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Australia v India, CB Series, 2nd final, Brisbane
Tired Australia consider more breaks
Peter English in Brisbane
March 5, 2008
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Most of Australia's one-day players also took part in the Tests
© Getty Images
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Australia will consider giving players operating in both the Test and
one-day teams more in-season rest so they can be fresh for the most
important contests. For the second time in two years the home side lost the
CB Series finals after dominating the preliminary rounds and Ricky Ponting
said the not-so-changing face of the squad had contributed to the fatigue
created by a hectic campaign.
Ponting spoke with Tim Nielsen, the coach, and Andrew Hilditch, the chairman
of selectors, over the past week about the issue and subsequent result
trend. "We've only got a changeover of one or two players between the Test
and one-day teams," Ponting said after the second final in Brisbane. "That's
really unusual for us.
"In the past couple of years we've had probably up to five or six changing
over. When you have that it gives a bit more life to the group."
Resting players during the series was a delicate exercise as many of them
had signed for the lucrative Indian Premier League, eliminating the power of
their complaints of overload. Ponting missed the Twenty20 internationals and
Matthew Hayden had a couple of games off, but a core batting group was
employed throughout the series. Adam Gilchrist, who usually has a break
during the tournament, did not take one as he completed his farewell tour,
but the bowlers were rotated and the area was Australia's main strength.
"Not having much changeover now, the guys have been playing international
cricket for a long time and had no opportunity to be able to get away from
the rigours of the game," Ponting said. "Maybe there's some sort of trend
with us. We dominated last year and lost both finals, maybe we have to look
at giving some of our guys who have played both forms a bit more of a rest
so they're fresh when the finals come around."
One problem with this theory is the World Cup and Champions Trophy are the
only one-day tournaments that will culminate in deciders as the life of the
Australian tri-series has expired. However, the team will play two
five-match series against New Zealand and South Africa next summer and the
policy could be moulded to suit the format.
India's influx of young talent provided a considerable boost to their Test
contingent and while they improved with more one-day games, Australia's
performances tailed off. "What they've done gives us something to look at
down the track," Ponting said.
Australia have two holes to fill with the retirements of Gilchrist and Brad
Hogg and there will be a couple of new faces if the team goes to Pakistan at
the end of the month. Brad Haddin, the wicketkeeper-batsman, was part of the
squad for the CB Series and the selectors have a choice to make over who
will fill the vacant spin position.
"With those guys going out, we bring in some newer, fresher guys," Ponting
said. "That's the way we evolve. I'm not sure if age ever brings you back to the pack. Skills are what bring you back to the pack. A lot of our more senior players have still got all
the skills required to be one-day players for Australia."
Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo
© Cricinfo
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