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Former Indian batter Sunil Gavaskar blasted the current trend of bowlers taking additional refreshments to freshen up while fielding near the boundary in addition to the drinks break. He also blamed the umpires and other authorities for turning a blind eye to the occurrence and wished for a level playing field between batters and bowlers like the old days.
While the ICC playing conditions state that a player can take drinks apart from the scheduled break if no time is wasted, Gavaskar was highly critical in his column for Sportstar.
He said:
“In cricket, the modern practice of bowlers, especially the quick ones, getting a refreshing drink on the boundary line where they go to field after completing their over is an example of the authorities turning a blind eye to the practice. Why have the drinks interval then if bowlers are going to get themselves hydrated after going flat out for six deliveries? Mind you, the batter doesn’t get the chance to have a drink after an over where they may have taken eight runs or so, which are all run."
Sunil Gavaskar had a long and illustrious international career of over 16 years for India and has often been upfront on any cricket-related issue. The champion cricketer was the first-ever batter to score 10,000 Test runs and is 13th all-time with 10,122 runs at an average of 51.12 in 125 matches.
"Cricket is also a game where stamina and endurance matter" - Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar wanted the balance restored on drink breaks, pointing to how cricket is a game of stamina and endurance. He further slammed the bowlers and the umpires for making a mockery of the actual drinks interval.
"Cricket is also a game where stamina and endurance matter no matter what the format is, so frankly, it should go back to the days when drinks were taken only after every hour of play and before that only with the permission of the opposition captain and umpires," Gavaskar continued.
He concluded:
"Once the umpires looked the other way and allowed one bowler to do that, it became a trend, making a mockery of the drinks interval. The third umpire and match referee should also ensure that the reserve player does not step onto the field to offer a drink to his teammate but stays outside the boundary line."
Whether the ICC reacts to these allegations from Sunil Gavaskar to stricten the drinks break regulations remains to be seen.
