What stops? 1. IPL 2. Endorsements 3. Parties 4. Remuneration 5. Fan following
Unfortunately nothing for Indian cricketers. I have been watching cricket since 1987. And I can see remarkable transformation in the Game and Technology around it. But the attitude of Indian cricketers (few exception here) transformed on the similar lines of Politicians in India. It was just outragious the way India got eliminated from T20 WC. But it seems Indian team already knew and not interested in changing it. For the simple reason that they already have the 5 I listed above.
2007- Big drama was made of Sehwag's absence. Looks like Dhoni was in similar situation and couldn't say anything :). All new comers - Raina, Rohit, Pathan struggled against short bowling.
2010 - No change. How ridiculous?
An excerpt from Harsh Bhogle's article on Cricinfo - "Not one of these three shortcomings was unknown, and it would be easy to blame the system and the coaches for it. Teachers don't write exams, students do, and eventually they must figure it out themselves, and so we must return to attitude. There is no point blaming the pitches and the bowlers in domestic cricket for the inability to play short-pitched bowling. Gavaskar emerged from the same school, as did Tendulkar, Dravid and even Laxman. Abhinav Bindra and Saina Nehwal are products of such a system. Azharuddin emerged as one of the world's finest fielders. Greatness lies in rising beyond the system. It isn't the system, therefore, but work ethic that lies at the heart of success. I'm not saying India's cricketers don't possess it, it's just that they don't display it often enough."
If Tendulkar struggles against short ball for one complete series, tournament, almost all of us know what he does in the next series. Does anyone in the current Indian team has that hunger, zeal to learn, determination to succeed? Not everyone can be a Tendulkar as a matter of fact. But you can be a Dravid if you work as hard as Dravid did (you can get close to him by about 90% rest 10 his specialaity). I recall numerous games where every cricket fan was tired of Dravid hitting every single ball to fielder and eating 50 odd balls for 10-20 runs. But he transformed himself into all modes - oneday/Test/T20 (evident from IPL - I don't care if you call it below standard as long as any cricketer prioritizes it over national cap). And Dravid undoubtedly is the technically perfect batsmen among a bunch of big/goods like Bradman, Lara, Pointing etc.
Unfortunately, no one in current Indian team has that hunger to score runs and working hard to get there. Yuvraj singh, Rohit Sharma, Yousuf Pathan should be removed from team and their contracts terminated. They show no respect & enthusiasm for game. They reflect arrogance, crazy after fame and absolutely no determination to improve. Their fundamental approach to Game is wrong. Most of the above statements apply to Yuvi than others. Being fit is not an option but requirement to perform to fullest potential. If someone is not interested in maintaining fitness that indicates indiscipline and lack of respect for Game.
Gambhir, Sehwag must be taught to run between wickets and removed from team the next time they get run out or get thier parnter run out. Ravindra Jadeja has no maturity to perform at international level and should not be given anymore chance. Suresh Raina has no skill to perform on foreign soil and must be retained only for home tournaments. And all of them need to improve fitness. If someone is interested in IPL and Preity only then kick him out. No commitment no place.
What is the point in paying 250,000 USD a year to a foreign coach if the problem lies with players? BCCI runs like a business - profit only profit and just profit. They don't even care for the money they spend. Not a professional body by any means. And it is a big mystery why it is not run by government like other sporting bodies. No point in getting Gary Kirsten or Greg Chappell if players don't want to come for fitness training and are unprofessional.
