'Mind You, Batter Doesn't...': Sunil Gavaskar Hits Out At Bowlers For Taking 'Drinks Breaks' Of Their Own In Between Overs

Sunil Gavaskar questioned why bowlers should have advantage of hydrating on the boundary line after completing their over, while batters do not get same opportunity to have a drink after their over.

Gavaskar suggested that the drinks should be taken only after every hour of play and before that only with the permission of the opposition captain and umpires. 

Source : PTI

Cricketer-turned-commentator Sunil Gavaskar, one of the most respected voices in international cricket, criticized bowlers for deliberately taking 'drinks breaks' of their own between overs. The former India skipper questioned why bowlers should have the advantage of hydrating on the boundary line after completing their over, while batters do not get the same opportunity to have a drink after their over.

"In cricket, the modern practice of bowlers, especially the quick ones, getting a refreshing drink on the boundary line where they go to field after completing their over is an example of the authorities turning a blind eye to the practice. 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," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.

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Gavaskar suggested that the drinks should be taken only after every hour of play and before that only with the permission of the opposition captain and umpires. 

"Cricket is also a game where stamina and endurance matter 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. Once the umpires looked the other way and allowed one bowler to do that, it became a trend, making a mockery of the drinks interval," he added.

"The third umpire and match referee should also ensure that the reserve player does not step onto the field to offer a drink to his teammate but stays outside the boundary line," he further remarked.