With New Zealand set to play the first of three T20Is on their tour of India, only three days after they played the final of the T20 World Cup, coach Gary Stead called out the “tough and challenging” nature of their schedule.
The Kiwis will kick off their 3 T20Is and 2 Tests trip to India on Wednesday (November 17) in Jaipur with the opening white-ball fixture. That, after having contested the T20 World Cup final against Australia on Sunday (November 14) in Dubai.
The super quick turnaround reflects the gruelling aspect of the modern schedule as the effect of cricket’s elongated suspension last year at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic are being felt now when boards are rescheduling all their fruitful bilateral series and piling on games in an already cramped schedule.
“It’s the first time that I can remember that we’re so quickly into another series immediately at the back-end of the T20 World Cup,”
Stead was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“It’s definitely tough and challenging but it is what is in front of us. We’ve got nine-ten guys in India already, who are preparing for those Test matches, and hopefully we can get up and have a really great performance against India.”
Apart from the physical wear out, mental fatigue borne out by excessive time spent in bio-bubbles is another factor hurting the players and the game right now. Before the T20 World Cup, many of the New Zealand players were involved in the UAE leg of the IPL 2021, including skipper Kane Williamson, who is also managing an elbow issue.
New Zealand had selected alternate squads for the T20 World Cup and the tours to Bangladesh, Pakistan (which was later called off). But bubble fatigue, especially when the turnaround from one series to another is so short, is a big thing.
India’s former T20I skipper Virat Kohli, who is resting from the three T20Is and the first Test versus New Zealand, was one of the prominent names to have pointed this out. Kohli had mentioned that player burnout will have to be avoided in trying to cover up for losses.
Ahead of the T20Is, it is confirmed that skipper Williamson will be resting the three matches in Jaipur, Ranchi (November 19) and Kolkata (November 21) to be fresh for the Test series, starting November 25 in Kolkata, with the second Test scheduled in Mumbai from December 3. In Kane Williamson’s absence, experienced pacer Tim Southee will be captaining the T20I side.
In another news, pacer Lockie Ferguson is “pretty close” to being fit to play the T20Is against India. He was ruled out of the T20 World Cup just prior to the second game against Pakistan in Sharjah due to a calf tear but has resumed bowling in the nets after extensive work with the physio.
