Ross Taylor asks boards to pay players adequately to keep them interested in playing international cricket

Kiwi pacer Trent Boult gave up his central contract last year to feature in T20 leagues around the world.

Ross Taylor | GettyWith the expansion of cash-rich T20 leagues around the world, cricketers are finding it hard to strike the balance between franchise cricket and national duty.

Last year, New Zealand’s star pacer Trent Boult gave up his central contract to take part in domestic leagues around the globe.

Recently, England opener Jason Roy withdrew from his annual contract with the ECB for more lucrative opportunities in leagues.

Amid the recent development, former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor feels that time has come to pay cricketers adequately to keep them interested in playing international cricket or else more players will give up their national contracts.

“As it stands, players have to think about their futures and their longevity. I don’t see a mass exodus when they are young. I definitely see it coming from players who are towards the end of their careers. That happens in other sports too,” Taylor told PTI in a select media interaction on the sidelines of the World Test Championship final.

“Boult for instance does a job that is very hard on his body. It is up to the boards to try to remunerate the players as best they can to keep them interested in playing international cricket.”

“The carrot of international cricket will be there for a while eventually players will have to work out to look after themselves for the future,” he added.

Ross Taylor called time on his international cricket career last year. The 39-year-old was an integral member of the Kiwi team that won the inaugural World Test Championship by defeating India in the final two years ago.

According to Taylor, World Test Championship is helping Test cricket stay relevant.

“This is where the WTC becomes very important. Lot of talk about relevancy and having World Cup points in Tests makes it relevant. You saw what it has done to New Zealand cricket. It also improves your overall cricket,” he stated.

The No. 1 ranked Test spinner R Ashwin was left out of India’s playing XI for the ongoing WTC final against Australia.

Considering the overcast conditions and a green-tinged pitch at The Oval, India went with the combination of four pacers and a spinner in Ravindra Jadeja.

“Yes and no. I get it. You have got to pick your team for what you decide to do. They wanted to bowl first and Ashwin might not have played a big a part but Australia do have a lot of left-handers and he might have played a role against them.

“Having said that, I can understand and respect the decision that Rohit and Rahul would have had to make,” said Taylor.

He also opined that the idea of best-of-three WTC final is not realistic. “In an ideal world it would work but it is not possible considering the amount of cricket being played.”

(With PTI Inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 08 Jun, 2023

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