The biggest cricket news this weekend was that Virat Kohli will be joining Surrey for the entire fixture in the month of June.
Many have applauded the decision, including former England captain Naseer Hussein, though a few, including England’s assistant coach, don’t seem too pleased with Kohli getting match practice ahead of the all-important five-match Test series.
In a bid to improve his previous record – his horrible 2014 tour where he averaged 13 with 134 runs across five Tests, comparing poorly to his average of 53 in 50-odd Test matches, is still something talked about.
In 2016-17, when Virat was scoring 100s and 200s against a visiting England side, James Anderson was asked what the difference was between Virat back in 2014 and now. His response was to dismiss talk that Virat’s really improved; rather, he suggested unless he makes a much bigger impact on the same soil, he can’t be called an improved player.
While talking about greatest batsman today Virat’s names obviously comes up, but that’s still argued considering his record in swinging conditions in the UK over that of his contemporary Steve Smith, who scored 215 at Lord’s to go with a couple of hundreds he has at Kia Oval.
Virat has got the chance to better that record, and with a county stint he wants to be taking a step in right direction.
But his decision has sparked off controversy: should he have played in the one-off Test against Afghanistan? Don’t you want your best 11 to play the ultimate format of the game, and isn’t Test cap earned? Won’t that be robbing the Test of the attention it deserved?
(AFP Photo / Saeed Khan)
No Test can be considered ‘just another match’. You always want to be fielding the best side, but the real fact is Afghanistan and Ireland got the right to play Test cricket back in 2017 until the 2019 World Cup was decided.
It was supposed to be an off-season for the team, and teams were scheduled to leave early to get used to condition early, which would have helped them improve their performances from ball one. In today’s cramped schedule a cricketer doesn’t play three or four warm-ups like earlier generations would have; the window to play isn’t there and boards have become smarter by not fielding top cricketers for the warm-ups, denying the opportunity to play some tough matches.
In the previous tour of South Africa in early 2017 one regret India had was not getting an extra ten days which would have ensured players got adequate practice. The result was tight as India came close to beating South Africa at home for the first time, but batting rued their chances.
Considering all this, was that a bad decision? Certainly not. To have an adequate window for overseas tours and getting done with no-brainer series like Sri Lanka tours could have helped, but cricket board have demanded better schedules through to 2019 and later.
Is skipping a Test right? Absolutely not, but the bigger picture is far more important, and as emotional as we get for Test matches, you also need to adapt or perish in these changing times.
Jammed schedules, which include playing for leagues, burnout is an issue that has to be dealt with and hence player rotation is justified in shorter-format games. The longer format should still stay untouched, with only select best playing the ultimate format of the game.
Paul
Roar Guru
I was reading another article and Gideon Haigh suggested Kohli has a huge say in what happens in Indian cricket. it sounds like the rest of the team does too, if 9 other players can decide they're not going to play a Test match. It begs the question, who's running cricket in India? I hope Afghanistan does win. India can say what ever they like but if they're not going to send their best team, they should be ridiculed by the rest of the cricketing world if they lose.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Wow, so now it appears as though up to 9 Indian players will skip Afghanistan's inaugural test match. and none can be sanctioned because the captain was the first to be allowed. It will be big news if Afghanistan win the test (unlikely I know). Of course, India can then say it doesn't matter because they didn't send a full strength side.
Paul
Roar Guru
The "injury" he suffered the last time Australia played Tests in India, didn't seem to affect his mouth. He seemed to have plenty to say while the game was on
SP
Guest
Kohli is terrified of being shown up by the Afghani's. Just as he was by Australia in India and by the English in England. Jimmy and co will rip him a new one on the English pitches. Fully expect kohli to suffer yet another mysterious "injury" mid-way through the English tour.
Paul
Roar Guru
Saurabh, Your logic that this is about the "big picture" is complete rubbish The reason for Kohli missing this Test is purely selfish. You talk about him wanting to play in England to gain experience with the swinging ball, so where is he now - playing IPL for big bucks while Pujara and other Indian players are over getting acclimatised. He then comes to England once he's made lots of money, plays for Surrey and shows complete disdain for Afghanistan by ignoring the scheduled Test. The sad part is, the BCCI has condoned this attitude & approach, which shows they too have zero interest in anything other than Indian cricket. Kohli might be the best batsman in world cricket, but as an ambassador for at least Test cricket, he simply doesn't rate.
Nick
Roar Guru
Saurabh, This is test match cricket. You field your best if they are fit and able. It's always been the way. Tests are the one part of cricket where that has always been respected. Suggesting England as 'the bigger picture' is genuinely condescending towards Afghanistan. Considering India spends considerable amounts of time and effort since its independence as being fiercely anti-colonial in thoughts and practice, it is a staggeringly hypocritical attitude to take to thumb their nose at the little guy. This is EXACTLY the behaviour that India would have railed against in the past, when they were once treated as second class/second tier by England, Australia etc. Afghanistan is fielding a full strength squad, India should have done the same. End of story.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
Giving rest would have been inappropriate that demeaning the opposition.Here skipper has bigger picture in mind.I am sure even if that was Sri Lanka he wouldn't have hesitated to go and play county.Indian board have themselves to blame they kept this Test as a filler for off season when they could had this back in December when India played no reason against SL. Secondly,India is still competitive without Virat.Why is there so much cry for him.India still are playing full strength squad.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
virat will surely have an answer for Jimmy verbal diarrhoea.
Savage
Roar Rookie
Agree Spruce.One thing you cannot argue is that it is disrespectful to the Afghanistan team.. 1)It's one thing to give rest to the player,but it's disrespectful to the opposition if that player is playing some domestic tournament at the same time. 2)Plus,This is not some random test,It is the inaugural Test for the Afghanistan.
Saurebh Gandle
Roar Guru
Better planning would have helped but perhaps next time.But without Kohli too India have enough star power to make series competitive.
jameswm
Guest
Interesting. Jimmy will be telling him he's disloyal for missing a test. Jimmy hates telling us his opinion.
Nick
Roar Guru
Is skipping a Test right? Absolutely not, but the bigger picture is far more important, and as emotional as we get for Test matches, you also need to adapt or perish in these changing times. Sorry, but you've just contradicted your own answer. You've said it's not ok, but then justified why it is ok. It is absolutely not ok. It is completely disrespectful to the opposition, that you'd sooner play a grade lower instead of playing them. It is not a 'friendly' - it is a competitive test match that has ranking implications. There is also the development factor to consider. Teams like Afghanistan will not improve unless they get the chance to face off agains the best. And Kohli is the best. Also, Rashid Khan v Virat Kohli would have been one heck of a face-off. But then, we Australian's should rush to judgement - we are very disrespectful to the minnows. Bangladesh have toured just once in Australia, and only in the winter. I can't see Australia rushing to invite Afghanistan over for a tour, and they'll only ever play them overseas as an appendix to a bigger more important tour elsewhere.