Cricket has got to a stage where we cannot leave it purely in the backyard. It is now a professional game, players want to make a living out of it. We must make sure that we cater to it.The academic structure can be very helpful if the content in the program is of a competitive nature. We have to create the right environment for them in the nets; take them through various emotions and mental strategies that they would go through in a match situation.We can’t be creating the best nets batsman in the world but a batsman who can go out there and continue to do the basics right under pressure. At the Centre Of Excellence, the students come in at a high level. We need to make sure that they are exposed to good opportunities.The academic structure must take the good things of the backyard cricket; it will only help them develop quickly. But at the same time it is important that the level of involvement is strong. What is the point of playing five Tests in a day and getting out knowing well that you will have another chance to bat the same day? It is important to have competitive cricket under the right conditions.The content cannot be too structured. The emphasis has to be on providing different opportunities to the players and trying new things. That’s the only way to make things better by trying out different things so you don’t die wondering what if.In our times, we played cricket, went to school, college and work. Today’s kids at the age of 19-20 do nothing else but play cricket. We have to cater to them. With the huge amount of money in the sport it is important that they get their share and we give them a tool to survive.I agree completely that the emphasis should be on learning rather than trying to teach more than you knows. Because the danger is that you might not teach too well. It is very easy to tell a batsman to bend the elbow and get the foot to the pitch of the ball. But when he is facing Brett Lee at 150 kmph, he isn’t going to give a damn about that advice.Coming off backyard cricket, we are still searching for the right formula. We don’t want to make the game to impersonal or too electronic. We don’t wish to take away thought from the game because that is a huge part of the game.
