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One for the future
The claymate So hail
Tanveer |
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With the IPL, money, fame and glamour have added to cricket’s attraction. Far from the cheering crowds, in the quiet valley of Dehra Dun, the National School of Cricket, with the aid of World Cup winner Roger Binny, is trying to ensure that the talent keeps flowing in, writes Umesh Dewan IN India, where Cricket is considered to be a religion and youngsters wish to become future cricket icons, the opening of a National School of Cricket (NSC) in Dehra Dun, has certainly given a great opportunity to budding cricketers. Getting groomed at an international standard cricket stadium, under the guidance of expert coaches, with availability of every requisite cricketing infrastructure; what more can an aspiring cricketer ask for? The school, headed by 1983 World Cup winner Roger Binny, is located some 15 km from Dehra Dun city in Guniyal Gaon, Purukul and was inaugurated recently by chief selector of the Indian national team Dilip Vengsarkar.
Brainchild of a local city resident R.P. Easwaran, who runs Abhimanyu Cricket Academy (ACA) in Dehra Dun and is extremely passionate for the game; the NSC is joint venture of ACA and Asian School, Dehra Dun. Set up over 42 bighas of verdant, manicured grass, in a picturesque valley, with the mighty Himalayas and the Shivaliks overlooking the practice pitches, the ground dimensions of the stadium at NSC are in sync with ICC’s requirements. A total of five main pitches and four practice pitches complying with international standards had been laid. As far as coaching is concerned, the academy has roped in Rajdeep Kalsi, V. Venkatram, Sarkar Talwar and Ravindra Negi (all NCA-level III coaches) to polish the skills of the trainees. Besides NSC director Roger Binny, who will also impart coaching to the players at the NSC for around 45 days annually, says the NSC is targeting to rope in around 50 budding cricketers initially. A round of the stadium revealed that special emphasis had been laid on retaining grass on the pitches. The ground also boasts of international standard equipment like underground sprinkler systems, automated mowers, rollers, provision for stump vision camera and snick-o-meter. Furthermore, due care has been taken by creating a cemented, synthetic wicket to make use of the facilities optimally even during rainy season. Setting up of indoor practice facilities, library, conference room, gymnasium, swimming poll, etc is also underway. The most unique feature of the stadium is that floodlights allow coaching even after sunset, which ensures that students do not suffer on academic part and can practice in the evenings, once the schools is off. Currently there are four floodlight towers (with 28 lights each) and the fifth tower is expected soon. Though presently the ground is being used for holding school matches only but by the end of year, the stadium should be ready to hold Ranji Trophy matches as well. "We use the latest scientific coaching methods supported by internationally acclaimed software, periodic video analysis of various aspects like batting, bowling and fielding of each student and remedial coaching on such analysis. The use of bowling machines and pitch vision software are also used as effective tools for remedial measures", disclosed Easwaran, adding that The Asian School and ACA, Dehradun have tied up to form the NSC with an aim to provide the trainees professional-level cricket training along with regular academic curriculum. He further told The Tribune that those studying in sixth standard and beyond were eligible to enroll themselves at the NSC. While asserting that the NSC had been his earnest effort to provide a world-class cricket stadium to cricket lovers, Easwaran, whose son E. Abhimanyu is the vice-captain of Under-15 West Bengal Team said, "The journey from being a potential cricketer to a successful one passes through expert coaches, top cricketers in the world, facilities and infrastructure matching international-levels, and a reliable emotional and mental support system that allows him to bloom as an accomplished individual. And we are committed to fulfill this responsibility". However, in Roger Binny’s opinion for a nation that has so much passion for the game, spends so much time and energy on it, and has so much money riding on it, India ought to have a "cricket school" in every city. "Unfortunately, there aren’t many in the country. But fortunately there is abundant cricketing talent and loads of passion to excel at the game. If you are reading this because you have a child, or know of a child with the mettle to be a future Tendulkar, Dhoni or Kumble, the NSC might just be what you’ve been looking for", he echoed.
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The claymate
IF Rafael Nadal is playing on clay, the sequences keep on running. In April this year, Nadal became the first player since New Zealand’s Anthony Wilding, in 1914, to win four successive titles on the red clay of Monte Carlo. It was also the third year in a row that Roger Federer had finished runner-up at the first major warm-up event for the French Open. And this win was coupled with a triumph in the doubles partnering Tommy Robredo. He thereby became only the second player in history to win both the singles and doubles of a Masters Series tournament, the other being Jim Courier at the 1991 Indian Wells tournament. A week after his triumph at Monte Carlo, Nadal clinched his 25th career ATP title in Barcelona, his fourth win in a row there, by beating his compatriot David Ferrer and became the first man to win four consecutive Barcelona Open titles. This improved his record to 20-1 in clay court finals, and he has won 103 of his last 104 matches on clay. This is the longest winning streak among male players on a single surface in the open era.The lone match he lost since then was against Roger Federer in the 2007 Hamburg Masters final. Otherwise, Nadal, undefeated at the French Open having won all 21 matches played at that tournament, is well known for defeating current World No. 1 and 12-time Grand Slam singles titlist Federer at the French Open in 2005, 2006, and 2007, so far denying Federer a career Grand Slam, and hence for being one of few players on the tour who consistently challenge Federer. Before the French Open, beginning in about two weeks, both Federer and Nadal will renew their rivalry in Rome where Nadal will bid to win a record fourth consecutive Rome Masters title. Federer, a finalist here in 2003 and 2006, is looking for his first title in Rome and ending Nadal’s undefeated run in Italy would be the ideal way for him to warm up for Roland Garros. But will Rafa allow this advantage to his ‘archrival’ before his dream tournament?
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FROM rural Pakistan to the riches
of the IPL; Sohail Tanveer’s journey has been a remarkable one. The left arm
swing bowler is international cricket’s only wrong-footed bowler. But it wasn’t
his peculiar action that had the Chennai Superkings’ batsmen hopping all over
the place. His figures of 4-0-14-6 are a world record and as the opposition skipper M.S. Dhoni remarked
after the game, unlikely to be matched anytime soon. Tanveer was also part of
the Pakistani team in the inaugural T20 World Cup played in South Africa. With
the T20 format gaining popularity, and player prices set to go through the roof,
this simpleton from Pakistan is all set to earn his share on and off the field