Burnouts may turn World Cup into last-man-standing affair: Chappel

New Delhi, Feb 19 (UNI) Concerned about the growing list of injured before next month's World Cup, former Australian skipper Ian Chappell said with players ''going down like pins in a bowling alley'', the cricketing extravaganza in the Caribbean might be reduced to a ''survival of the fittest frolic''.

''Will we see a spectacular cricket World Cup unfold over the next two months in the Caribbean or will it turn out to be the Well Cup, a trophy clinched by the team fortunate enough to have eleven men still standing?'' asked the former player in his column for 'Cricinfo'.

Blaming the heavy international schedule for the injuries plaguing the participating nations, Chappell said the administrators were responsible for the current situation in which several stars like Brett Lee, Andrew Symonds and Michael Vaughan looked uncertain for the prestigious event.

''For months we have heard players and support staff justify every move by saying it is part of the planned lead-up to the World Cup. Now, as the tournament looms, players are being rested from competition so that niggling injuries can be healed in time for the start of the World Cup. That should be a hint to the programmers that the players are "cricket ready" and what they need is a little bit of time to fine tune and heal, rather than more matches,'' Chappell explained.

The Aussie said more than the physical burn-out, he was concerned about the mental fatigue among the players as it threatens the very desire of a cricketer to compete at the international event.

''...mental fatigue is the sportsman's greatest enemy and when players start thinking about saving themselves for something bigger and better, problems generally occur,'' he said.

''Is it any wonder with the demanding program of the last six months that many players are weary and injured and heaven knows how many are showing 'empty' on the competitive juices gauge?'' he added.

Chappell said he fully understood with the administrators' view that players ought to play more to earn more but argued that the game's stakeholders were putting the players' commitment at risk by forcing them to play without proper breaks.

''There can be no argument that if cricketers want to be well-paid they have to play regularly; the money is only available if big matches are programmed at appropriate times. However, equally true is the fact that if players are pushed too hard they will adopt their own measures to cope with the grind. This will include performing at a slightly reduced level (especially in the case of pace bowlers) and taking matches off,'' he explained.

UNI