Former Australian captain Michael Clarke lashed out at the veteran England all-rounder Moeen Ali for criticizing the tight international cricket schedule.
The England team is scheduled to play a three-match ODI series in Australia only three days after they become the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 champions at the MCG. While the T20 World Cup 2022 final was played on November 13, the first ODI of the series is scheduled to be played on November 17.
Expressing displeasure over the scheduling of the Australia vs. England ODI series, Moeen said that it is horrible to take the field just three days after the final. The spinner further insisted that it is quite difficult to maintain the same intensity and give 100% in every game.
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"Having a game in three days' time, it's horrible.But it's better than two days' time. If it had rained on Sunday, it would have been two days [if the reserve day came into play]. As players, we're kind of getting used to it now. But to give 100 percent all the time is difficult when you're playing every two, three days," Moeen had said.
Reacting to Ali’s statement, Clarke slammed the all-rounder and other England players for complaining about the scheduling, saying that they wouldn't be crying over the same thing if there was a plane to catch for the IPL right after the T20 World Cup. Clarke wasn’t happy with players whining over the schedule.
Michael Clarke was quoted as saying by Fox Sports: “If it was playing in the T20 World Cup and then the next day get on a plane to depart for the IPL, I don't think you'd hear anybody whinge.”
He added, “Players can't complain about the international schedule when they're taking the opportunity to play domestic cricket as well for franchises for money when you can have those six or eight weeks off. Then you'd be as fresh as a daisy. I've obviously found that very hard.”
Earlier, England had played three T20Is against Australia before the T20 World Cup, winning the series 2-1.
