India cricket Discussion and predictions [self-mod]

[JSRAW]

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Mentioned earlier about BCCI doing an excellent job on his workload management. They don't throw him in white ball cricket and he only plays when ICC tournaments is near. It happened for last 2 t-20 and same in ODI.

Having said that, BCCI seriously need to find some seam bowlers for a long run. Can't be dependent on Bumrah's availablity all the time.

I watched a recent cricket podcast that included Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. Michael Vaughan asked them regarding modern workload management, and both of them laughed and criticized those policies, claiming fast bowlers need to bowl continuously to maintain true match rhythm. I have heard these exact sentiments from Kapil Dev, Michael Holding, and Wasim Akram.

I mentioned the above simply because I am not sure whether this workload management is helping Bumrah or any bowler for that matter. The majority of rested bowlers will suffer from stress fractures and side strains because they take too much rest, which creates the opposite effect. Bumrah is the best bowler we have ever produced, and I won't be surprised if he hangs up his boots in the next two years.

That's true and they were correct but at the same time, every generation think that they were tough and new generation is soft

In earlier times, team's yearly schedule used to be light and in those times they had plenty of time for recovery but that's not the case in modern time if you 3 format players and it's not restricted to just bowling your quota of overs but constant travelling throughout the year because nowadays schedule is jam packed, especially for team like India as their tours and matches bring money.

[Bitcoin Smith]

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In earlier times, team's yearly schedule used to be light and in those times they had plenty of time for recovery but that's not the case in modern time if you 3 format players and it's not restricted to just bowling your quota of overs but constant travelling throughout the year because nowadays schedule is jam packed, especially for team like India as their tours and matches bring money.

This is what they fail to consider when they compare eras. Rhythm is important for a seam bowler but they can't bowl 500 overs a year and still maintain full potential throughout the year when the fans are over 1.5 billions are counting on them, the pressure is even higher than ever before. Injuries are popping out which itself a sign that the body can't maintain the workload so as you said they need to find players who can be in line and when time comes they can just step up.

[JSRAW]

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In earlier times, team's yearly schedule used to be light and in those times they had plenty of time for recovery but that's not the case in modern time if you 3 format players and it's not restricted to just bowling your quota of overs but constant travelling throughout the year because nowadays schedule is jam packed, especially for team like India as their tours and matches bring money.

This is what they fail to consider when they compare eras. Rhythm is important for a seam bowler but they can't bowl 500 overs a year and still maintain full potential throughout the year when the fans are over 1.5 billions are counting on them, the pressure is even higher than ever before. Injuries are popping out which itself a sign that the body can't maintain the workload so as you said they need to find players who can be in line and when time comes they can just step up.

Combining all formats, league etc many do bowl around 450-500 overs every year while traveling throughout the year.

For example in 2024-25, Bumrah played 15 tests and bowled like more than 400 overs, highest among all seamers. It's just test, during same period we had wc, not even counting IPL, it's same with fair amount of key bowlers.

[Bitcoin Smith]

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Combining all formats, league etc many do bowl around 450-500 overs every year while traveling throughout the year.

For example in 2024-25, Bumrah played 15 tests and bowled like more than 400 overs, highest among all seamers. It's just test, during same period we had wc, not even counting IPL, it's same with fair amount of key bowlers.

If I am not wrong, DSP bowled the highest number of overs in the international format last year, not sure it is only in test or combining three formats but DSP is a workhorse and equally effective in certain condition but too much tossing around in different formats kind of messed up with the confidence of bowlers and we are shitting in every format except ODI, should find the track back or we might be humilated in oversees playing conditions in the upcoming world cup on both formats.

[JSRAW]

^^ it must be test format and he's our proper workhorse after shami and do all the heavy lifting in absence of Bumrah. He did same in last England's tour and should've been the man of the series. From the both teams he was the only seamer to play all 5 matches. Pitches were absolute road and literally every seamer broke their back except him.

[eaLiTy]

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That's true and they were correct but at the same time, every generation think that they were tough and new generation is soft

Yup, that's true; my parents would say the same. They used to walk miles to school while I had a bicycle .

Then again, players like Kapil Dev, Walsh, and Ambrose never lost a match due to injury and literally played over a hundred Test matches without any major injuries.

In earlier times, team's yearly schedule used to be light and in those times they had plenty of time for recovery but that's not the case in modern time if you 3 format players and it's not restricted to just bowling your quota of overs but constant travelling throughout the year because nowadays schedule is jam packed, especially for team like India as their tours and matches bring money.

The work schedule and multiple formats are jam-packed, but giving too much rest to a bowler or a batsman would literally kill their momentum in my opinion.

[TSen]

I watched a recent cricket podcast that included Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh. Michael Vaughan asked them regarding modern workload management, and both of them laughed and criticized those policies, claiming fast bowlers need to bowl continuously to maintain true match rhythm. I have heard these exact sentiments from Kapil Dev, Michael Holding, and Wasim Akram.

Fast bowlers and every cricketer, for that matter, indeed require rest to perform their best. These legends making the point is also valid that one needs to keep playing to stay in rhythm, but sometimes I feel it's their ego speaking for them. These guys are legends no doubt but they are somehow jealous as well, because they never got the recognition since they played in a different era. So by ridiculing the rest theory, they are basically telling how hard-working they were in their time.

It is true that perhaps too much focus has shifted from abilities to fitness. Sachin was never the fittest, and with all due respect to him, he might fail the now-popularized Yo-Yo test, and in fact most legends would, even in their prime. Cricket isn't UFC where you need 6-pack abs and 16' biceps to play the game. Take Chris Gayle, for example; he's the best T20 batter but perhaps won't pass any of these fitness tests.

Cricket, I feel, is heavily influenced by glamour and because most cricketers get ads and brand endorsements, they have to be good-looking and muscular rather than being suited to the skills required to play the actual game.

[JSRAW]

In earlier times, team's yearly schedule used to be light and in those times they had plenty of time for recovery but that's not the case in modern time if you 3 format players and it's not restricted to just bowling your quota of overs but constant travelling throughout the year because nowadays schedule is jam packed, especially for team like India as their tours and matches bring money.

The work schedule and multiple formats are jam-packed, but giving too much rest to a bowler or a batsman would literally kill their momentum in my opinion.

I randomly checked the 2 timelines of indian cricket and amount of tests cricket they played. Picked this timeline because 2007 had a first t-20 wc

1980-1989 : 82 tests ( minus ODI)

2010-2019 : 104 tests ( minus ODI and T20)

I think this give a decent amount of idea on usual schedule.

https://www.cricinfo.com/records/team/team-match-results-year/india-6/test-matches-1

[eaLiTy]

^^^
Definitely, the playing schedule is much heavier now, and you need to balance which matches you play if you are focusing on every format. There used to be a strict break during the rainy season. Teams would either tour overseas during that period or take a proper break. Now, there is a schedule round the clock.

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These guys are legends no doubt but they are somehow jealous as well, because they never got the recognition since they played in a different era. So by ridiculing the rest theory, they are basically telling how hard-working they were in their time.

All of the legendary players had massive name recognition and immense popularity among cricket fans around the world. In the social media era, it is completely different; older legends might not be as active online simply because they didn't grow up with these platforms. They ones that are active might be doing with social media management teams.

It is true that perhaps too much focus has shifted from abilities to fitness. Sachin was never the fittest, and with all due respect to him, he might fail the now-popularized Yo-Yo test, and in fact most legends would, even in their prime. Cricket isn't UFC where you need 6-pack abs and 16' biceps to play the game. Take Chris Gayle, for example; he's the best T20 batter but perhaps won't pass any of these fitness tests.

In the past, the Australians were built differently. They were the ones who truly took fitness seriously in the 90s, followed closely by South Africa. Sachin Tendulkar took his fitness seriously after his injuries in the late 90s, if not it is impossible to play 24 years of international cricket.

Cricket, I feel, is heavily influenced by glamour and because most cricketers get ads and brand endorsements, they have to be good-looking and muscular rather than being suited to the skills required to play the actual game.

As long as Cricket is the most popular sport in India, so it is natural to see players getting brand endorsements. This massive commercial boom was truly accelerated by Sachin Tendulkar. While players in the 80s and before played mostly for passion and glory, commercials began giving them a real income. Today, the landscape has shifted completely, and nearly every top player is a millionaire.