Cricket ki duniya mein jab priorities ki baat aati hai, toh England hamesha apne hi raste chalta hai. Red-ball cricket ko promote karne ki badi-badi baaton ke beech ek hairan karne wali khabar aayi hai. England Women team ne apne up-coming Caribbean tour se ekmaatra Test match ko hata diya hai. Kyun? Kyunki unhe Ashes ki taiyari apne ghar ki thandi hawaon mein karni hai na ki Caribbean ki dhoop mein. Yeh faisla dikhata hai ki unke liye Australia ke khilaaf hone wali series kitni mayne rakhti hai.
The Guru Story
Darasal, ICC ke Future Tours Programme ke mutabiq England ko April aur May mein West Indies ka daura karna tha. Is daure mein pehle ek Test match bhi shamil tha, lekin ab ECB ne saaf kar diya hai ki wahan sirf teen T20Is aur teen ODIs khele jayenge. Iska asli maksad hai June mein hone wali Ashes ke liye players ko English conditions mein dhaalna. England ke head coach Charlotte Edwards ne Test match ko apni priority bataya hai, lekin ironical baat yeh hai ki ek Test match khela ja sakta tha, par usse cancel kar diya gaya.
ECB ne ek detailed plan taiyar kiya hai jisme players ko 2027 ki Ashes ke liye taiyar kiya jayega. Is plan mein January mein Bangalore mein hone wala 10-day red-ball training camp bhi shamil hai. Uske baad home soil par Australia A ke khilaaf ek three-day game aur teen "best vs best" red-ball matches khele jayenge. Matlab saaf hai, England pichli haar se sabaq le chuka hai jab unhe India ne Lord's ke maidan par 270 runs ke bhari antar se dhool chatai thi. India ki us dominance ne shayad ECB ko majboor kar diya hai ki wo apni strategy par phir se kaam karein.
Ek taraf Cricket West Indies yaani CWI arthik tangi se guzar raha hai. Hal hi mein unhone players ki retainer fees mein katauti ki hai aur kai domestic tournaments suspend kar diye hain. ECB chair Richard Thompson ne pehle kaha tha ki wo is Test match ko fund karne ke liye taiyar hain, lekin end moment par performance-based factors ko aage rakh kar Test ko hi uda diya gaya. Richard Gould, jo ki ECB ke Chief Executive hain, unka manna hai ki English conditions mein "Best versus Best" khelna players ko Ashes ke liye behtar taiyar karega.
Analysis & Numbers
- England ab Ashes se pehle kul 4 red-ball matches khelegi, jo unke domestic structure ki kami ko pura karne ki koshish hai.
- Bangalore training camp: January mein India ki dharti par 10 din ka red-ball training camp lagaya jayega.
- India vs England Lord's Test: Pichli baar jab India se saamna hua tha, toh England ko 270 runs ki karari shikast mili thi.
- Financial Crisis: Cricket West Indies ne operational costs ki wajah se apne Super50 aur T20 Blaze tournaments ko suspend kar rakha hai.
The Guru Gyan Verdict:
Yeh ECB ki "Selective Professionalism" hai. Ek taraf aap red-ball cricket ko bachane ki baatein karte hain, aur dusri taraf ek poor cricket board ke saath hone wala Test match sirf isliye cancel kar dete hain kyunki aapko ghar par practice karni hai. Wese bhi, India ne jo haal England ka Lord's mein kiya tha, uske baad darr toh lagna lazmi hai. Unhe samajh aa gaya hai ki bina thos taiyari ke wo Australia ke saamne nahi tik payenge. West Indies ka nuksaan hua toh kya, England ko toh bas apni "Ashes" pyaari hai. Masterplan toh hai, par ethics par thoda sawal toh banta hai boss!
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