England’s decision to rest Andrew Strauss during the forthcoming Test tour of Bangladesh sets a dangerous precedent. England have let players opt out of overseas tours before, but the captain standing aside is a bold move.
Other players might resent the skipper missing one of the less glamorous trips in world cricket and expect similar treatment when they feel in need of a rest in the future. With a demanding tour down under round the corner it is also risky to let a squad bond develop without the regular captain being present.
The reasons for Strauss’s absence are legitimate - he was the key figure behind England’s Ashes win last year and his team needs him refreshed and ready to lead the urn-holders into battle - but he is also needed in Bangladesh.
England’s batting has been poor recently. A handful of batsmen have held the top order together against Australia and South Africa and although Strauss was out of nick against the Proteas and seemingly in need of a break, he is a reassuring presence at the top of the order that would have been useful in Bangladesh.
There is clearly a danger that England are under-estimating the Tigers - Strauss and James Anderson would probably not be rested against any other Test nation - and the implications of a historic defeat in Bangladesh are serious.
The already-under-pressure batting unit, which would presumably have failed in such circumstances, would be changed and the squad’s confidence would be at a low the next time they boarded a plane together next winter.
Bangladesh have improved a great deal since England last visited in late 2003, with the likes of Shakib Al-Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and the in-form Mahmudullah forming the basis of a promising line-up.
However, England’s Test odds still make them strong favourites to take the series.
England’s batting line-up struggled at times in 2003 and without Strauss they look vulnerable. Time will tell if it was a sensible precaution or an unnecessary risk.
In other sports news, the odds for the Aintree Grand National 2010 are really starting to get interesting and could be worth keeping an eye on.