Did the BCCI's Tour Review Have Cricket on Its Agenda?

A number of populist suggestions were on the table, but were tactical decisions really questioned?

- Rasesh Mandani

MUMBAI: The Indian cricket board (BCCI) wants to discipline the team. Information trickling in from the post-tour review meet with the team management suggests there may be a limit to family's stay time during overseas tours, practice sessions would become mandatory, all team members would have to travel together again, everyone must play domestic cricket.

Past protocols reintroduced; some regulations should never have been relaxed earlier. Will these measures be enough to help the Indian cricket team course correct, especially at a critical juncture undergoing transition? What should tour reviews be like? How much cricket is actually discussed?

A list of what was not discussed is more revealing. Botched selection calls marked the Australian tour that saw a senior spinner retiring mid-way and ended with the captain forced to 'opt out' of the final Test match after his form nosedived. It didn't help that the best paceman in the series was so overworked that he broke down at the tail end.

Was the board not curious to find out why R Ashwin, a veteran of 106 Tests chose to end his career after the third Test in Brisbane? Was his bowling fitness under question, or did someone else offer better batting utility? Why did he see no point in sticking around as the reserve spinner? Did anyone try to stop him?