England players might go on strike over too much cricket: Cook

[Arcturus]

Link (http://www.hindustantimes.com/England-players-might-go-on-strike-over-too-much-cricket-Cook/Article1-689338.aspx)

Alastair Cook has warned that England's players could go on a strike if the country's Board does not trim the schedule as the team is playing "too much cricket". Cook, who is widely tipped to take over as ODI captain if Andrew Strauss decides to quit the post, said the players are are competing in far too many games and risk burnout.

"I feel sorry for the lads. I've been pretty much the only one who's been able to play and to enjoy the experience of winning because of the schedule," the 28-year-old told The Daily Mail.

"It has to change before it all becomes meaningless. As players we don't have much power. We keep on saying that we play too much cricket. I've been saying this since I was 18 and I'm now 26, but we cram more and more games in.

"We can go on strike, which is not recommended, but at some stage it will have to change," he warned.

England's players were on the road for close to five months before the World Cup and ended up losing some key players such as Stuart Broad and Kevin Pietersen to injury during the mega-event.

[akamaka]

The modern day sport stars have to deal with this. Frankly i dont like this "going on strike business", its your job and if you have to do overtime then do it, you are getting paid. Should find another method of getting their point across.

[Fireworks11]

Cook had it easy, he flew back home after Sydney whilst the others jumped on a bus to Canberra to play a meaningless tour game. A crazy winter schedule for England.

[Liverpool_Faizan]

i said this a long time ago

the english seem to be a bunch of wimps..honestly...too much cricket :facepalm:

id like to see them working at a bank or working in the real life. absolute wimps if this is true.

[PakistanCricketForever!]

This is stupid as they have a big summer ahead first Sri lanka then India

[saajidrox]

That's modern cricket for you. Players will have to deal with this not only physically also mentally .

[Arcturus]

Why not sit out of a tour if you feel its too much cricket? That way the youngsters too will get a chance.

But then if they succeed your place in squad will be in danger. Cook trying to have his cake and eat it too

[Fireworks11]

Rotation policy is so cucial.

[Robert]

Why not sit out of a tour if you feel its too much cricket?

Sure. Botham and Gower sat out the 1987 World Cup (England would probably have won had they been there, instead of Athey and Pringle).

[Blitz]

Woah.

What about the fact that next year, Im going to have to do a 10 hours a day, 300+ days a week accounting job for the rest of my life, for a fraction of thier wages.


Its stuff like this that peeves me off.

Oh no, I have to play the sport I love so much a lot, get tons of money and promotions and adverts, get pretty much cumalatively 4-5 months off, hardly do anything in test matches, get to travel the world, meet all the stars, and get to represent my country and win trophies.

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Wonder what Pakistan players would give to be in a position to say they are playing too much highly paid cricket?

[Atif]

Go on strike for representing your country ? shame on those who are willing to do this.

[KingKhanWC]

If Cook doesn't like playing too much then don't play and let someone else take your spot. Yet again England cricketers moaning like children.

[Gooner_19]

As said by someone earlier,the english players are wimps,when they are not busy complaining about things they are busy getting homesick.

[farazaidi]

Playing too much cricket eh? say that to MS Dhoni. He'll laugh at you :23:

These girls make me sick :blonde

[James]

The difference with the England team is that the English summer runs from April to September, and the winter season of October to March is just as packed for England as all the other sides, so it is rare that England players will get any decent length of time off. Sometimes a few weeks here and there. This current six-week break is like goldust for them I'm sure. Very few other sides face this sort of schedule. Look at the breaks that Australia and South Africa get, for example.

This story was always coming...

[KingKhanWC]

Whippy England have so much bench strength they could easily cover any tired players in all formats. Are English players playing any more than they did 20 years ago? In those days the International cricketers finished a test match and then went to play for their counties. We had KP moaning about missing his family and then others moaning about the long winter tour making them tired in the World Cup and now we have Cook suggesting a strike! In times where many people in the UK don't have jobs this type of suggestion is very silly.

[James]

Are English players playing any more than they did 20 years ago?

They are playing and travelling a lot more these days. Ask anyone who played for England 20 years ago, such as Geoffery Boycott or Ian Botham. There's a reason why Boycott and Botham are always the ones stressing the dangers of a packed schedule and player burn-out - not to make an excuse for England losing, but because they have the personal and historical perspective to prove that the problem is a very real one.

[Robert]

Whippy England have so much bench strength they could easily cover any tired players in all formats.

Not easily. Did you see them going down with injuries in the ODI series after the Ashes? They can't afford to keep 20 guys on the bench all winter.

[Poison]

What a woman. Seriously. Complaining about being paid nearly 10 times the average salary per year while PLAYING CRICKET. Even if they play 15 or so Tests (75 days) and 30 ODI's per year they still get more than half the bloody year off!

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The difference with the England team is that the English summer runs from April to September, and the winter season of October to March is just as packed for England as all the other sides, so it is rare that England players will get any decent length of time off. Sometimes a few weeks here and there. This current six-week break is like goldust for them I'm sure. Very few other sides face this sort of schedule. Look at the breaks that Australia and South Africa get, for example.

This story was always coming...

Which is why I said how much Pakistan cricketers would like to be in the position of turning down opportunities to play cricket. England are getting so much their players don't want to play, Pakistan has to scour international venues just to get a fixture. Sums up the state of this game tbh.

[praveen]

Woah.

What about the fact that next year, Im going to have to do a 10 hours a day, 300+ days a week accounting job for the rest of my life, for a fraction of thier wages.




Yeah, but can you be away from your family for long period of time consistently?

[praveen]

ECB should adopt player rotation policies.

[KingKhanWC]

Yeah, but can you be away from your family for long period of time consistently?

Dude it's not part of the central contract to get married and have children. It's their personal choice in life and as professional cricketers they should take time away into account. If they want they can retire at 35 and then get married.

Travelling is part of the game now and always has been. It's funny to hear top players like KP missing his girlfriend which isn't helping him concentrate on his cricket. This is not how a proffesional cricketer should go about their job. Apart from few days jetlag there is little burnout since they have many ways of looking after the players.

Not easily. Did you see them going down with injuries in the ODI series after the Ashes? They can't afford to keep 20 guys on the bench all winter.

Maybe do with a tough fitness regime before the Ashes(boot camp)?

It could also just be coincedence.

[praveen]

Dude it's not part of the central contract to get married and have children. It's their personal choice in life and as professional cricketers they should take time away into account. If they want they can retire at 35 and then get married.

Travelling is part of the game now and always has been. It's funny to hear top players like KP missing his girlfriend which isn't helping him concentrate on his cricket. This is not how a proffesional cricketer should go about their job. Apart from few days jetlag there is little burnout since they have many ways of looking after the players.




I cannot argue with KP's case. Cook is referring to the trend that ECB is adopting here. Long tours without breaks can affect you mentally, and marriage and family are more important than cricket, so the theory of getting married after thirty five holds no water.

However on the flip side, in earlier days, players used to travel by ship for even longer periods and the comforts and compensations players enjoy today are many folds greater.

This is a very delicate subject and i can speak for both the sides , i plainly cannot come to a conclusion because i cannot feel what the cricketers do. It seems like obvious childish banter to us, but if that was the case, why would the players do it in the first place?

[James]

It seems like obvious childish banter to us, but if that was the case, why would the players do it in the first place?

Careful when questioning the armchair gurus.

[freelance_cricketer]

Is he the next Marcus Trescothik??? :O

Remember that fellow? :facepalm:

[DeadlyVenom]

Is he the next Marcus Trescothik??? :O

Remember that fellow? :facepalm:

It really pisses me off when people criticise Trescothick

[freelance_cricketer]

It really pisses me off when people criticise Trescothick

when did i criticize trescothick? :inti

[DeadlyVenom]

when did i criticize trescothick? :inti

Sorry I probably misjudged the tone of your post bro.

[freelance_cricketer]

Just that it was a shame the way his career ended.

[Robert]

Is he the next Marcus Trescothik??? :O

Remember that fellow? :facepalm:

I remember him mullering SA for 220 to set up a test win.

[freelance_cricketer]

I remember him mullering SA for 220 to set up a test win.

He hit a fantastic double in Pakistan too, was quite a fine , aggresive batsman. He should have gone on :(

[Statsman]

I remember him mullering SA for 220 to set up a test win.

when did i criticize trescothick? :inti

Sorry I probably misjudged the tone of your post bro.

Just that it was a shame the way his career ended.
:ahmed

[freelance_cricketer]

:ahmed

:amir

[Khan6575]

IPL is to blame for this debacle:P

[KingKhanWC]

I cannot argue with KP's case. Cook is referring to the trend that ECB is adopting here. Long tours without breaks can affect you mentally, and marriage and family are more important than cricket, so the theory of getting married after thirty five holds no water.

However on the flip side, in earlier days, players used to travel by ship for even longer periods and the comforts and compensations players enjoy today are many folds greater.

This is a very delicate subject and i can speak for both the sides , i plainly cannot come to a conclusion because i cannot feel what the cricketers do. It seems like obvious childish banter to us, but if that was the case, why would the players do it in the first place?

If marriage and family are more important than you better go find another job because the demands of International cricket aren't going to change any time soon. They are paid well to cope and for some players to suggest a strike is laughable.

Then again England players are known for whinging so I suppose their fans and the ECB will just think everything is normal.

[zoi321]

Blame RAW

[wasi90lk]

england can have a rotation policy, so that players do not get tired of playing.

if a player does not want to play, just let the board know. there is no point of going on strike and create a drama.

[Amjid Javed]

Cook should be speaking to ECB who arrange these tours and schedules.

Plain and simple ECB is interested in as many games as possible to make as much money as possible. Player burn out isnt a concern for them.