New Delhi, Jan 18: Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram feels that playing conditions in Sydney and Perth in the ongoing Test series between India and Australia exposed the “physical inadequacies of an ageing cricketer”.
“The conditions at Perth and Sydney exposed the physical inadequacies of an ageing cricketer. Hot and humid conditions can be physically taxing and at WACA, at least three senior Indian batsmen were simply too tired to move their feet and tackle a moving ball after fielding for almost two days at a stretch,” Akram wrote in his column for espnstar.com.
“For a cricketer who is nearing 40, these are signs that tell him to move away from the intensity of international cricket.”
For the record, Rahul Dravid is 39 while Sachin Tendulkar is aged 38 and VVS Laxman is 37.
Akram reckons that criticism on the Indian team is completely justified and selectors need to take some brave decisions.
“The criticism on the Indian team is fully justified. Dhoni is talking about phasing out the senior players and that's exactly how the entire world feels.
“The onus is now on the Indian selectors, who have to take some brave decisions. Dravid, Laxman and Tendulkar have been legends but past laurels don't win you matches. You need to accept reality and move on.”
Akram termed India's performance as a matter of “sub-continental shame”.
“Perth should be an eye-opener for Indian cricket. Seven straight overseas Test loses should send the BCCI a clear message: there is something seriously wrong in the way India is playing cricket and a team that was recently world No. 1 cannot afford to be just kings at home. India's abject surrender is a sub-continental shame,” the legendary pacer wrote.
