Blunt Comment by Sunil Gavaskar on ‘Modern Practice’ of Fast Bowlers
The legendary batsman of Indian cricket team Sunil Gavaskar has criticized the'modern practice’ of bowlers taking refreshments while fielding near the boundary in addition to the already scheduled drinks breaks during the match. In his column, Gavaskar said that it gives the bowlers an unfair advantage, while a similar luxury is not enjoyed by the batters. He also blamed the authorities of modern cricket for ‘turning a blind eye’ to the occurrences and making them quite common in the sport nowadays.
Gavaskar wrote, “In cricket, the modern practice of bowlers, especially the quick ones, getting a refreshing drink on the boundary line where they go to field after completing their over is an example of the authorities turning a blind eye to the practice.”
He further wrote, “Why have the drinks interval then if bowlers are going to get themselves hydrated after going flat out for six deliveries? Mind you, the batter doesn’t get the chance to have a drink after an over where they may have taken eight runs or so, which are all runs.”
Gavaskar added, “Cricket is also a game where stamina and endurance matter no matter what the format is, so frankly, it should go back to the days when drinks were taken only after every hour of play and before that only with the permission of the opposition captain and umpires.”