Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar expressed his unhappiness with the “modern practice” of bowlers where they stand near the boundary rope and drink in addition to already scheduled drinking breaks.
Gavaskar believed that it gives an “unfair advantage” to the bowlers as the batters do not have the same luxury of drinking other than during the scheduled breaks.
“In cricket, the modern practice of bowlers, especially the quick ones, getting a refreshing drink on the boundary line where they go to the field after completing their over is an example of the authorities turning a blind eye to the practice,” Gavaskar wrote in an article.
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, a player can drink even outside the scheduled breaks as long as no time is wasted and no other cricketer is bothered.
“An individual player may be given a drink either on the boundary edge or at the fall of a wicket, on the field, provided that no playing time is wasted. No other drinks shall be taken onto the field without the permission of the umpires. Any player taking drinks onto the field shall be dressed in proper cricket attire,” the ICC rule states.
However, Gavaskar argued that only bowlers can take advantage of this rule as the batters, even when they have taken eight runs, are not given the opportunity to take drinks.
“Why have the drinks interval then if bowlers are going to get themselves hydrated after going flat out for six deliveries? Mind you, the batter doesn't get the chance to have a drink after an over where they may have taken eight runs or so, which are all run,” he wrote.
“Cricket is also a game where stamina and endurance no matter what the format is, so frankly, it should go back to the days when drinks were taken only after every hour of play and before that only with the permission of the opposition captain and umpires,” Gavaskar added.
- Sunil Gavaskar
