Do not let IPL distract your minds: Nielsen to Aussies

The Aussie coach has urged his players not to let off-field distractions occupy their minds and rather worry about watching the ball and hitting it.

Australian coach Tim Nielsen has urged his players not to let off-field distractions occupy their minds and rather worry about the battles in the ongoing cricket tri-series.

Nielsen admitted that the Indian Premier League contract issue was could have an impact on his players’ minds but was confident they would not get overwhelmed by the financial carrot dangling in front of them.

“There is no doubt those things going on have an impact on players. There are things going on in everybody’s life every day of the week that are not related to cricket that we have got to deal with.

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“This is one that is public. It’s not having an impact we should be concerned about. We need to worry about watching the ball and hitting it, hopefully where there’s no fieldsman,” Nielsen was quoted as saying in The Age on Tuesday.

He was of the view that certainty on some issues would help players perform better but said until that happens, players should learn to live with it and excel.

“It will be nice to have some certainty, a bit the same with the Pakistan tour. But until the decision-makers get all the information they can, we have just got to live with what is going on and make sure we perform.

“It has been a long summer. There has been some issues outside just batting and bowling that have made it more difficult, but not for one second are we using that as an excuse inside the changerooms or out here. It’s something we have to cope with,” Nielsen said.

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Nielsen admitted there might be excitement and eagerness to know which IPL team his players would play for but said the story does not end here.

“Once they have the draw, then players will know where they will be playing, but then they will be thinking about how they are going to play for that team, what they’re going to do, when does it impact on them.

“Will we go to Pakistan, will they be able to play in the IPL, how does it work over the next couple of years, will they change the schedule, if they don’t change the schedule what are we going to do, how does it impact the Ashes series, what happens in 2010? It’s not quite as simple as just Wednesday and a draw for the players,” Nielsen said.

The players’ auction will be held in Mumbai on Wednesday, when around 15 Australians will learn which city buys their allegiance.