Virat Kohli should not be sledged, it gives him Oxygen: Dean Jones

Melbourne, June 3: Former Australian batsman Dean Jones said the ICC T20 World Cup will not happen as per schedule. This edition of the global extravaganza is scheduled to take place in Australia in October-November but the Covid 19 pandemic has thrown the future of the event into doubt.

"T20 World Cup isn't going to happen in Australia this year for a lot of reasons," Jones said on Sportscreen's YouTube page.

"Firstly, Cricket Australia has retrenched a lot of people. So, when you have 16 teams here, and 30-40 people per team including staff, players and administrators, you won't be able to do it.

"Especially with the cover restrictions being very stringent here in Australia. And the host country also doesn't not make much money by hosting a World Cup. They used to, but not now under the rules. So, where do they (Cricket Australia) make their money now? We will make 220 million US dollars on a full India tour of four Tests and ODIs.

"And of course Australia is in a pickle, like all other cricket boards and so they are trying to protect their own space. So, I think they can handle India and not be able to handle 15 other countries coming here," opined the 59-year old.

On Australian players not sledging Virat Kohli, Jones said: "I'll tell you the reason why they went quiet on Virat. Because we went quiet when Viv Richards came out to bat. We went quiet on Javed Miandad, on Martin Crowe. And there is a reason behind that -- You don't upset the bear, you don't upset Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni because this is what they like - a confrontation.

"Don't give them any oxygen. But I find this reason about not upsetting Virat because of IPL contracts a bit rubbish. Is Virat going to stop anyone from playing? That is down to the coaches and managers."

Cricket Australia had announced that tour of India will take place as per schedule later in the year and had identified dates and four venues. Jones said Tim Paine should continue to lead the side.
"I think Tim Paine has done a magnificent job. We also need to ask this question -- does Steve Smith want to be captain? We are only assuming he wants to be captain. The second question we need to ask is -- Does Steve Smith fit into Australia's T20 team? And anyway Aaron Finch has also done a great job as the white-ball captain.

"My take is that Steve isn't a big hitter of the ball. At 2/20 he will do the job for you, but at 1/80 is the person who will do the job for you? Probably not. You may want someone like a (Glenn) Maxwell and other hitters to come in at the time. So where does he (Smith) quite fit into the team?"

Jones said he is looking forward to premier batsman Smith being fitter. "In the last year or so I've also seen Steve Smith show a bit of fatigue in his body and I feel that he can be fitter. I hear he has recently said that he feels fitter than ever before, so I am really looking forward to seeing how he goes?"