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| Friday, 25 June 2004 |
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Lanka's cricket talent is largely untapped - coach Nell By Sa'adi Thawfeeq Stan Nell may not sound as familiar a name like Dav Whatmore or John Dyson, but he means business. Given in charge as coach of the Sri Lanka 'A' team for a period of two years, he is an extremely busy person trying to iron out the little faults that prevent a player from making the grade from 'A' team to the senior national side. Nell's first assignment since being appointed at the beginning of this month is to put the Sri Lanka 'A' team players through their paces in preparation for their month long tour to England later this month. Nell has a high regard for Sri Lanka's cricketing talent. He said: "I've always held the belief that Sri Lanka has probably got the best pool of players anywhere in the world. They've got the best nursery in school cricket and club cricket. They got some of the best athletes but they are largely untapped. Even here (the Sri Lanka 'A' team) I don't think the players realize their own ability or what physical attributes they possess. I am just trying to educate them in those areas because if they understand what they've got they could use it and get more out of their game of cricket." Nell started with the fitness program for the 16 players. "We assessed all the players physically and we are trying to improve in the areas that needs improving. We talked about their skill levels and what's required for this tour. We will be working on it." "My priority is to prepare the players very much like a second string to the Sri Lanka national side. In case there is any injury to any of the national players we've got to have somebody ready made to take their position. That's the priority of the 'A' side," said Nell while putting the boys through a course of swimming exercises at the NCC pool. Having been head coach of Victorian Cricket Center, Monash University in Melbourne for two years, Nell said their program was far advanced than it is in Sri Lanka. "They start pretty much at under 17 level through the Institute of Sport and progress right through to the seniors. Whereas here you've got to go to school, play school cricket and come through to play premier cricket and 'A' side. There is a big gap in between where a lot of the education is lost on the players," Nell said. "The program here is not as high as at Monash. What I am trying to do is bring it up that level so that the step from 'A' to national side will not be as big as it has been in the past. Even now, if a player went from 'A' side to national side, the step is too big for them to bridge unless you are an outstanding player. We got some outstanding players. What I am trying to do is close that gap. Lift the standard of the 'A' side to as close as possible to the national side, so that if someone is selected, it is easy for him to take that step," he said. Nell said the areas the players need to understand are the physical requirements and the mental aspect of the game, which according to him they fully do. "When you put those two together it really gives the player an understanding of what's required of him to play at the national level." "If the players aren't motivated to play for Sri Lanka they shouldn't be here to start with. I think most of them are. What I have to do is sit down with most of them and talk the way they fit into the senior team. If the players have a good understanding where they fit in and where they can achieve something and play for the national side, that's where the real improvement comes," said Nell for whom being in charge of a team is 'a great honour' and a 'step up' from where he was. |
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