Players will be forced to take breaks - Dhoni

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Indian captain, has said international players will be forced to opt out of matches in order to give themselves rest in a crammed calendar of cricket.

Dhoni had skipped the three-Tests series in Sri Lanka earlier this year after an 18-month streak that included 14 Tests, 56 ODIs, eight Twenty20 internationals, and a high-voltage IPL. "I myself opted out of the Test series in Sri Lanka because I needed a break," he said. "It's important for a player to decide when he cannot take it any more. It's getting increasingly tough, especially for the fast bowlers.

"Players know their body best and in future more and more players would come out and say that they are going to skip events."

When asked whether players had fallen into the trap of excess cricket due to the riches on offer, Dhoni said: "It's not only about money. In fact when you play 10-12 years for India, you earn ample money. You don't need more unless you want to buy a chartered plane or have private airlines. Money will keep flowing as long as you play."

Dhoni also clarified he would prefer to play for the country over his obligations with his franchise, Chennai Super Kings. Dhoni will lead Chennai in the inaugural Champions League from December 3-10, but if his team makes it to the final, Dhoni may have to make a choice between leading his franchise or India in the Ahmedabad Test against England, which starts on December 11.

"I have no information regarding this but for me, country always comes first," Dhoni said. "I will go by whatever BCCI decides, but in case I have to make a choice, of course I would like to play the Test match."