Let accountability be the driving force

Published : Nov 03, 2001 00:00 IST

TECHNICALLY, it is the beginning of the domestic season in Indian cricket but there has been no break for the players really. Of course, those who only play domestic cricket return fresh to the field with hopes of making it big. We have to look at these players and the best means to spot the tigers among them.

I am not too sure if we have the best system to spot and groom talent. The way some of the players have been given the national cap does not augur well for the future. I am not trying to be critical of the selectors, but there is need to have a policy which does not leave out performers.

In a country as big as India, it will always be a tough choice picking just 14 players to represent the nation. But why can't the selectors, or the cricket administrators, accept this challenge and give confidence to the aspirants by having a consistent policy of selection? Why do we encourage different yardsticks when picking players for international battles.

The bench strength of the Indian team is an indication of the quality of cricketers being produced. I am sorry to say that the overall quality of the team leaves a lot to be desired and what hurts is that even some of the professional cricketers have refused to learn from mistakes.

The team keeps repeating mistakes which shows that it lacks the basics of the game. And that can be a serious matter because such errors prove fatal at the international level. It would look ridiculous if I were to teach an international cricketer to run between the wickets.

For long I have been hearing all kinds of theories on how to improve the state of Indian cricket. Lack of advanced coaching and lack of a competent physiotherapist were often the reasons projected, but now the team will have to look for other excuses because John Wright and Andrew Leipus have been doing their bit. It is for the players to deliver now.

Whatever happened to the gradation system of payment? I was told that the move was meant to make the players realise that their earnings would be related to their performances on the field, but sadly the system appears to have been put on hold. I am not saying this gradation system may improve the team's performance overnight, but it will drill one important fact in the minds of the players that only performance will help them stay in the side.

There has to be some competition to grab the places. The reserves have to push those in the playing XI and the reserves in turn have to be pushed by those waiting for a break. It is a chain which can bring the best out of most of the players and to achieve that the Indians will have to look at the idea of preparing a second XI.

It would be a good idea to have a pool to pick from. Those in the pool should be directly available for selection unless some extraordinary feat propels a new face on the horizon. It is going to be a hard grind for the team to create a new profile for itself, but I firmly believe that some stern steps will have to be taken to achieve it.

It was always known that the tour to South Africa was going to be hard, but I had never imagined a scenario where India would suffer a loss at the hands of Kenya. I still can't believe that India failed to conquer an attack which was average by any standards and particularly with the kind of batting line-up it boasts of.

India's failure was complete. If the bowlers gave away too many runs, the batsmen succumbed too early and it was most humiliating to have conceded a bonus point to the opposition. Why just blame the bowlers when the batsmen too failed in their duties? It was a glorious hour for Kenya no doubt, particularly after the criticism from all of us, but as I said earlier the criticism was well-meaning.

The defeat against Kenya had plenty of lessons to convey and I hope the Indians would have taken note of the shortcomings. It was not the first time that India was losing to Kenya and it would not be the last occasion either. But self pride demands that India protect its reputation at the highest level of the game and avoid such embarrassments in the future.

On the home front, there has been talk of holding everyone accountable in Indian cricket and I would welcome such moves as long as the policy applies to everyone - from the groundsman to the boss. Only team work can ensure that the game progresses on professional lines and the Board has a duty to provide the best to the players and only then expect the best from them. The signs have been encouraging thus far and it is now for those involved to steer the boat through choppy waters.

There will always be high expectations as far as the Indian team is concerned because cricket is such a high profile game in the sub-continent. There is a lot at stake for everyone and the effort needs to be streamlined to ensure the quality of cricket improves overall.

As the domestic season unfolds, the emphasis should be on quality. The scouts should identify the players for the future and keep track of them. There may not be a drastic change in the competitive structure of Indian cricket this season, what with none working to improve the state of the pitches, but I would follow the Duleep Trophy with interest. This year I was told the Duleep Trophy would be played on uncovered pitches and that would be a major change from the past.

As has been repeated in the past, only quality cricket at home will enable India to produce champions at the international level. Let there be a concerted effort in this direction with the accountability factor being the driving force.

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