Indian Cricket: No Shortage Of Planning, Just Talent

Prem Panicker touched on a characteristic that has helped Australia climb to the top of the cricket tree. It is not the only reason for their success, but it sure has helped. The said characteristic of the Aussie setup involves sending fringe players overseas (read India) to develop an extra dimension to their game, ala Matthew Hayden practising the art of swatting spinners prior to the 2000/01 tour.

Mitchell Johnson has played a few games for the national outfit, but still struggles to find a permanent place. A while back, the Australian selectors identified him as having the potential to call himself a member of a successful Australian bowling attack. Let me reiterate that Johnson has only shown signs of being able to cut it with the big boys and has not consistently produced results on the international stage.

Now contrast the assistance provided to Johnson by his Board with that provided to the likes of Laxmipathy Balaji, Suresh Raina, VRV Singh, etc. by the BCCI. Have you heard of any of them receiving any help since they were dropped? Prem compares Johnson's Indian training stint to the BCCI's ironic refusal to grant Rahul Dravid's request for extra practice matches at the start of the Australian tour later this year.

Point is Prem, the BCCI is absolutely correct in its assertions. Why should the players be given extra time to train? After all the senior players know how to play cricket and spending time in the nets is merely the opportunity to make more money down the drain. As far as the the junior players, our all-knowing Chief Selector does not believe any of them have even a semblance of talent so what is the point of wasting time and, more importantly, money on sending them to Australia, England or South Africa to get exposure to different conditions, know-how and methodologies?

Surely the money spent on training these fringe players will reap better rewards sitting in the BCCI's fixed deposit account, which most small states would be proud to boast of, no?

Prem, it is high time you understood that the state of Indian cricket is not because of anything the BCCI has not done. It is all because of those dastardly players who have no talent and deserve no help to hone whatever little skill they do have.