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Cubs looking for a firm footing

More home matches, a new coach and a good chance to assess our youngsters. The pluses are plenty for Kerala, says STAN RAYAN

SET TO STAY Kerala juniors S. Aneesh

With the world soaked in the football symphony, talking about cricket these days is like throwing in a jarring note. One is in danger of being considered a poor sport, especially in this part of the world.

But life must go on. And with the Ranji Trophy fixtures now out, one couldn't help wondering how this season would roll out for our cricketers.

There are some interesting undercurrents in Kerala's cricket officialdom. There is a school which feels that Tamil Nadu's Sadagopan Ramesh, Kerala's top run-getter and one of the team's two guest players last year, should not be given a new contract this year.

Rohan Prem

"Initially, Ramesh was good last year but he had other distractions... like he wanted to go for assignments on Tamil television channels, " said T. C. Mathew, the Kerala Cricket Association secretary, about the former India opener.

"So, Ramesh may not be considered this time. But Tamil Nadu's S. Sharath has written to us... he is interested in playing for us."

If he gets the nod, the 33-year-old middle-order bat will join his State-mate S. Suresh in the Kerala squad.

These and other things will come up for discussion at the KCA annual general body meeting in Thiruvananthapuram next month. But it's clear that the team will have a new coach. Dinesh Nanavati, who was in charge last year, is no longer in favour after Kerala finished fourth in the six-team Group `B'.

Abhishek Hegde

The promising bunch of youngsters, like Rohan Prem, Robert Fernandes, Abhishek Hegde, S. Aneesh and Praveen Achuthan who now have the seniors on their toes, will be looking for a firm footing in the Ranji team this year.

And the good thing is, the under-22 matches come before the Ranji Trophy this year. "Often, they used to come before the Ranji the last few years. So, even if an under-22 player does well, we may not know about his form the next year when he knocks on the Ranji door. Things are very different this time," said S. Haridas, the former KCA secretary.

Roving coach, common bylaws

The KCA is likely to retain the Jacob Trophy tournament format to pick the Ranji team but there is a proposal to have two-day matches in the juniors' selection tournament. The State association also plans to appoint Karnataka's Rajesh Kamath as a roving coach.

And there is a move to introduce common bylaws for all its 14 districts at the KCA's special general body meeting. "The terms of office-bearers vary from district to district. And in some cases, the district secretaries have been holding the post for 16 years," explained Mr. Mathew.

With India travelling to South Africa on a long tour in November, Kerala will miss the services of its star S. Sreesanth.

COMING IN? Tamil Nadu's S. Sharath

The team had just one home match last year but this time Kerala will play three of its five matches at home, including the opener against Vidarbha on November 23. "All the three will be played in Palakkad," said Mr. Mathew.After last season's lone win, against Jharkhand in Palakkad, the team will be hungry to make the most of its home matches.

The tough tie against Railways, the Ranji champion just two years ago, comes last.

It'll be around Christmas time. And it'll be cold in Delhi. But don't expect our boys to gift away points.

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