Published: Jul 13, 2011, 11:39 AM (IST)
Edited: Aug 21, 2014, 07:51 PM (IST)
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
In the age of the Pollards, Gayles and the Bravos, its scarce to believe that a man like Mitchell Johnson walks in flesh and blood upon the face of the earth. That was convenient tweak of Albert Einstein’s immortal quote to describe Mahatma Gandhi. But the quote is appropriate to highlight Johnson’s decision to put national pride over personal fortune.
Johnson turned down a lucrative contract in the T20 Big Bash League to be held in Australia later this year to concentrate on Test cricket. It is unclear as to when exactly the league would start, but it is expected to be scheduled during the Australian summer. Johnson avoided the T20 league as it would clash with the Test series.
One must remember that Johnson had not signed the Indian Premier League (IPL) contract for the inaugural season as he wanted to concentrate on his international career then. Back in 2008, he was just a season old in the Australian Test team and had just started being a regular in the One-Day line-up. On hindsight, it was a good call as Johnson went from strength to strength in the 2008-09 season. The “ICC Cricketer of the Year Award” in the year 2009 was a just reward for a scintillating all-round performance over the calendar year.
Now an established cricketer in the Australian team, his decision is a good one and should be lauded. Here is a man who wants to give his best to his country and is fully committed to that cause. It’s not easy turning down fat pay cheques. The career span of a cricketer is shortlived and he has to maximize his income during those playing years. To turn down an offer to play in a league where the workload wouldn’t be as much as there is in international cricket and that too for a handsome amount requires a lot of guts.
Having said that, the decision would have been relatively easier for Johnson than it would have been for somebody like a Kieron Pollard, a Dwayne Bravo or a Chris Gayle. This is simply because Australia plays far more international cricket than the West Indies and thus an average Australian player would earn much more than a West Indian. Players like Pollard, Bravo and Gayle need that job security. The West Indies contract doesn’t give them so many benefits.
The freelance cricketers have become villains of sorts as they are criticized for choosing clubs over country. However, it is only human to accept a job with a far better pay. It’s unfair, thus, to brand the freelance cricketers as villains for securing their financial future.
Johnson needs to be appreciated for his decision, as it shows his strength of purpose. At the same time, his example shouldn’t be used to accuse freelance players of lacking in commitment. Club or country should be a personal choice. If the answer is country, praise the man. But if he says club, respect his decision.
(Nishad Pai Vaidya, a 20-year-old law student, is a club and college-level cricketer. His teachers always complain, “He knows the stats and facts of cricket more than the subjects we teach him.”)
