Fostering competitiveness

[the_wall]

This article may completely be a waste if the current format is the as mine stated over here. If not I belive this is the best possible format to bring competitiveness in Bangladesh cricket.

One of the major reasons why Bangladesh has been struggling to compete at international level is due to lack of domestic competition and uncertainity of the path required to be followed in order to make it to the National team. Several players make it to the team on the basis of sheer talent rather than hard work. As a result they struggle to give consiitent performance at top level which in turn leads to players being in and out of the team. In and out of players cause team to become unstable and thus deliver below potential.

A format must thus be developed in our country so that players are selected due to grea First Class record rather than just a highlight of talent. As i have noticed, like the Aussie Domestic competion Bangladesh also has 6 major teams participating in the domestic compitition.
However quantity is only the similarity between the two leagues. Quality and competition does not exsist at all.

One of the major reason for this is that for an aussie to get into a state team is as though as getting into the internatonal team. One reason for this is beacause each state hardly consist of more than 25 players. It thus mean that players will have to perform to their highest ability in club matches in order to get in the state team. Moreover players inside the state team will nedd to perform regularly inorder to keep their position as club players are constantly pushing for a place. This would mean that only the best can make it to the national team that even with consant pushing from state players. This would also keep them on their toes and would create incentive for doing well consistently at International level. Bangladesh could well do by limiting the amount of players in state team and by not allowing extention policies but introducing replacment policies.

Also points system need to be developed in such a manner that each run scored or each wicket taken will matter.

Now the factor is club cricket. Which players deserve to play in clubs? Probably those who come schools and colleges.Those who take coaching in acadamies.If this is the case then two policies can be used in order to bring the best players in clubs. One is to have regular cricket compitition between schools. Not only shorter but longer versions. Shorter version can be played during the study days of the school whereas longer version can be played during the vacations. By palying the longer version during vacations those players can be found out who are genuinly interested in cricket. Proper coaching centers can be made for these school players. Anoher way of bringing players into clubs are by simply increasing te number of players. That can be done by allowing universities to compete at club level. Also it may be made nessecary for clubs to have their own coaching centers in order to qualify for club status.

By implementing such a policy it can state cricket may be made verry competitive. Also players can be catgorized into teams such as Bangladesh A and Development team (this already exists). These teams will include players who do well in state matches. After every season a series of First class and OD matches betwwen these teams should be played.

The whole format above allows new players to be brought and groomed into cricket. However what to do for the curent national team player?

Well the answer is simple.Whenever not playing international cricket these players should be playing the league.NOT ONLY state but also club cricket.

[chinaman]

May we publish this article in our front page after the Asia Cup? Thanks.

[TigerFan]

Good Article. Example of toughness - Rajjak and Rana. Yes bro, you are right.

[PoorFan]

To bring up a true cricket player with solid skils and commitment,
we need a competitive local cricket system.
Nice article.

[Navarene]

Originally posted by the_wall

One of the major reasons why Bangladesh has been struggling to compete at international level is due to lack of domestic competition and uncertainity of the path required to be followed in order to make it to the National team.

Well I don't agree BCB have any uncertainty about our cricket future. I admit BCB was aware of the necessity to re-build the infrastructure of domestic cricket only after we got test status in 2000. Since then they put more effort to introduce longer version of domestic cricket thru national leagues. Since then they have been breeding youngsters with in 15, 17 and 19 age group. In fact I am very much optimistic with our under-19 young bloods. They are being nurtured to the right path under foreign coaches and the right decision was taken to send them to England to play some practice matches. 3 of our junior cricketers were being sent to Australia(one of them was Dhiman Ghosh, if i am not mistaken)for training.

These are not the end for the "uncertainty of the path" you mentioned. We have BKSP, a core sports training school in Bangladesh, from where our new talent leggie Abdur razzak Raz was emerged. BCB has taken the step to hunt for fast pacers from even remote corner of our country. BCB has arranged special training for our local umpires, since quality umpiring is also a part of developing the infra structure of cricket.

I don't think we should reconcile Bangladesh failure in international level with lack of "uncertainty of the path required to be followed" etc. Bangladesh is heading to the right direction. It has only been 4 years since this developing process was seriously taken care of. And the result of this ongoing process is there. Look at the BD performance since last Australia tour. We are clearly developing! New talents are on the queue to join in international arena. I have all the reason to believe that there is certainty of path Bangladesh has been following. Give us 5 more years, and trust me, we fans will be enjoying the fruit of this positive path.

[the_wall]

(Several players make it to the team on the basis of sheer talent rather than hard work. As a result they struggle to give consiitent performance at top level which in turn leads to players being in and out of the team. In and out of players cause team to become unstable and thus deliver below potential. )

(fact I am very much optimistic with our under-19 young bloods. They are being nurtured to the right path under foreign coaches and the right decision was taken to send them to England to play some practice matches. 3 of our junior cricketers were being sent to Australia(one of them was Dhiman Ghosh, if i am not mistaken)for training.

These are not the end for the "uncertainty of the path" you mentioned. We have BKSP, a core sports training school in Bangladesh, from where our new talent leggie Abdur razzak Raz was emerged. BCB has taken the step to hunt for fast pacers from even remote corner of our country. )

I am not trying to critisize BCB or anything like that. What I am trying to say is that talented players such as Dhiman Ghosh, Abdur Razzaq are coming through. BUT HOW? Through training. Training is not enough. These guys need to play competitive cricket domestically in order to become quality players. Training can make them better in the sense that they can correct their mistakes they have but they would not be able to realize the complete potential. They will not be playing in match situations.

Without having played in match situations they are brought into the team. Match situations would help them gain experience which if not close to international level but atleast competitive level. More than just playing in match situations it is important to play in competitive and intense match situations.
The reason for this is that when they play in tough domestic matches there will be times that they will fail. Then they would go back and try and improve. They would also realize that it aint very easy out here.
Just to explain properly take the case of Kapali or Ash. They started their careers with a bang! But as the going became thougher their performance has become poorer. As a result they are in and out of the team.(at least Ash has made it back in teh last 8 months). If they would have played more First Class cricket more importantly competitive cricket then they would not have faced such problems. Ash came into the team having played about 5 FC matches whereas Kapali did not even know that he can bat until he came into the team( he also came after 8 matches). On the other hand Indian youth player Irfan Pathan had played 30 FC matches before making it along with under 19 performences. He had to perform not only in competitive league matches but also in condiytions that did not suit him. If India wanted he may have been in the team after only 8 matches but that would have done him no good. Even if u see Saleh had played 21 matches with a batting average of 44 before he made it to the team. Although teh has not got hundreds to int level he has been far more consistent with regular scores in the 30s and 40s. He has shown far more maturity than Ash and Kapali and even after having played for shorter time he achieved what Ash or Kapali could not.Vice captaincy (although i think the it waz not the right decision as it is putting a lot preesure on him). Saleh has had to play under 19 cricket, club cricket, and then Fc cricket to make to the team. Not only this he had a proven career record behing him which allowed him to come into the team. Today if Pathan or Saleh fail they will be able to overcome it because they have experience, hard working abilities and the confidence of having suceeded previously. They also do know where can they go back to improve their game and how much they would need to improve to come back and perform. Unlike them Ash and Kapali would be wondering around hoping to see when selecters will have sympathy on them and bring tem back. Or even if they go back to first calls cricket they would not knw when they have reached form. A commentator during one of Bangladesh's ODI matches stated that they need to play not only domestic cricket but VERY COMPETITIVE cricket in order to make it to international level as at this levl it is more about performing rather than discovering ur game which unfortunately is the case with not only Ash and Kapali but a lot of upcoming Bangladeshi cricketers.

[Zobair]

very impressive the_wall Agree with you 100%. You can practice and train all you want but nothing beats playing time out in the middle. A COMPETITIVE domestic league is a MUST for our long term success in the International arena.

Question is what would be the ideal structure for our domestic competition be? How can we make it sustainable. Lets see if we, the members of this board, can do some research and come up with some recommendations? the_wall? Any one?

[Zephaniah]

1. I agree with 'the_wall' 100%.

2. The West Indies board has announced that dramatic changes will take place in their domestic set-up in a bid to improve standards.
Link : Griffith announces major changes to domestic season

3. Sporting pitches should be prepared. Few fast 'n bouncy pitches in new stadiums would do all good to domestic cricket and Bangladesh cricket.

[Arnab]

more paragraphs, please.