Former India great blasts bowlers for ‘making mockery’ of cricket

Former India great Sunil Gavaskar slammed the bowlers for taking a modern approach that he feels gives them an advantage.

These days, bowlers are often noticed deliberately taking ‘drinks breaks’ of their own in between the innings. It has become extremely common for fast bowlers to grab a sip or two while fielding near the boundary. The legendry batsman has severely condemned the act of the bowlers.

“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,” said Gavaskar.

“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. 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,” he added.