Home sour home
Home, many believe, is where the heart is. But in this jet set age, the definition of home has changed. And with it the value of home advantage has dithered to almost nothing.
The ‘Away’ teams had to often travel great distances, which threw the body clock out of gear. At the same time, players had to deal with new cultures and foods, and also suffered from not having their loved ones around. Secondly, they often face extremely hostile crowds. Thirdly, they are often playing in a venue which they are not familiar with.
If the way things have gone in the history of cricket’s biggest tournament so far is any indication then there is little doubt West Indies are not going to have a cakewalk despite having the weight of the public behind them. Sri Lanka are the only hosts to have won the World Cup (1996) but then they played only 4 matches at home and the semi-finals and the final was held in India and Pakistan respectively.
These days teams like Australia prepare for a tournament so thoroughly that almost nothing seems to faze them. Australian cricket team coach John Buchanan says travel and heat stress are two major factors which affect the team when they play away. “If we’re about to tour a hot country, we get the guys into heat chambers, or get them to train at the hottest time of the day,” he said.
And if the conditions do get really bad, then the Aussies always come prepared. For instance when they had to play Tests in stifling heat of Sharjah, they used special ice jackets to cope with playing in hot climates. These jackets, developed by NASA and made in Australia are filled with crystals which, when frozen, remain at a very low temperature for hours. Players put them on during training, before matches and at half time. The World Champions also ensure that they have an idea of how the pitches will be like by sending a consultant to prepare a detailed report.
There are many reasons why familiarity with a playing facility contributes to home advantage. These can be classified as physical, sensory and psychological. Each stadium has its own physical characteristics and these provide recognizable visual cues to home competitors. The sounds vary from stadium to stadium, as do other sensory inputs. Finally, the intangible aspects of seeing familiar faces and carrying out a familiar routine in familiar surroundings might be expected to benefit a player’s mental preparation before a game.
But with all the stadiums undergoing extensive repairs and mordernisation, the familiar feel will give way to uncertainty. The pitches too have been relaid and no one will be very sure as to how they will play.
But perhaps the most important point is that teams travel more now. Since the 2003, the top eight teams in the ICC standings have all played more ODIs abroad than at home (see table). The players are no longer strangers to the rigours of travelling.
There’s no doubt that for most sports, playing at home increases your chances of winning. But will that increase substantial enough for the West Indies to win the World Cup? Now, that’s a question that only time can answer.[/SIZE]
Home, many believe, is where the heart is. But in this jet set age, the definition of home has changed. And with it the value of home advantage has dithered to almost nothing.
The ‘Away’ teams had to often travel great distances, which threw the body clock out of gear. At the same time, players had to deal with new cultures and foods, and also suffered from not having their loved ones around. Secondly, they often face extremely hostile crowds. Thirdly, they are often playing in a venue which they are not familiar with.
If the way things have gone in the history of cricket’s biggest tournament so far is any indication then there is little doubt West Indies are not going to have a cakewalk despite having the weight of the public behind them. Sri Lanka are the only hosts to have won the World Cup (1996) but then they played only 4 matches at home and the semi-finals and the final was held in India and Pakistan respectively.
These days teams like Australia prepare for a tournament so thoroughly that almost nothing seems to faze them. Australian cricket team coach John Buchanan says travel and heat stress are two major factors which affect the team when they play away. “If we’re about to tour a hot country, we get the guys into heat chambers, or get them to train at the hottest time of the day,” he said.
And if the conditions do get really bad, then the Aussies always come prepared. For instance when they had to play Tests in stifling heat of Sharjah, they used special ice jackets to cope with playing in hot climates. These jackets, developed by NASA and made in Australia are filled with crystals which, when frozen, remain at a very low temperature for hours. Players put them on during training, before matches and at half time. The World Champions also ensure that they have an idea of how the pitches will be like by sending a consultant to prepare a detailed report.
There are many reasons why familiarity with a playing facility contributes to home advantage. These can be classified as physical, sensory and psychological. Each stadium has its own physical characteristics and these provide recognizable visual cues to home competitors. The sounds vary from stadium to stadium, as do other sensory inputs. Finally, the intangible aspects of seeing familiar faces and carrying out a familiar routine in familiar surroundings might be expected to benefit a player’s mental preparation before a game.
But with all the stadiums undergoing extensive repairs and mordernisation, the familiar feel will give way to uncertainty. The pitches too have been relaid and no one will be very sure as to how they will play.
But perhaps the most important point is that teams travel more now. Since the 2003, the top eight teams in the ICC standings have all played more ODIs abroad than at home (see table). The players are no longer strangers to the rigours of travelling.
There’s no doubt that for most sports, playing at home increases your chances of winning. But will that increase substantial enough for the West Indies to win the World Cup? Now, that’s a question that only time can answer.[/SIZE]
