The International Cricket Council faces some serious fence mending with its players around the world if the results of a FICA players’ survey are to be believed

Lynn McConnell29-Oct-2002The International Cricket Council faces some serious fence mending with its players around the world if the results of a FICA players’ survey are to be believed.According to the results released over the weekend, only 20% of the players polled believe the ICC is doing a good job running cricket, as opposed to 46% who think they aren’t.While only four per cent agreed with the notion that the ICC balanced the interests of the game with those of the players. A total of 60% disagreed with that thought.Sixty-two per cent do not think the ICC is interested in the views of the players.Players were more inclined to support their governing bodies in their own countries.Fifty-six per cent of the players agreed that they had a good relationship with their home board while 41% agreed their officials had the best interests of the game at heart. Yet only 31% were firmly of the view that their boards were sympathetic to their employment as professional cricketers.Views on whether the boards were interested in the views of the players were 36% in support and 38% against the notion.Forty-nine percent of players felt umpiring was of an international standard with 35% offering a neither confirm nor deny view.However, 76% felt they had a good relationship with umpires. The move to eight international umpires drew 80% support but there was more variation on whether the elite panel of eight included the best umpires in the world. Six per cent strongly agreed, 23% agreed and 37% neither agreed or disagreed.A figure of 91% of players supported the idea of neutral umpires at both ends in Test matches with 65% also of a view that the third umpire should also be neutral.Surprisingly, only 38% of players felt the third umpire had improved the standard of umpiring.Sixty-four per cent of players felt there was too much international cricket being played at the moment while 78% felt there should be a compulsory leave period. Support for minimum days between Test matches was at 91% and 87% felt they should not have to play back-to-back One-Day Internationals.The idea that Test cricket should be played over four days only was not supported by 83% of players and there was 83% support for neutral venues for those countries affected by civil war or terrorism.Players were non-plussed about the new ICC code of conduct but 68% felt technology had improved decision-making in the game. Views were mixed, 40% in favour and 42% opposed to technology being used for leg before wicket decisions.In relation to grounds and playing facilities, 84% of the players felt minimum standards should be applied to playing facilities and only 25% could say that they felt player safety was catered for at grounds. And 53% felt beverages at grounds should not be sold in bottles or cans. Eighty-three per cent felt the boundary rope should be three metres in from the boundary no matter the size of the ground.Players also felt that the one-day game as it was played at the moment was the preferred way to go while introducing more teams in both Tests and ODIs did not seem to cause a major effect one way or the other.Ninety overs a day for Tests got the thumbs up from 83% while fines for not completing the overs in a day were supported by 57% of players.When it came to bowling actions, 75% of players, and 18% who had no opinion, felt there was a problem with bowling actions. Of the players 45% felt a suspect bowler should not be allowed to continue to play while his action was assessed while 89% felt a player should be assessed immediately.Only 13% of the players felt the playing conditions for the ICC Champions Trophy were reasonable and 66% of the players were dissatisfied by the way the conditions for the tournament were passed to the players.And in regards to support for an international players’ association, there was an overwhelming 97% support and 91% of players felt FICA should have the right to represent them to the ICC.Eighty-seven per cent of the players felt they should have a greater say in the game while 93% felt player representatives should be chosen by the players.Ninety-eight per cent of players felt FICA should be officially recognised by the ICC.Sachin Tendulkar and Glenn McGrath came out on top when it came to the players rating the best batsman and bowler in both Tests and ODIs.Tendulkar’s (78% in Tests, 51% in ODIs) nearest rival in either batting category polled just 16% (Adam Gilchrist and Michael Bevan in ODIs).Muttiah Muralitharan (39%) was chosen by just 7% fewer players than McGrath in the ODI bowling category, though was a distant second with 16% compared to McGrath’s 70% in the Test category.Jonty Rhodes dominated in similar fashion when it came to the nomination of the best fielder in the world. Rhodes took out 75% of the vote, well clear of Ricky Ponting (20%) in second.South African Rudi Koertzen (28%) edged out England’s David Shepherd (25%) as the umpire the players rated as the best in the world at present.Lord’s (27%) was favoured as the best ground, ahead of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (24%), Newlands in Cape Town (15%) and the Gabba in Brisbane (7%).