|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 26 June 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
The root cause Sa'adi Thawfeeq Stan Nell the newly appointed coach of the Sri Lanka 'A' team struck a nail on the head when he said that some of Sri Lanka's best athletes have been largely untapped although the country in his opinion had got the best nursery in school and club cricket. Now when someone like Nell whose name will not mean anything to most utters words of this nature the pundits might ask: 'Who the hell is Stan Nell to tell us what we are supposed to do?' But the hard truth is that Nell has touched a nerve somewhere with his observation. Or to put it more bluntly, delved into a very sensitive area, which has been lying dormant for a period of time despite the successive elections Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has had over the years. Officials have been elected to high posts at SLC but this is one area, which they have not been gone into deeply despite the appointment of provincial and regional coaches. They don't seem to be knowing what to look for. There should be a consensus of opinion amongst the top coaches in the country of what they should be looking for, for the betterment of Sri Lanka cricket in the future. The appointment of coaches for high salaries will not yield results. They should be told of a common program to follow and submit a report at the end of the month so that all their bio data can be channeled and put in for future use. If Nell can arrive at a conclusion of what is lacking in our cricket today in the short space of time he has been with the Sri Lanka 'A' team, how much more can he contribute towards the development of our cricket during his two-year contract? Sri Lanka cricket needs people like Nell. For whatever SLC is paying him they should try to get the maximum out of him. Michael Tissera, the manager of the Sri Lanka 'A' team to England has been highly impressed the way Nell has conducted the physical fitness and got on with the job as coach with his players. 'This chap's really good,' he said. That assessment coming from a past national captain and experienced cricket administrator is something worthwhile investigating. Under scrutiny Usually the success of a coach is judged on the results he produces. And Nell will be no exception when he takes the team to England on a 10-match tour there starting next week. Unlike the senior team, Nell won't be subjected to a critical view of his team's performance from the media, but nevertheless it must be understood that although a winning result is always good, the prime objective of 'A' tours is to give exposure and prepare those knocking on the door to gain entry into the senior side. If a handful of players can come through and take the next step then the purpose of such tours would prove to be beneficial. The funniest part is that few know who Nell is. In local cricket circles the name of Nell would ring only a distant bell. But having been the head coach for Victorian Cricket Centre, Monash University in Melbourne for nearly two years, coach of Greg Chappell Centre for four years, a Cricket Australia level 2 coach and a member of the ICC High Performance elite coaching panel, Nell certainly knows his onions and what he is talking about. To quote Nell further: "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." "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." "When a player understands the physical requirements and the mental aspect of the game, and puts them together it really gives him an understanding of what's required of him to play at national level." These are some of the attributes that go into the making of a good team. Manager Tissera certainly meant business when he said that 'A' team tours are no longer joy rides. Sri Lanka Cricket said Tissera is spending a lot of money on these tours and the players must be made to realise that they will have to work hard if they are to get into the first team. "There's no question that there is talent in the team. It is just that it's got to be harnessed properly," he said. Bane of school cricket In Tissera and Nell, Sri Lanka 'A' have two people whom the 16 players picked for the tour are fortunate enough to come under. Tissera's only lament is that there are only three longer games (3 or 4 days) in their 10-match itinerary. The rest are one-dayers. "It would have been ideal if we could have included a few more longer games. But there's nothing we can do but be satisfied with what we've got." It is quite understandable for Tissera being concerned for games of longer duration. He considers the limited overs game played in the schools today as the bane for the wilting standard of school cricket. Not only Tissera but there have been others before him like the late Gerry Gooneratne who have been voicing his opinion against schools playing limited over cricket time and again, but to no avail. If there is one area the SLC must look into if it deeply concerned about the future of the game, it is how the Sri Lanka Schools Cricket Association conducts its matches. The present structure needs changes to suit national requirements and unless radical steps are taken towards achieving that end schools will no longer produce any outstanding players like they did some 15-20 years ago. "We are just producing mass cricketers but not good talented cricketers. There are very few cricketers in the schools today who can walk into a national team," said Tissera. How true. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
