Can’t take 5 days off before Test series, says Gavaskar
New Delhi: 06.08.2018
Critical of the way India prepared for the Test series against England, Sunil Gavaskar says lack of serious practice ahead of the Birmingham game hurt India dearly as batsmen’s poor technique against moving deliveries was thoroughly exposed.
After the ODI series defeat, Indian team was given a five-day break and the players spent time in Europe.
“It was no preparation at all,” Gavaskar said, referring to the three-day warm-up game. “I can understand that you need to switch off after a series but that can’t be five days at a stretch. It can be three plus three day breaks between matches but not five days,” Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar was also critical of Indian team for changing an official first-class game into a glorified practice session in the name of warm-up game with all18 players taking part.
“They should have played at least two three-day games and proper first-class games. Not 18 players but 11 players. They should have prepared in such a manner to give themselves a chance in the Test match,” he said.
“You can have as many match simulations, take throw-downs but in match situations, it is different. While taking throw-downs, you can get out or in nets you can bowl no balls,” said the legend.
Gavaskar also doesn’t like the common notion that Indian team being in England for more than a month was a recipe for success. “They deluded themselves that they are in England for one month. They played white ball cricket where the bat speed is different from red ball cricket. So there was no preparation at all,” he reasoned.
He also feels that Virat Kohli’s method of preparation can’t be emulated by one and all in the Indian team.
"Kohli can take 50 days off and then come back and score a hundred next day. He is an exceptional talent and if he takes time off, no issues. But the team management need to understand that others need practice. Like he wanted to play county cricket and skipped the Afghanistan Test. I don't believe it was a correct decision," he said. PTI
HIS MASTER’S VOICE: Sunil Gavaskar comes down heavily on India’s preparations
New Delhi: 06.08.2018
Critical of the way India prepared for the Test series against England, Sunil Gavaskar says lack of serious practice ahead of the Birmingham game hurt India dearly as batsmen’s poor technique against moving deliveries was thoroughly exposed.
After the ODI series defeat, Indian team was given a five-day break and the players spent time in Europe.
“It was no preparation at all,” Gavaskar said, referring to the three-day warm-up game. “I can understand that you need to switch off after a series but that can’t be five days at a stretch. It can be three plus three day breaks between matches but not five days,” Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar was also critical of Indian team for changing an official first-class game into a glorified practice session in the name of warm-up game with all18 players taking part.
“They should have played at least two three-day games and proper first-class games. Not 18 players but 11 players. They should have prepared in such a manner to give themselves a chance in the Test match,” he said.
“You can have as many match simulations, take throw-downs but in match situations, it is different. While taking throw-downs, you can get out or in nets you can bowl no balls,” said the legend.
Gavaskar also doesn’t like the common notion that Indian team being in England for more than a month was a recipe for success. “They deluded themselves that they are in England for one month. They played white ball cricket where the bat speed is different from red ball cricket. So there was no preparation at all,” he reasoned.
He also feels that Virat Kohli’s method of preparation can’t be emulated by one and all in the Indian team.
"Kohli can take 50 days off and then come back and score a hundred next day. He is an exceptional talent and if he takes time off, no issues. But the team management need to understand that others need practice. Like he wanted to play county cricket and skipped the Afghanistan Test. I don't believe it was a correct decision," he said. PTI
HIS MASTER’S VOICE: Sunil Gavaskar comes down heavily on India’s preparations
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