There is pressure and there is more pressure. Modern-day sport means keeping the chin up and charging in for the battle – day in and day out.
It’s not easy. There is fame and fortune but it has to be earned through hard work and professionalism. And failures are not tolerated.
The critics are always ready, knives sharpened, waiting to plunge it where it hurts most.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Alistair Cook has decided to quit as England’s cricket captain. The big defeat in India ultimately forced his hand.
Cook had done fairly well as England’s captain in terms of record. He stands joint second amongst England’s most successful captains. In 59 Tests across five years, Cook won the Ashes twice and managed to beat South Africa and India on their home soils.
This is no mean achievement. On these victories alone, Cook could have had a smooth sailing as captain.
However, when it comes to English cricket critics, you are dealing with a bunch people who probably wouldn’t be happy if they won the UK National Lottery.
If England won, then Cook was termed as the best captain in the world. And if England lost, Cook would be dissected minutely, every wrong move studied under the microscope. And they could be harsh.
Under Cook, England were among the top teams in the world. But all good things don’t last.
Cook revealed that he was about to chuck it all during a Test against India at Southampton in 2014. Despite being only part of a committee which decided to sack England batsman Kevin Pieterson, the whole blame was somehow pinned on him. He was even called a ‘weasel’ by one critic.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) did not handle the issue well and there was a lot of ruckus raised.
Cook himself was short on runs and found himself at the crossroads. He began to doubt his own abilities as captain and player. However, the standing ovation he got from fans when he went to bat that day in Southampton helped him change his mind.
This time though, Cook knew that his time was up. The Sub-continent has broken or destroyed many a player in recent times.
The Indians have got smart and prepare pitches which are tailor-made for their spinners. All top teams in world like Australia, South Africa and England have struggled to come to terms with such pitches and have been thrashed thoroughly over the last few years.
England were swept away 4-0 in the Tests last year and that led Cook to question his own commitment. By Christmas he knew.
Cook’s decision to quit has once again put the spotlight on the amount of sport, particularly cricket, being played today.
Back in the old days, there were hardly any games played. Sport was a leisurely exercise and the players did not earn much. But with the birth of professionalism and lure of the lucre, cricket has become a money-making venture.
The players rarely get a break. With the advent of one-day and Twenty20 matches including the IPL, Big Bash League etc, there is cricket to be played all year round. This translates into pressure every day.
Failures are never tolerated. The fans want their teams to win all the time while the critics hover over like a vulture. Players will crack, more so the captain. Fortunately some boards have taken the management of players very seriously.
Players must be kept fresh so that they perform at their optimum. The captains too deserve a break often. Man management is the new mantra which has come to stay.
Sport means big business these days.
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