Harsh on Jasprit Bumrah for saying he picks and chooses matches: Shane Bond

Shane Bond, Jasprit Bumrah With a busy international calendar forcing teams to constantly juggle workload and preparation, both India and New Zealand have taken steps to keep their key bowlers fresh for the upcoming Test series that will conclude the 40-plus-day tour. Several leading players have been dropped from the last two ODIs to focus on red-ball cricket, while India opted not to include Jasprit Bumrah in the ODI squad, allowing him to focus solely on Tests.In an interview with TOI, former New Zealand big pacer Shane Bond discussed the challenges of player management, the value of ODI cricket as Test preparation and the recurring debate over Bumrah’s availability.excerpts:

How challenging is it to navigate tight schedules, player availability and preparation?

It’s a challenge. Looking back at my playing days, the best players in the country usually played two formats, sometimes all three. The timetable has never been as crowded as it is now. If you were in the New Zealand team, you were one of the top 11, 12 or 13 cricketers in the country. Today you often see two Indian teams playing at the same time. Also New Zealand can field very different teams around the world depending on the schedule.

Both teams have split squads for the ODI series. Is this the right approach when turnaround times are short?

It is simply a part of modern cricket. Personally, I’ve always enjoyed playing One-day cricket before a Test series because as a bowler you spend three-and-a-half hours on your feet and bowl 10 overs at high intensity. I felt this was ideal preparation as the two hour test suddenly seemed relatively short. The only challenge was managing these extra surpluses.

Does match time exceed pure training as preparation?

Absolutely. Nothing beats time on your feet in a match. You can do all the training and drills you want, but it doesn’t compare to standing in the field, running from fine leg to mid-off and maintaining that intensity for six hours.Players need this kind of preparation, not just bowling in the nets.

Does it make sense for Jasprit Bumrah to skip ODIs ahead of Test series?

There is often a perception that players simply pick and choose what they want to play. I think it’s not quite like that. Experienced bowlers understand their bodies very well. They constantly discuss their workload with the medical staff and trainers and assess what they can physically handle.The biggest risk period is whenever a player is coming back from injury and readjusting to competitive cricket. That’s why I think it’s pretty harsh on Booms (Bumrah) to suggest that he’s picking and choosing.

Will workload management become even more important with the ODI World Cup next year?

This applies not only to Booms, but to every player. India plays a huge amount of cricket so workload management is essential. You want your best players to be fit, fresh and ready when the World Cup arrives next October or November. Every major cricketing nation tries to strike the same balance, especially with the demands of both international and franchise cricket.

Is this realistic given Future Tours’ busy schedule?

It is extremely difficult. Australia, for example, are currently in South Africa before heading home and then have a four-Test series against New Zealand. They work hard to protect their fast bowlers. New Zealand also want their best pace attack available for this tour of Australia.It is a constant challenge for trainers, coaches and support staff around the world.

How do you rate India’s current pace attack?

I am a big fan of Mohammed Siraj. I love his energy and body language. It performs consistently across formats over the long term. India have a very well balanced attack. The only thing they may lack is a left-arm fast bowler, but they have the height, pace and skill. They hit the seam hard and most importantly have depth.Even someone like Aquib Nabi has come through and looks like a quality bowler. Akash Deep is also a good bowler. As a coach, Gautam Gambhir will want plenty of options to rest and rotate players and India certainly has that luxury.