Collins: quick turnaround tough on mind and body

By hhadi sami mokbel

The prospect of four Twenty20 fixtures in six days leaves Pedro Collins shivering.

Quite literally.

Today (Friday), Surrey face Essex in their fourth Twenty20 Cup fixture in five days.

Sunday's trip to Hampshire will complete their sinew-straining sequence.

And the laid-back West Indian, 32, has told the Advertiser that the Brown Caps' busy schedule has left him shuddering.

"We have to make sure we look after ourselves in between the games because it is such a hectic few days for us," said Collins.

"That means resting as much as we can, rehydrating, having a massage and an ice bath.

"Playing Twenty20 is very tough – it certainly isn't easy. So playing four games in six days obviously takes its toll on the body."

Before Wednesday's win against the Hawks, the Brown Caps had beaten Middlesex on Monday and lost to Sussex on Tuesday.

Putting disappointment to one side and 'focusing on the next game' is phrase used up an down the country during post match Press conferences in any sport.

With mental preparation as important as physical in modern day sport, taking to the field less than 24 hours after a demoralising defeat isn't ideal.

But as Collins admits, it's all part and parcel of contemporary cricket.

He said: "The way our schedules are, it is so important that we put things behind us as soon as we can.

"Finishing a game at nine or 10 o'clock at night and then going back out there just a few hours later is difficult on the mind just as much as it is on the body.

"But we have to – and to be honest you get used to it.

"I don't know about the other players, but for me I don't find it so difficult.

"We are all professionals and we've been doing it for a while – we have become accustomed to it."