The "R" Word
Just when you thought you’d heard the last of rotation, along comes Punter saying that he doesn’t believe the Aussie cricket team can put their best team on the park every time over the next couple of years.
Sounds like rotation to me!
“I think the players, Cricket Australia and the players’ association need to start prioritising which of the tournaments that we want to have the team as fit and raring to go as best we possibly can,” Ponting said.
Definitely sounds like rotation.
Brad Haddin, who was rested during last week’s two Twenty20 matches against South Africa, said the break has helped after nine Tests in 13 weeks.
“That’s something players are going to have to get used to with the amount of cricket these days, being rotated a little bit,” Haddin said.
“At the time I thought I was right to play, but after having a few days off and coming back for the one-day game in Melbourne, I did feel refreshed.”
Hell, they even using the “R” word themselves and in public!
Those that bag rotation are living in another world.
The criticisms of the All Blacks use of rotation in particular is inanely naive – in the good old days, the AB’s played a handful of tests. Every test mattered.
Now, the All Blacks will play upwards of 15 tests a year, some of which matter, with the big focus being on the World Cup every four years.
That’s not to mention the greater level of expectation on professional players – Super 14 – plus the impact of collisions of bigger, faster and fitter athletes compared to even 20 years ago.
Add to that the lack of mid-week games for the dirt trackers and the increased likelihood that top players will leave because a nice black jersey doesn’t buy a bach in Taupo, there’s a compelling case for at the least a modicum of rotation.
At least now thanks to Ricky and the Aussie cricketers we can now use the R word in public again.
