"Brilliant coordination between CoE and team management": VVS Laxman
Bengaluru, August 9
Amid scrutiny over India's growing injury list, Board of Control for Cricket in India's Centre of Excellence head VVS Laxman on Sunday said that there is strong coordination between the CoE, team management, sports science and medicine staff, and Indian selection committees.
He explained that selectors regularly seek players' fitness reports from the CoE, which provides updated assessments to the selection committee, head coaches and the BCCI to support informed selection decisions.
Several key players are currently dealing with injuries, with Jasprit Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar among those facing fitness concerns.
"There's a brilliant coordination between the COE, the team management of both the teams [men and women], the SSM [Sports Science & Medicine] staff and the selection committees, " Laxman said.
"The process is that the selector [chairperson] reaches out to the COE asking for the fitness status report [of players]. And we collect the current status and send it to the selection committee chairperson, with a copy to the respective head coach and BCCI," he added.
He stressed that injuries are an inevitable part of a cricketer's career and said the priority should be careful monitoring and management of players, rather than blaming the CoE or looking for scapegoats.
"CoE is not merely a rehab centre. There are bigger roles to play for it in helping cricketers achieve excellence," Laxman added.
Laxman also spoke about the vacant position of Head of Sports Science and Medicine (SSM) at the CoE, saying the BCCI has faced difficulties in finding a suitable candidate for the role.
He said the position requires not only stature and experience but also an understanding of Indian cricketers and their requirements.
"After Nitin (Patel) left, we couldn't fill his shoes. Everything was agreed upon; Andrew (Leipus) backed off citing family reasons," Laxman said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The real issue is why our key players like Bumrah keep getting injured repeatedly. Maybe the domestic schedule is too packed? Instead of just coordinating, we need to look at the root cause. But yes, blaming the CoE alone isn't fair.
"CoE is not merely a rehab centre" - well said Laxman ji! We need world-class facilities for our cricketers to excel, not just patch them up. The gap left by Nitin Patel is concerning though. Hope BCCI finds a good replacement soon. 🏏
Good to know there's a proper system in place. Earlier it used to be all hush-hush about player fitness. At least now there's accountability. But the SSM position being vacant for so long is worrying - we need the best minds for our athletes' well-being.
Respect VVS Laxman for addressing this directly. Our cricket board often avoids tough questions. But I wish they'd also explain why so many players are getting injured in the first place - is it the pitches, the schedule, or lack of proper conditioning? 🤔
At least now we know the selectors are actually checking fitness reports before picking teams. Better late than never! And regarding Nitin Patel's replacement - we shouldn't rush. Better to wait for the right person than get someone half-hearted. Quality matters!
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