IPL, other places of ill-repute harming youthful minds, techniques: Roebuck
January 19th, 2011 - 2:25 pm ICT by ANISydney, Jan.19 (ANI): Noted cricket columnist Peter Roebuck has described tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL) as sporting institutions of “ill-repute” that may improve players bank balances, but have the potential of harming youthful minds and their cricket techniques.
Commenting on the Australian World Cup squad, Roebuck said it was an unbalanced, old and unfit one that should be seen as a “slap in the face for aspirants such as Callum Ferguson, Phil Hughes and David Warner.”
“Plain as day, IPL is improving bank balances but harming youthful minds and techniques,” he said in his syndicated Sydney Morning Herald column.
He said that the current squad looks the least imposing, but is a side with strengths and possibilities.
“Even the age of the players can be turned to advantage. For most of the squad this tournament offers the last chance to win a World Cup. After that they will be dispatched to IPL and other places of ill repute. Desperation and experience can be a powerful combination. And World Cups tend to be won by the tried and trusted,” Roebuck adds.
“The selectors’ decision to rely on raw speed is a calculated gamble taken by a panel looking for an edge. It’s risky because it commits the team to playing back-foot cricket in a front-foot country (India). The pitches are unlikely to be favourable,” Roebuck says.
He criticizes the inclusion of two speedsters no longer available for Sheffield Shield cricket — Brett Lee and Shaun Tait.
He also sees the inclusion of Doug Bollinger as another risk and the outcome would depend upon his training schedule over the next few weeks.
The inclusion of off-spinner Nathan Hauritz he says is deserving because of his current form. (ANI)
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- Lee, Hodge named in Oz 30-man 2011 World Cup squad - Dec 17, 2010
- Oz selectors delay replacement for Bollinger seeing Hussey's optimism to return - Mar 01, 2011
- Decision not to include Hussey wouldn't hurt Australia: Ponting - Feb 23, 2011
- Tendulkar yearning to taste final glory in World Cup: Roebuck - Feb 19, 2011
- No room for both Tait and Lee in Oz WC squad - Jan 14, 2011
- Oz young brigade unfit for challenges of big stage cricket: Roebuck - Dec 09, 2010
- Hastings a surprise selection in Australia World Cup squad - Jan 18, 2011
- Hastings in Australia's World Cup squad, Siddle dropped - Jan 18, 2011
- 'Tainted' Butt landing job as TV expert 'mind-boggling disgrace for cricket': Roebuck - Feb 11, 2011
- Tait ready to give England some chin music in Twenty20s - Jan 11, 2011
- Tait defends Oz selectors' decision of one specialist spinner for World Cup - Jan 19, 2011
- Tait retires from ODIs to focus on T20 career - Mar 28, 2011
- 'Struggling' Aussies' World Cup prospects bleak: Roebuck - Mar 21, 2011
- Hauritz doubtful for England series, World Cup - Jan 22, 2011
Tags: bank balances, bollinger, brett lee, callum, country india, david warner, ill repute, peter roebuck, phil hughes, plain as day, raw speed, selectors, shaun tait, sheffield shield, shield cricket, slap in the face, sydney morning herald, world cup squad, world cups, youthful minds