While Hales has a wealth of experience in the Big Bash League (BBL), having played for the Melbourne Renegades, Adelaide Strikers, Hobart Hurricanes, and Sydney Thunders, Buttler has also played in the BBL since 2013, having done so for the Melbourne Renegades and the Sydney Thunder. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming believes that India, in preparation for the next Twenty20 World Cup, should think about participating in leagues outside of their country, particularly the Caribbean Premier League.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) does not permit its players to compete in leagues outside of India. This fact was brought to light in the T20 World Cup semi-final when English openers Jos Buttler and Alex Hales scripted a 10-wicket win with four overs to spare, while chasing a victory target of 169. The Indian team was eliminated from the tournament.
While giving a post-mortem on India’s yet another loss at the World Cup, Fleming told ESPNcricinfo, “It may be something to contemplate when you listen to the pundits talk about Hales and his experience at the stadium (Adelaide Oval).”
It would appear that a number of these athletes who compete in tournaments all over the world are gaining very valuable experience by participating in home competitions, which they are subsequently able to draw upon and feel a great deal more at ease.
The Indian hitters’ cautious approach during the Powerplay when they were battling to acclimate to the conditions in Australia came to the forefront as they managed to score 38-1 in the first six overs of the game. India’s score of 168 for 6 was only possible because of the cameo performance of Hardik Pandya, who hit four fours in his three at-bats.
After that, Hales (86 not out) and Buttler (80 not out) demolished the Indian assault, which made a farce of the 169-run chase that was being attempted.
While Hales has a wealth of experience in the Big Bash League (BBL), having played for the Melbourne Renegades, Adelaide Strikers, Hobart Hurricanes, and Sydney Thunders, Buttler has also played in the BBL since 2013, having done so for the Melbourne Renegades and the Sydney Thunder.
Fleming suggested that the Indians should think about playing in the West Indies because the Twenty20 World Cup would be held there in two years, and it would not be a bad idea for the Indians to do so.
“You look at the CPL, which becomes more relevant with the next World Cup being there in the Caribbean, and you try to determine how many players you can get into that competition in order to have a sense of the conditions.” It is a benefit to have this.
“Young players may be more effective than the veterans who have been in the game for a bit longer in time,” Bairstow is a wonderful illustration of this. They have the potential to keep getting better as long as you continue to take what you learn from these surroundings and apply it.
“In many places of the world, activities are carried out in a manner that is distinct from one another. Therefore, if you continue to run, it is the same as upgrading your phone. When you plug it in and obtain an update, you will receive a brand new tool at each subsequent time. Even the head coach of the Indian team, Rahul Dravid, said that the English pair’s previous experience in the Big Bash League gave them a “advantage.”
“And these folks are basically running around adding new tools to the bag of tricks that they already have. They eventually reach their full potential, at which point they naturally settle into a certain playing style.
“Playing with a different set of individuals outside of the people you know and typically play with, it can also be a nice challenge and good for the maturity and pressure-wise, responding to it, and once again just adding something to your game,” says one player.
Tom Moody, a former Australian cricketer who is now a coach, remarked that in order for the top order of the Indian team to be more dynamic, they need more players who are similar to Suryakumar Yadav.
“I believe the top order should have a greater emphasis on dynamics. Therefore, I would be looking at players who suit the criteria described above. Consequently, it is necessary to determine which players are responsible for the reckless style of play that we observe, such as Suryakumar Yadav.
However, he is in the middle of the hierarchy. “Who is the version of him that I can have at the top of the order?” he said. “Who is the version of him that I can have?”
According to a former coach of the Sri Lankan national team, “Ideally, in my top three, I’d like two of them and then I have my anchor guy that plays around circumstances, situations, a lot of early wickets, whatever it is, just to bring the ship back on the proper track if things go wrong.”