Blaming the International Cricket Council for a heavy schedule in the build up
to the World Cup, former Australian captain Ian Chappell has said
the teams comprising the fittest players had a chance to win the coveted trophy
in the Caribbean.
"Will we see a spectacular cricket World Cup unfold over
the next two months in the Caribbean or will it turn out to be the Well Cup,
a trophy clinched by the team fortunate enough to have 11 men still standing?"
Chappell said.
He said the ICC had yet to strike the right balance between
the number of lead-up tournaments and giving players enough time to recover
to ensure they were in peak physical and mental condition for the cup.
"Is it any wonder with the demanding program of the last
six months that many players are weary and injured and heaven knows how many
are showing "empty" on the competitive juices gauge?" Chappell
was quoted as saying by the `Herald Sun`.
The former batsman said he understood the need for highly paid players to earn
their keep but performances could suffer if players coasted to survive.
The depleted Australian team sent to New Zealand for
the Chappell Hadlee series is largely a result of another hectic schedule
for the world champions, he added.
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