Dubai: The chief executive of the International Cricket Council (ICC), David Richardson, admits Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar will be missed at the 2015 World Cup — but he believes there are plenty of outstanding players ready to fill the void.
Tendulkar has graced every ICC showpiece since 1992 — playing six in total and becoming the all-time leading run-getter in the tournament’s history with 2,278 runs in 45 matches at an average of 56.95. He was named player of the 2003 World Cup for his 673 runs and finally added an elusive winner’s medal to his collection in 2011, when he scored a total of 482 runs as India won the trophy on home soil.
But the 41-year-old retired in 2013 and will be an ambassador for the upcoming tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
And Richardson, answering a query from Gulf News on Tuesday on what the tournament would be like without Tendulkar and overlooked big-hitters Kevin Pietersen and Kieron Pollard, said: “You will miss a legend like Tendulkar. When someone like him or Donald Bradman or Brian Lara retires, the game always misses them.
“There will always be some selection quirks with some teams, also. Overall, I think one of the most remarkable things about one-day cricket in recent times is that all teams have these individuals who can really change the course of the game.
“From New Zealand there is Brendon McCullum — his performances have been staggering. AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn from South Africa. Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews and Kumar Sangakkara come up with some really outstanding innings. Having watched cricket for 30 years or so now, I think we are really going through a period where we have a batch of players who are stars in their own right.”
Richardson added that the impact of Twenty20 cricket would be obvious at the 2015 World Cup.
“I think T20 cricket has changed the attitude of batsmen towards the game — whether it is Test cricket or ODIs. Even in bowling, you see things you had never dreamt of before — slower ball bouncers, mixing up yorkers and all different kind of deliveries.
“The game has developed more quickly over the past five or 10 years than it had in any other part of its history.”
Sledging could be a big issue at the World Cup, with the ICC warning teams before the tournament to ensure their on-field behaviour doesn’t cross the line and become unsporting. Co-hosts Australia, in particular, have made headlines recently.
Richardson said: “The ugly scenes of sledging are not good for the game. The majority of players play in the right spirit and behave well. And some of the teams, like New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, their behaviour generally is exceptional.
“There is an odd show of dissent and who doesn’t get upset with the umpire when he gives you out incorrectly? But generally the respect that they show to the opposition is very good.
“But there are a couple of guys who are the serial offenders and I think everyone knows who they are. The pre-series briefings with the teams will focus on making sure that they understand fully they have responsibility towards the tournament and the game of cricket and make sure that all the children watching the game are set a good example.
“Hopefully, the match referees will follow up on that and take strong action when these guys overstep the mark. Because these guys are ruining it for everyone.”
When Richardson, who kept wicket for South Africa during the 1990s, was asked whether sledging has become worse than during his playing days and whether he ever sledged, he replied: “Not me personally. But guys like Glenn McGrath would always be muttering something. It used to happen then but, as I said, there are some serial offenders who act before they think.
“Hopefully they have learnt their lessons and will behave well. The level of scrutiny on the players these days is much more intense. In the old days, you could mutter something to Steve Waugh when he did not walk and no one would have even known you’d done that.”
