Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Academy of excellence
|
The camp run by HCA and the Boost Academy promises to produce fine players
|
ON THE BALL youngsters try out their cricketing skills at the Gymkhana grounds Photo: K. Ramesh Babu
A move by the Hyderabad Cricket Association to club its long-term under-13 coaching camp with the newly-launched Boost Cricket Academy has enhanced the importance of the scheme. The camp caters to the needs of the under-15, 17 and 19 years age groups and helps the youngsters to get a feel of the ambience at the Gymkhana Grounds in Secunderabad.
The camp got off to a good start with a panel of coaches including Maheswar Singh, Mahendra Kumar, Faiyaz Baig and R. Sridhar being put in charge of the trainees. HCA secretary N. Shivlal Yadav insisted the camp be of six-month duration and held thrice a week. He said the major difference is that anyone who skips the sessions for two consecutive days without genuine reason, will be shunted out and even barred from competing in any HCA tournaments. Apparently, he wants to inculcate a sense discipline among the trainees as the first step to become good cricketers.
And for the youngsters like Sivaramakrishna of Little Flower, the opportunity could not have come at a better time. Just breaking into the junior grade, he is enjoying the challenge of improving his skills under the tutelage of expert coaches . So is the case with Benjamin Thomas and Md. Fardun, who are consistent performers in their respective schools .
Fine tuning
"These camps essentially fine tune their technique. Having played cricket in schools and colleges, the boys only need to be told where they are going wrong. Emphasis will be on developing their natural talent. We won't impose any thing new on the young kids," says Maheshwar Singh, a no-nonsense coach.
And the renowned leg-spinner of yesteryear Mahendra Kumar is no different. "Personally, it is a pleasure to be associated with the Boost Academy. I will have the satisfaction of going through the grind and in the end seeing the boys emerge into decent cricketers. There is plenty of talent and it only needs to be channelled in a proper manner," he says.
With curator Datta Nalge ensuring that lush green practice wickets are neatly rolled and even the outer stretches are looking like a carpet, the boys are in the right frame of mind to do their best. "The reason why we insisted on a three-day training session each week is to ensure that the boys don't miss the leagues and other competitions for their respective schools and clubs. Ultimately what matters is real match practice. The Academy will only smoothen the rough edges," says John Manoj, media coordinator of HCA.
As things stand, the Boost officials may even extend the camp upto one year depending upon the results over the next six months.
"The love of the sport is what made us come up with this concept," they say. And there is no doubt that the hectic activity at Gymkhana Grounds can only be a good augury for the sport itself.
V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
|
