The Hindu : Sport : Vengsarkar concerned over falling standards

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Friday, Dec 28, 2007
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Vengsarkar concerned over falling standards

S. Dinakar

Play Ranji games on neutral venues

— Photo: K. Pichumani

COLONEL SPEAK: Dilip Vengsarkar at the Group A Ranji Trophy Super League match between Delhi and Tamil Nadu.

Chennai: Dilip Vengsarkar is concerned at the falling standard of domestic first class cricket.

The chairman of the National selection panel feels there is not much difference between the present quality of cricket at the under-22 level and the Ranji Trophy.

In the city to watch the Tamil Nadu vs Delhi Ranji Trophy match, Vengsarkar told The Hindu on Thursday, “playing all the Ranji Trophy games on neutral venues is the only answer. That is also the only way pitches with pace and bounce will be prepared.

“Bounce helps everyone, batsmen, pacemen and spinners. One of the arguments against this idea is that the crowd would not be involved. But look here (he points to the empty stands), where is the crowd?”

Vengsarkar says the young pacemen would lose heart on surfaces lacking bounce.

“Presently, we can count the promising pacemen in the country on fingers,” he says.

He goes on, “I feel we have the replacements ready in batting, but there are not adequate pacemen and spinners of potential.”

The BCCI, he says, should form a Cricket Development Committee with a director. “The director’s job should be professional and he should be accountable to the Board. The panel should look after everything from under-15 cricket to quality of pitches for domestic cricket, to infrastructure.”

Twenty20

Vengsarkar acknowledges that Twenty20 cricket can bring in the crowds and spread the game but warns that young cricketers, fed on a Twenty20 diet, should be handled carefully.

Says Vengsarkar: “There should be at least two ‘A’ tours to strong cricketing countries every year. The international cricketers should be available for at least six weeks of domestic cricket. We could also use Kookaburra ball in one innings and Duke or SG ball in the other.”

The selection panel chief concedes that the player burn-out issue is a serious one.

“The gaps between tours and series are getting shorter. We had just one first class game before the first Test in Melbourne and even that game was almost washed out. This is not the ideal way to prepare for a major series,” he points out.

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