I stole this headline from the England Women's cricket coach after he has been defending his team from criticism regarding his teams fitness levels. I must admit I had not known about the criticism, but had noticed some of the team members getting bigger. It is hard to hide wearing a uniform and not being sexist have noticed this and wondered if they are fitness training.
Many women's team sports have turned professional recently a cricket is one of them so there is no excuse for having players carrying excess weight. You are paid decent money to perform and how can you perform if you are not 100% fit and in the right shape?
I have seen it in the men's cricket teams as well with over weight players who are not in shape. The modern game requires you to cover any position in the field and that would include running and diving around with quick reflexes required. Every player on the field needs to be the best athlete they can be and this is not the case with two or three of the English women's cricket team. This has resulted in certain members dropping performance levels which ultimately affects the teams results.
I am glad a women said this and not a man. When you are paid big money hen you need to be professional in every area.
When you are winning the obvious is over looked and when you are losing you are leaving yourself wide open to criticism. I do not watch the English women's cricket team regularly and why I have noticed how some of the players have got bigger. Sophie Ecclestone is one that is obvious and her performance levels have suffered and believe she would benefit and the team would benefit if she lost a few kilograms. I would guess she has added a good 10 or 15 kg's over the last 12-18 months and she knows this. It is hard to talk about weight when it comes to females as you are going into an area many avoid, but these are professional athletes. I think these discussions are healthy and have to happen and not be hidden or ignored.
Skill is only part of the make up of a professional sportsman
Most professional sports teams have a nutritionist and a fitness coach with regular weigh ins being done on a weekly basis throughout the year. I know in rugby top players will be dropped from he playing team if they fail these tests and why this is taken so seriously.
I do get what the England coach is saying as being fit for purpose in order to do their various roles would require certain players to be fitter than others, but this is no excuse for having unfit players. If you played 5 day cricket and were in the field for 3 days of the 5 days your physical and mental fitness is tested to the maximum. If you are tired your decision making and reflexes will not be as sharp as someone who is at peak fitness. This is the difference between a professional athlete and just an average athlete when it comes to performance levels.
