Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar has raised questions on England’s rotation policy and workload management. England made some surprising changes to their squad after winning the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka.
Jonny Bairstow was left out of the Test squad against India after having a decent series against the Island nation.
Furthermore, Jos Buttler was also sent back home after playing only a solitary Test match. Moreover, Moeen Ali also went back after playing the second Test. Thus, there was no doubt that England didn’t play their best XI in the four-match Test series against India. The ECB has adopted the rotation policy to keep their players fresh and also give them the opportunity to get out of the strict bio-bubble.
However, the Little Master is not much impressed and stated that one has to make sacrifices while playing for the country. Gavaskar gave the example of Indian players, who have been in the bubble since the IPL. Hence, it hasn’t been easy for them but they have stick to their best team despite the injury setbacks.
“This rotation policy or workload management is difficult to understand. I agree it is not easy to be in a bio-bubble, I have also been in one since the beginning of September. But when you play for your country, you should be prepared to face any difficulties for the nation. If you are not ready for that, how will you give your best for the country,” said Gavaskar while talking to Sports Tak.
“Even our team was in the bubble but you saw how they fought in Australia and here also when the situation was tough, six wickets were down for 146, two youngsters in Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar put on such a good partnership, and after that the partnership between Sundar and Axar Patel. When you get a chance to play for your nation, which millions want, and you go home talking about workload, this is what will happen,” added Sunil Gavaskar.
On the other hand, former England talisman all-rounder Ian Botham is also perplexed by the team’s rotation policy as they didn’t play their best team against a potent team like India. However, England skipper Joe Root defended the decision of the English board to rotate the players.
England was not able to put up a fight in the last three Test matches and it could have been a different story altogether had they played their best team. India clinched the four-match series 3-1 after winning the fourth Test by an innings and 25 runs.
The first T20I will take place at the Narendra Mody Stadium on March 12.
