Sir Richard Hadlee says rotation 'imperative' to modern cricket

SIR Richard Hadlee has become the first big-name neutral voice to rally behind Australia's controversial rotation policy.

SIR Richard Hadlee has become the first big-name neutral voice to rally behind Australia's rotation policy, claiming it is an "imperative" to modern cricket.

New Zealand's fast bowling icon claims the stresses of playing three forms of cricket make it essential for selectors to rest their best players to avoid the threat of serious injury.

"It (rotating players) is imperative today," Hadlee told The Courier-Mail before a Rotary Club engagement at the Queensland Cricketers Club yesterday.

"When I look back at my day, I know we would not have liked it because we did not play enough games.

"Today, with the amount of cricket and the different forms of the game, players are in danger of playing too much, particularly when a lot of them want to play three forms of the game.

"Players don't understand it at the time. All they want to do is play.

"They don't want to lose part of their income, but if you are out of the game for six months injured, you can lose a lot of income as well."

Australia's decision to rotate players through the Test and 50-over formats has been damned by a string of former players this summer, including Brett Lee, Michael Slater, Geoff Lawson and Ian Chappell.

Dennis Lillee was stridently critical of the policy earlier in the season, but has changed his view. He was last week appointed as a coaching mentor to Australia's fast bowlers.

Hadlee, who played 86 Tests in a legendary career which netted him 431 wickets, admits it is a delicate issue.

"It is a tricky balance because if you miss a game or two, you can lose rhythm and form," Hadlee said.

"But something has to give. Countries have to prioritise how they get the best out of a player without compromising the other forms of income.

"You have to look after them. There has to be management. You just have to give them a break otherwise those with niggling injuries develop more serious problems.

"You get players who could be out for a week or so having a rest, but if he plays again you could lose him for six months.

"That is what you have to weigh up. If you have the depth of cover you should have guys coming in.

"Player management is a crucial part of the game. It is a big judgment call from people in charge.

"You will always get players saying, 'Why can't I keep playing?'

"In my day it was not an issue because we were playing only six to eight Tests a a year even though I played a lot of (English) county cricket.

"We played only a handful of 50-over games and there was no Twenty20."