The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Congested itineraries root cause of burnout, says Woolmer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 14, 2006

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Congested itineraries root cause of burnout, says Woolmer

London: Joining the controversy over player burnout, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said cramped itineraries were the root cause of the increasing number of injuries and breakdowns to cricketers.

"Modern cricket itineraries are the root cause of players becoming burnt out and consequently several key performers are suffering from serious injuries," the Englishman said.

"Itineraries are congested and it is the players (and the spectators), not the bookkeepers, who suffer. This is a problem that has to be addressed sooner rather than later," he wrote in his syndicated column for The Times.

"In conjunction with back-to-back Test matches, a five-match series of one-day internationals added pressure on to the players."

On the Test series with England which commenced on Thursday, the Pakistan coach said touring in the modern era was a thankless task.

"A three-day match against Leicestershire, a one-day bash in Scotland, a four-day fixture against England `A' at Canterbury and a Twenty20 slog, irrelevant to the longer form of the game, has been the sum total of Pakistan's preparation before the first Test."

Woolmer also criticised some of the facilities on offer to the Pakistan team.

"It is strange that in these modern times and hot weather some hotels in England do not possess air conditioning or fridges," he remarked. — PTI

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