While the IPL is being played in SA, cricket fans in the UK should be itching to watch the best players in an exciting format that was pioneered in their country
While the IPL is being played in SA, cricket fans in the UK should be itching to watch the best players in an exciting format that was pioneered in their country
Can you have too much of a good thing?
It's a pertinent question with the second season of Indian Premier League being closely followed by a World T20 tournament.
From the players' perspective they have to accept that if they want to be exceedingly well paid then they have to be prepared to play a lot of cricket. When people ask; "Do you get sick of all the travelling in your job?" My stock reply is; "It's better than working down a coal mine." That has to be the approach of the modern day professional cricketer.
Pride factorIf you're playing for the right reason to win matches and you have pride in your achievements as a cricketer then you won't tire of playing in a meaningful match. What can really bore cricketers is playing in exhibition style matches; then it's easy to become mentally tired very quickly and start thinking of places you'd rather be.
If there are points or a trophy hanging on a match the competitive juices should be constantly flowing.
So anytime you hear a cricketer bemoaning his circumstances and wanting to be rested from an important game then he's either injured or ready for retirement or he wasn't playing for the right reason in the first place.
Those players who are in the right frame of mind will be saying that IPL is the perfect tune up for the World T20 tournament.
It's a bit different for the spectators. They have to make a conscious decision (in trying times) to spend hard-earned money on a luxury item. If the fan is bored by the standard or amount of cricket he's witnessing either at the ground or on television then it's easier to decide not to go to a game.
This shouldn't be the case with the World T20 tournament being held in the UK, when the IPL is being played in South Africa. The UK cricket fans should be itching to watch the best players perform in an exciting format that was pioneered in their country. The officials have to balance the strong demand for T20 with ensuring it has a secure future. In recessionary times, a World tournament being played in an Ashes summer should give the officials a glimpse of what the future demand for T20 is likely to be.u00a0 There's no doubt you can have too much of a good thing.
