3 much cricket (published)

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England just finished cleaning up the Indian team in the 2nd innings of the 2nd test at Trent Bridge, and to be frank, it figures! Ever since learning about India’s schedule post the World Cup, anyone would think of it as an utter overload.

To begin with, what was most disturbing and spectacularly unfair to the World Cup winning team, the spectators and the citizens was the terribly insufficient time given to celebrate and let the historic win sink in. After all, Team India had regained the World Cup after 28 years, Sachin Tendulkar was the centre of attention throughout the matches that involved India, Yuvraj Singh played the tournament of his life, Dhoni was taken on a giddyingly high pedestal with orchestrating the biggest win and even the theme song was in the local language of the winning team (much like the song in the FIFA World Cup). There was so much to celebrate! Although there was enough intrusive advertising during the games, the sponsors must have definitely felt that they missed out on leveraging the win since the IPL started soon after.

As was expected, the IPL did not attract the kind of eyeballs that it did the year before. There definitely were some nail-biting finishes but nowhere close to what was expected or what the previous years had seen. As luck would have it, the one match I went to witness from the stands turned out to be arguably the most boring (read low scoring) match of the tournament.

The IPL was soon followed by the tour of the West Indies, which involved a T20 game, 5 ODIs and 3 Tests, all within 5 weeks. Most of us would have expected a better result than 3-2 in the ODIs and 1-0 in the Tests but I guess we’d take a win either way. However, scheduling the gruelling 2-month tour of England only 9 days after the conclusion of the Windies tour was downright excessive and inconsiderate.

It is rather amusing how commentators repeatedly mention the importance of having enough practice matches before diving into the real competition but it all falls on deaf ears. England has starkly contrasting match conditions to the sub-continent but having only one 3-day practice game before kick-starting the 4-Test series defied logic and sense, until one thinks about the ‘moolah’ being raked in during the ‘real’ games, through tickets, advertising and merchandise. Alas, money wins again - such disdain towards such a beautiful game would surely pain the purists amongst us!

BCCI definitely has a stronghold on the game of cricket and looking at the fixtures for the year, it clearly wants to maintain or strengthen it even further. However, a hectic schedule is rather unhealthy for Team India and the Gentleman’s Game. Come to think of it, this is probably why there aren’t too many gentlemen left. Players really need enough rest to be able to invigorate themselves and perform to their utmost potential. Not only is that good for the game but also for the team and the millions of admirers.

2 much of anything isn’t good, but this a notch higher – this is ‘3 much cricket!’