluctant to bat first. “If you have someone in your side who can go out…some players are like that, they don't care what the conditions are, who they are up against, they would back themselves and they'll go after the bowlers and demoralise them," Raman said. The former India and Tamil Nadu player was further asked if having a finisher in an ODI game was more important than having an explosive opener? To this Raman replied, "If they can find somebody who can do that from 35-50 overs, have them in the side, and have Shafali also in the side, why restrict yourself to either Shafali Verma or somebody at the bottom? Just have as many bazookas as you can and launch them mercilessly." The Indian eves are going to play two Tests in a single year as with the imminent England Test, a Test was announced by Jay Shah the Honorary Secretary of BCCI. The second Test will be a day-night affair and played in Australia at the WACA. It is after a very long long time that an Indian Women's team would be playing two Tests in the same year. Raman in an interview with Sportstar was asked if it is the right time for BCCI to push for more Tests for India Women? The Chennai born replied, “There is no such thing as the right timing or whatever.” “When obviously the girls are doing well and there is a lot of interest being generated, I think perhaps the administration feels that it is the right time to try and engage them in the Test format,” he added. The Indian eves will play their first Test in seven-year when they take on England Women in one-off games in Bristol starting June 16.

Fit again Umesh Yadav eyeing World Cup-like World Test Championship

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We are here to beat them: Isuru Udana issues warning to Bangladesh ahead of ODI series

Sri Lankan left-arm Isuru Udana is optimistic about his team’s chances in the upcoming tour of Bangladesh which will comprise of three ODIs. The young Sri Lankan side will compete against a strong Bangladesh side and with several top-notch players missing out, Sri Lanka will have their task cut out. However, Udana is hopeful of a strong performance especially at a time when the burden of expectations is not there. With so many new faces making the cut, it will be an opportunity for the young blokes to come out all guns blazing and prove a point or two. Experienced campaigners like Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews were shown the exit door and it remains to be seen whether it remains their long term plan. While Sri Lanka will be playing without so many of their first-choice players, Bangladesh on the other hand will be bolstered by the return of all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan. He had opted out of the New Zealand tour as he was on paternity leave before missing the Test series in Sri Lanka to ply his trade in the Indian Premier League. '"To be honest, Bangladesh has a few superstars in their team (and expected to be carrying the load of expectations) while we have a young side and we have nothing to lose," Udana was quoted by the reporters at the BCB Academy premises on Thursday. "We are here to beat them, so we want to give our best to beat those guys, because in their home, they are very dangerous and we know that,'' he further added. It won’t be an easy task for either team to play in the hit and humid conditions in Dhaka. The severe conditions are bound to affect the cricketers in some way or the other but Udana feels that the Sri Lankans are more equipped and better used to the conditions as the heat and humidity is lot more in the island nation. "I don't think heat and humidity will be a concern because in Sri Lanka, it's hotter than this. We're quite used to the bio-bubble life now. Doing forward, we have to stick to those plans, so I think we are ready because we had a five-six day training camp in Colombo. We also had two good sessions here, so I think all the guys are ready,” Udana said. The left-arm pacer who has been in and around the international circuit for a long time now is expected to lead the bowling attack in the absence of several stalwarts of the team. Udana feels that the onus will be on the youngsters to make their presence felt especially in the absence of some premier players. "About the selection, we can't control those things; we are here to give our best, which we have," he said. "In this game, we all have to take responsibility, because, I can be an experienced bowler, but on a particular day, a young guy can do better than me. So I think we all have to stick together and portray our experiences,'' he said. Having played in the Bangladesh Premier League in the past, Udana will look to seek some of his experiences from that venture. "I have played 3-4 years of BPL (Bangladesh Premier League) here, so I have a bit of experience. On that very day, we have to give our best to beat this team, so that's the plan for us,'' Udana said. He has plied his trade in several T20 tournaments across the world. Udana who was part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore outfit in the IPL said that his experience in the cash-rich league will benefit him in the long run. "First I look at the wicket, and when I notice the wicket is slow and old, so I use that (slower delivery) more. I've had that for years now, so I have the feel now of when I can bowl that,'' Udana signed off.

Great to see Jimmy do so well at 38, would love to play for my country for many years: Tim Southee

Taking a leaf out of English great James Anderson’s career book, New Zealand swing master Tim Southee also wants to play for as long as he can for his country. The fast bowler believes that till the time he is performing with the required intensity at the highest level, he is as good as any player and should continue to represent the Blackcaps. “It is great to see guys like Jimmy at 38 being able to bowl as well as he can. It’s a dream to play for your country and I would love to do it for hopefully many more years to come,” Southee said while interacting with the media through a video conference, a clip of which was uploaded by the Blackcaps’ official Twitter handle. The 32-year-old further said that cricketers tend to be bitter these days and gave the example of the English duo of Stuart Broad and Anderson. “Cricketers are now trying to stay fitter and look after themselves better than ever and that’s why a lot of cricketers are able to play for a longer period of time,” Southee said. “These two guys are amazing, I have admired the way they have performed and the longevity of their career. Added to that the amount of wickets they have taken makes their career all the more special,” added the Northern Districts player, who has taken 302 wickets in 77 Tests. Southee is currently with the Kiwi team which is in England for a three-Test assignment that involves a two-match series against the hosts before the all-important Word Test Championship Final against India at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.