Hunt for talent gains pace

Going international

With initiatives by Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to encourage youth to take up cricket, the city can now be hopeful of producing talented players for the international-level, writes Manish

Reading poetry and watching cricket were the sum of my world and the two are not so far apart as many aesthetes might believe - Sir Donald Bradman, Australian cricketer.

To watch a ball struck from the blade of a batsman whiz through the green outfield or the bails being knocked off the stumps by an excellent delivery at the Gangothri Glades Stadium at Manasagangothri is sufficient enough to inspire youngsters to take up the game of cricket.

Pace bowler

However, in the recent past, youngsters from the city and neighbouring rural areas have failed to make a mark at the international scene. While Mysore has produced one of the best pace bowlers in the form of Javagal Srinath, who shouldered the responsibility of guiding the Indian fast bowling attack, it has been unable to produce any other exceptional cricketer.

Several former cricketers attribute this to the fading interest in youth as they progress from school towards college. Even though several cricket clubs and colleges in the city actively participate in league matches as well as inter-university tournaments, the results have been far from satisfactory.

According to sources at KSCA, the Karnataka State Cricket Academy (KSCA) has now planned to start a training academy in the city to encourage school and college students to take up cricket.
In addition to Mysore, the academy would be opened in Shimoga, Hubli and Bangalore in the first phase.

Openings academies at Raichur and Mangalore would be taken up in the second phase.
A visit to the Gangothri Glades Stadium in the city shows the preparations being made by KSCA staff. The stadium would have eight practise pitches including a concrete pitch. Work has begun on the project.

Turf wickets

Apart from the pitches at Gangothri Glades, turf wickets are being developed at Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering and grounds at the Reserve Bank of India.

Also players can take the help of experienced trainers from Bangalore, who would visit the academy. The school-level tournament held last year threw-up quite a few talented players, with several of them impressing with their splendid performance.

While the state capital arguably enjoys the best of facilities, setting-up academies in various parts of the state including Mysore would help augment the quality and quantity of players.