Open Letter to BCCI

Chief Administrative Officer

BCCI

Mumbai

Sub: 10 Prescriptions for Indian Cricket

Dear Mr.Shetty,

As 2009 dawns amidst pervasive fog and a winter chill, newspaper columns are flooded with innumerable articles on keeping away the nasty flu and the cough-cold symptoms.

In keeping with that theme, I have given below my homemade prescriptions to ensure constant good health of Indian cricket in 2009 away from viral infections, muscle-pulls and stomach upsets.

By now, all year-end 2008 commentary and synopsis have unanimously hailed last year as the year of Incredible India. The BCCI also deserves congratulations! With expectations mounting and the numero uno country Australia facing a perceptible threat, India has an extraordinary opportunity to strike gold. But as every sportsperson worth his salt is fully aware, the last mile is usually the toughest. Getting to the finishing line first is what distinguishes the champions from the also-rans.

As I wake up from the right side of my bed this morning, here are my inimitable pearls of infinite wisdom!

1. Play more Test cricket

This is basic horse sense if we are to emerge at the pinnacle of Test glory. We need to increase the ratio of Test Cricket to ODI's/T20. Sadly enough we have only a few Tests in New Zealand in the first six months of the calendar year now that the Pakistan tour stands cancelled. But will the BCCI kindly negotiate a favorable Test ratio?

2. Do not overplay "key" bowlers

Test matches are won when 20 wickets are taken - unlike ODI's and T20's where you can win a game purely on runs amassed. India requires it's frontline bowlers like Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan, R P Singh, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, etc in great shape consistently at the Test level.

3. Appoint M S Dhoni as Captain for the full year

M S Dhoni has played a singular role in India's remarkable success stories right from the VB series in Australia to the December triumph against England. The brilliant captain needs to be given a straightforward long tenure, without the incongruous series to series appointment. Dhoni should be appointed as captain for all three forms of the game for the entire calendar year. He is a "lambe race ka ghoda"-the horse with strong legs.

4. Implement rotation policies in ODI's/T20

India has the unique advantage of amazing bench strength in all three formats of the game. Burnout, stress and injuries can cripple many a budding career or an over-used body. The selectors must look at a rotation policy for ODI's/T20's as these are intensely concentrated games which can accelerate physical decadence and mental fatigue.

5. The Captain must have voting rights

It is simple democracy that the selectors must engage the leader of his team in the selection process. In short, he must have voting rights. This is crucial as the bottom line is that the captain has the onus of team responsibility, the challenge of winning and faces the brunt of failure. It is a ridiculous proposition to believe that the captain must be strictly avoided as he might have personal favorites. After all, aren't the selectors and the captain working towards a common goal?

6. Players ought to be given a "right for voluntary breaks"

Since almost six players if not more are going to be common for Tests, ODI's and T20's, the players should be provided full rights to periodic breaks whenever they are feeling the heat of over-exposure or the law of diminishing effectiveness.

M S Dhoni's decision to skip the Sri Lanka Test series was largely condemned by several critics, including yours truly. In retrospect, it was a prudent decision based on an honest self-assessment of personal motivation. BCCI ought to formalize this process.

7. Appoint "mentors" for young players

Some of our senior veterans like Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri, etc should be appointed as mentors to the young players in the team, both for cricket related or off-field matters. In my opinion, this will give the youngsters tremendous confidence and personal insight especially when they face difficult and trying times. The mentor is like a friend, guide and philosopher and not a lobbyist or a spokesperson. Given the youthful age of the Indian team, the mentoring process would be much more effective than conventional sports psychologists. This will also prevent slaps and slapstick conduct as well.

8. Bring back Inter-University cricket

It is surprising that even as BCCI talks of taking cricket to the grass root level, we are not developing cricket at the college level. Its time to resurrect the Inter-University tournament format. I remember Sunil Gavaskar playing an Inter-University game on the Deccan Gymkhana grounds, Pune in 1971, even before he embarked on the West Indies tour. He had already become a hero even before he had begun to rewrite Test history.

The Inter-University matches should be held under the auspices of the National Cricket Academy. Further, identified high-potential talent should be given batch-wise training at NCA.NCA should be a grooming ground, and an NCA

XI - A&B teams should consist of our future stars.

9. All contracted players must play domestic cricket

The only way by which domestic cricket will improve and India can expect a sustained supply from our talent pool at the grass root level is if we have a vibrant, competitive and a well-contested domestic series, where all international players must mandatorily perform. This must be incorporated in their contract.

As a young kid, I use to come from Pune to Bombay by a passenger train to see Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Sandeep Patil and Ashok Mankad etc play Ranji Trophy matches at Wankhede Stadium. Nowadays, even with free gate-entry no one patronizes the empty stadiums. Now that is a tragic mess indeed!

India may have benefited somewhat by the IPL becoming a quasi-talent hunt but T20 is hardly an appropriate testing ground for professionals of the enduring kind.

10. BCCI should take a pledge - NO POLITICS! NO INTERFERENCE!

BCCI should promise to say no to any political intervention in terms of selection, and avoid petty regionalism, favoritism, nepotism and any other "ism" that I may have missed. If Indian cricket administration takes authentic steps to alleviate playing condition improve cricket schedules, invests in training facilities and keep a professional arms length distance from playing politics, Indian cricket will zoom sky-high in 2009 and beyond.

Thank you, Mr Shetty, for listening to my unsolicited advice.

Have a great New Year!

Sincerely,

Sanjay

Sanjay Jha

Co-Founder

CricketNext.Com