Fast Track Players

[Ian Pont]

Having now spent a while in Bangladesh and following the BPL successes (and failures) of some of the senior players and new kids, I have a suggestion.

I feel the emerging players we saw (such as Moniul, Anamul etc) could be invited into an Emerging Player Group (EPG) singled out for special coaching and attention. This can be done in Bangladesh or here in the UK, under the supervision of specialised coaches with the time access to those players.

This EPG would be far, far higher than the existing GP Academy and basically 'train' all the players in the skills and mental aspects, expectations and cricket abilities they need to be a success - as we would prepare a highly skilled English player.

I don't currently see the Academy or the A team (which was a complete farce this winter) as a finishing school for any players. Just giving a player access to higher levels of cricket doesn't make them better, because if they fail they also need to know how to put that right and learn.

My view is that there needs to be a professional, highly-skilled learning environment. I don't see that at the moment. So let's make one.