Australia may be back to their winning ways at cricket but there’s no doubt that the blip of the past fortnight was symptomatic of something more serious, a sign of a flaw in the system. And India coach Greg Chappell, who has a deep knowledge of Australian cricket, believes the regimented academy system — which a cricketer enters at a very early age — is stifling free growth. ‘‘It’s an unreal environment’’, Chappell told The Sunday Express in an exclusive interview (see ‘What’s wrong with Australian cricket?’, page 17). ‘‘Batting in the nets with a coach watching you is hindering with the natural process. Instead of scoring runs, the coach is telling you to observe your left elbow, your foot coming to the pitch of the ball and interfering with your natural processes. They are learning to be correct but good natural play is destroyed.’’ Chappell argues for a return to the tradition of backyard cricket, saying that is where most other countries, India included, find their talent. The new stars, he believes, will be found in the inner cities instead of the metros, and points to the recent emergence of MS Dhoni. His point of view is, not susprisingly, disputed by Tim Nielsen, head coach of the Australian cricket academy. ‘‘Cricket has got to a stage where we can’t leave it purely in the backyard’’, he told this reporter. ‘‘Cricket is now a professional game, players want to make a living out of it and we must make sure that we cater to it.’’ Former Aussie fast bowler Bruce Reid, who has worked with the Indian team, believes that over-coaching is detrimental to the future of Australian cricket. ‘‘You’re not making machines here. You want to improve that natural ability, not take it away with some mechanical fluff’’, he says. ‘‘I see the number of good players getting smaller with the new system. Only champions will survive the new system.’’ Praveen Amre, chairman of the BCCI’s junior selection committee, believes that backyard cricket can be the starting point but it can’t take you to the fringes of selection for Test cricket. ‘‘Technique is very important. You learn the basics of the game but those aren’t sufficient. You have to work on technique, on handling pressure and maintaining concentration.’’ The new system is less than two decades old (the academy was set up in 1987) so it may be too early to judge it yet. But if Chappell and Reid are right, the Aussies are in for trouble. Which is good news for everyone else.
