John Inverarity admits Australia’s current players have more distractions off the field than in years gone by, but doesn’t believe modern day cricketers are more difficult to coach.
Discipline has become more of an issue in recent times for Australia, with David Warner getting himself into trouble two times in a month and four players also being stood down for not handing in homework on the tour to India earlier in the year.
National selector Inverarity said the Australian team was a decent group of men with a strong culture, but admitted the current environment with IPL contracts and an overload of cricket makes life difficult.
“There are distractions. So in a sense it’s harder for a young man to keep his feet on the ground,” Inverarity told the BBC.
Inverarity said he believes the cricketing calendar is too packed and would like to see cut backs to ensure events remained “special”.
He said he wasn’t talking about the unique schedule of 10 back-to-back Ashes Tests between now and January, but about the landscape in general.
“I’m a supporter of things being more special and I think there’s too much cricket,” he said.
Meanwhile, Inverarity said Warner had every chance to still fight his way into the Test line-up for the first Ashes match against England at Trent Bridge.
Warner will train with the team throughout his suspension for punching England rival Joe Root, but won’t have had a match under his belt in over a month if he is indeed selected for the first Test.
Australia will simulate match-type conditions for him and Inverarity said it’s not unheard of for a talented player to make an immediate return after missing matches.
Meanwhile England said they would tone down their after match celebrations with the focus so firmly on the team.
In light of the Warner and Root incident in a Birmingham bar last Saturday night where several Australian and England players were present, offspinner James Tredwell said his side needed to realise the spotlight was now on their every move leading into the Ashes.
“Obviously the eye is firmly on us now,” Tredwell said.
“I think the lads understand they’ve got to be careful – and equally we know we’ve got some important games coming up.”
