Bob Woolmer
>From the Pavilion
The changing of the guard is a daily ritual outside Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately, although I suppose inevitably, it also have to happen to the national cricket side. It is an unsettling feeling; the side has performed brilliantly and have become loved by the whole of South Africa.
The announcement of Allan Donald’s sabbatical (although he has changed his mind on the India tour and will be available for Tests), and Darryl Cullinan retiring from the one-day version of the game, coupled with Jonty Rhodes not being available for India (his wife, Kate, is expecting their first child), have combined to give that horrible feeling that “fings a’int what they used to be”.
Change is, of course, inevitable, and we will all be sad to see the players we love move on. What is disturbing, though, is that they are moving on so young. Cricket is a game that can be played, fitness permitting, until 40 – perhaps not the one- day game in the modern era, but certainly the longer game.
Donald’s unavailability for South Africa during the English season has automatically ruled him out of contention for the triangular tournament against Zimbabwe and England, which starts today. Although he desperately wanted to play and, in some way, atone for his last one-day game – the World Cup semi-final against Australia – even that is denied him.
The selectors have to identify the team for the 2003 World Cup to be held in South Africa.
Anyone over 31 will probably struggle to make it. By that criterion, there will be no Gary Kirsten, no Donald, no Steve Elworthy and no Alan Dawson.
There are plenty of fine young players itching to play for South Africa and the opportunities for these players will be many. In fact, it took Mark Boucher just 18 months to play as many Tests as I did (19) in five years. Allan Donald has played, in seven years, as many Tests and bowled as many overs as Fred Trueman did in 13 years.
This is the pressure that players are under. The game is physically demanding, mentally draining and – if you are married – emotionally charged and potentially dangerous.
In a recent 365 day period, the South African team spent only 44 days at home. This is a ridiculous number for any relationship and can cause problems.
This is the main reason that players today will retire earlier than perhaps they should. Incessant tours, ad hoc one-day tournaments and murderous schedules take their toll. On the bus, off the bus, on the plane, off the plane, on the bus, off the bus, book in to the hotel. Get into the same faceless room, half unpack, get ready for practice, and use the same restaurant. Ring the wife, listen to the problems at home: the thatch blew off, the pool pump broke down, or the flat got burgled, the car got hijacked, your friend got shot (these are pressures unique to a South African cricket team).
There are many who think the life of a cricketer is glamorous and wonderful, and certainly I would not have changed it for the world. But eventually it gets to you, eventually it is not glamorous; the only thing that turns you on is the cricket.
Selection for a Test match is never guaranteed – two bad performances and the name becomes mud, the whole world is against you, the fear of failure kicks in. The questions start: why am I doing this? It cannot be for the money – it must not be for the money. When the love for the game turns bland, then the game becomes a job. So the player looks for the alternative, which usually means stop travelling and play at home only. But the selectors can’t let that happen, as the team needs to be together. Ask the coach; team spirit is half the battle won.
I believe the time has come for a two-year international league table. The nine international teams would play each other twice- once at home and once away – and then every third year teams would play a series against each other – a full five- Test series as in the Ashes, or a two- or three-Test series.
The format would be, hopefully, logistically easy to work out. While for two seasons you wouldn’t have tours, you would have, say, six different teams playing at home with a triangular one-day tournament or even three one-day internationals as part of the tour.
When travelling abroad you would only be in the country for a short acclimatisation period and one Test plus, perhaps, a one- day game or triangular tournament. This would mean less time away from home, and the only long period away would be the five-Test tours, when some arrangements could be made for spouses to be with their husbands for two periods as opposed to the regulatory one in the middle of the tour. This, at least, would hopefully prevent emotional problems on tour.
Along with looking after our cricketing heroes, cricket needs a new impetus – covered grounds as in Melbourne to prevent the disappointments at Centurion and an international league table. Then there will always be plenty of people watching outside Buckingham Palace.