Published: Aug 28, 2013, 07:36 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 28, 2013, 07:36 PM (IST)
Greg Chappell has noticed that the international players are playing less domestic cricket as they once used to and in the busy schedule they are unlikely to reverse the current trend © Getty Images
Aug 28, 2013
Former Australian captain Greg Chappell is worried about the next generation of cricketers isn’t tested enough at the domestic level. He reckoned that is the reason why Australia are in a position where they are today struggling to win Test matches.
Chappell has noticed that the international players are playing less domestic cricket as they once used to and in the busy schedule they are unlikely to reverse the current trend, reported The Telegraph.
According to Chappell The Futures League and the Australia A program have been proactive steps by Cricket Australia.
The Australian Under-19 team toured New Zealand and India while Australia A toured England and South Africa. Chappell said that this will give the next generation of players a chance to prepare for higher level of competition.
Former First-Class cricketers Theo Doropolous and Dirk Nannes said that Australia is facing the current problem due to the number of restrictions put by Australia on the ages of the players.
Chappell is agreeable to a certain extent with the duo, he said that he believed that experience is overrated, as a lot of players who have been around for any length of time and are still not progressing in their own game may not be the right players at all.
Australia were concerned with the ageing batting line-up back in 2008, hence a restriction was placed on the number of over-23 players playing in what was then called the Futures League. Only three players out of 12 were allowed to be over 23.
“This season there are 17 batsmen under the age of 23 on States contracts,” said Chappell.
“We only have six States, so it is imperative that we have more than nine batsmen under 23 at any given time or the pain we are currently experiencing will be nothing compared with what we might expect in the future,” said Chappell.
