July 11, 2024

There’s no common sense in cricket’ – Mitchell Starc Slams’ Hectic’ T20 World Cup Schedule

Mitchell Starc has voiced his displeasure with scheduling the 2024 T20 World Cup, particularly criticizing the Super Eight phase as “hectic” and logistically challenging. His concerns were magnified after Australia’s disappointing exit from the tournament, where they faced defeats from Afghanistan and India. Starc’s frustrations mainly stem from Australia having to play three critical matches across different Caribbean islands, all within just four days. This starkly contrasted to the group stage, spread over two weeks, giving teams more time to rest and recover.

The Challenges of the Super Eight Schedule

Starc’s comments came during an appearance on the Willow Talk podcast hosted by Brad Haddin and Adam Peacock. He detailed how the tight turnaround between matches made it difficult for players to perform at their best. Physical and mental recovery is crucial in tournaments of this scale, especially for fast bowlers like Starc, who require more time to recuperate between games.

He pointed out that traveling between islands further compounded the challenges. Unlike the group stage, where matches were played with more recovery time, the Super Eight phase demanded back-to-back high-stakes games. Moving from one island to another in the Caribbean, with different climates and conditions, added a layer of complexity that impacted team preparation and performance.

A Tough Exit for Australia

Australia’s elimination came as a shock to many, given their strong form leading into the tournament. However, the pressure of playing three matches quickly across different locations proved too much. The defeat to Afghanistan was shocking, as Australia entered the game as heavy favorites. However, Afghanistan capitalized on the opportunity and produced a clinical performance, handing Australia a setback they struggled to recover from.

The loss against India, a powerhouse in T20 cricket, was the final blow that ended Australia’s campaign. Starc highlighted how the scheduling didn’t give teams enough time to adjust between matches, mainly against high-quality opposition.

The Impact on Players

The hectic schedule is incredibly taxing for fast bowlers like Starc. Bowling at high speeds for extended periods takes a toll on the body, and the short turnaround between games limits the time available for recovery. In the Super Eight stage, this lack of recovery time was evident, with several Australian players appearing tired and unable to perform at their usual levels.

In his conversation with Haddin and Peacock, Starc emphasized how this schedule affects mental preparation. When players are constantly on the move and have little downtime, it becomes harder to focus and regroup after a loss. The Super Eights’ fast pace meant there was little time to review mistakes from one game before preparing for the next.

A Call for Better Planning

Starc’s remarks reflect a broader issue that many cricketers and experts have raised about the scheduling of global tournaments. While the group stage allows for a more balanced workload, the Super Eight phase can feel rushed, particularly when teams travel between matches.

The Australian fast bowler’s frustrations mirror those of other players who have expressed concerns about the logistics of major tournaments. As the sport proliferates and more international fixtures are added to the calendar, player welfare becomes a significant talking point.

Looking Ahead to Future Tournaments

Starc’s comments likely spark conversations among cricket’s governing bodies about the need for more balanced scheduling. As global tournaments become more frequent, the balance between entertainment and player well-being will become increasingly important.

The 2024 T20 World Cup will become a missed opportunity for Australia. While scheduling was a central talking point, there will be lessons to learn about preparation and performance in high-pressure situations. In the future, teams and organizers must balance making the tournament exciting for fans and ensuring that players are given the best chance to perform at their peak.

“It was a pretty hectic schedule”

“It’s not the reason [Australia were eliminated] but it didn’t help,” said Starc. “It was a pretty hectic schedule for everybody in the Super Eights, I think that was probably a misread, the fact that the front half of the tournament was more spread out and then you get to the Super Eights.

“Travelling around the West Indies is not the easiest thing to do, certainly not to travel home from, door to door that was about 48 hours, for us we played three different games in three different islands which means a flight. We had the two night games and then the third was a day game so it wasn’t the best preparation you could say.

“We had a delayed flight out of St Vincents and then it was a 90 minute drive from the airport to the hotel in St Lucia and I think our bags got in late that night and we had a 10am toss. So it was a quick turnaround. I think the back-end could have been spread out a little bit for everyone, because everyone was in the same boat in terms of play, travel, play.”

Starc also criticized the pre-seeding system used for the tournament, highlighting its flaws. He explained that a team’s position in the group stage had no bearing on which Super Eight group they would be placed in. For instance, despite Australia finishing ahead of England in their group, they were still placed in Group One of the Super Eights alongside India, due to being classified as the second seed from their initial group. This, according to Starc, undermined the significance of group stage performance and created an imbalance in the tournament structure.

“There’s no common sense in cricket”

“I didn’t like the pre-seeding,” said Starc. “I think that was poorly done. I had no idea about it going into the tournament, I think maybe half our team did and half didn’t. That could change things in the Super Eights with where you sit, we finished ahead of England and we ended up where we were pre-seeded on the second side. I’m not saying that’s going to change anything but all of a sudden you’re in a different group.

“And again the argument was because it was so hard to get around the West Indies, so for fans to know where your team was playing. So then why don’t you have the chock-a-block tournament at the front end and have it spread out at the back-end if you’re so worried about people coming out or flights or whatever, you have the extra couple of days. There’s no common sense in cricket let’s be honest.”

Starc picked up five wickets in the tournament across five matches, with an average of 30.80. However, he was notably left out of Australia’s crucial game against Afghanistan, as the team opted for Ashton Agar instead. When he returned for the match against India, Starc struggled, conceding 45 runs from his four overs, which proved to be a costly performance in Australia’s defeat.

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