I know this is about the one millionth article on the rotation policy, but after watching the second ODI in Adelaide I just couldn’t help myself.
Although the Australian squad do have a massive year ahead and seemingly ‘more important’ clashes against both India and England, and although blooding players for the World Cup (in 2015) will be greatly beneficial, surely we should be trying our absolute upmost to win every single match contested?
I know sport science and theories on player management both change and develop the way all sport is played.
However, if we go back 10 to 15 years, I don’t remember Glenn Mcgrath, Shane Warne, Brett Lee or even the injury prone Jason Gillespe taking much of a break.
Nor do I remember Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, the Waugh brothers, Adam Gilchrist or Ian Healy resting up for greater challenges ahead.
All of these players played in both formats of the game.
I also don’t think any of these players would appreciate if a selector or a sport scientist tapped them on the shoulder telling them they need a break because there may be an injury on the horizon.
Brett Lee said yesterday that when he got dropped in 2004 he wasn’t able to get back into the side because Australia used the same set of quick men for 17 consecutive matches.
Furthermore, I can understand the logic of leaving Michael Hussey out of the ODI squad for the summer in order to blood a set of young players for the World Cup.
However, cricket matches are not won on logic and to go back to my point above, every match and every series should be played to win.
After deciding to rest Michael Clarke, David Warner and Matthew Wade for the opening ODIs surely the most logical decision would have been to play one of the best batsman in world cricket, whether he is retiring or not.
It certainly would have helped us win the first couple of matches in the series, putting the side in a good position for match three when the senior players returned.
The Australian side of a decade or so ago were a team of superstars and their class cannot be compared to the side of today. But one of the main reasons they established a long period of dominance was the absolute tenacity they approached each contest.
They were feared by their opposition.
No matter who the opponent was, no mercy was ever shown, no series was ever under-valued and winning series to zero was considered priceless.
Fair enough if you are injured you can’t play, but this rotation policy is not only disrespectful to so called ‘weaker’ sides, but more importantly it tears at the very fabric of Australian sport; to show no mercy and do everything possible to win.
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