Richard Hadlee has no qualms of ending his illustrious career as the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in what he refers to as a “semi-professional era”. But the former New Zealand all-rounder who continued to play international cricket feels the expansion of the game has resulted in a need for the national cricket boards to better manage the workload of cricketers.
“The players are professionals. Be it the IPL, the CPL, Bangladesh, SL — they go everywhere. To be able to play Test cricket, ODI and T20 cricket is pretty demanding,” Hadlee said on the sidelines of an event in Mumbai to promote Southern Island.
“Players are going to chase the dollar. If you are contracted to your country, the country should be able to have a control over the player over what he can and what he can't do. What we are seeing now is players retire from international cricket prematurely. That frees them up because they can do as they please, they can chase the leagues around the world and pick up some very good contracts. That is the sign of the times.”
Now 65, Hadlee said no one could blame the cricketers who are settling in for quick bucks of T20 leagues rather than going through the grind of international cricket.
“That is the professional environment that they work in these days. To be able to say ‘this is what I want to play, this is what I want to commit to my country, do what I can for my country and develop a record that one can be proud of’. Once you hit the mid 30s, the attitudes change,” Hadlee said.
“The young fellows want to play for the country but when you are in the mid-30s, and there is some good money around, understandably, that is what they will do.”
Comments
SHARE