“Correct them when they are immature; mould them when they are novice; assist them when they are professional and admit them when they are experts.” Thus dictates the rule book of cricket.
The latter three are invariably and unquestionably fulfilled, but the first is still a big loop hole. Where does correction begin? When someone is unaware of his arm-bend angle or when someone can’t reproduce textbook strokes? What really jeopardizes the industry significantly yet surprisingly is that these minute errors, even if miniscule in number, are not corrected at the grass root levels—yes, I am not talking about the nets, but domestic cricket.
One day internationals, T20s, 10-over matches and now even 5-over games for charity: where is cricket heading to? In these formats where reckless slogging and inconsistencies are daily routine, there is not really a chance by means of which one can improve and learn the sport thoroughly (at least the way it is supposed to be learnt). This is why I keep reiterating the importance of domestic cricket—a forum not only to hone a players’ skills but also to implant in him moral and ethical values that can help him evolve into a respectable human being. The surprising part though is the fact that this crucial format is overshadowed by limited overs cricket, hardly realising that most players who make it to the international squad have proved themselves considerably in domestic cricket.
Walk to India and you will find the Ranji Trophy; walk to England and the counties aren’t countable; hop around Australia to realise the value of domestic cricket. It is no surprise that these are the lands of great sportsmen like Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Michael Vaughan.
The aspects that are dealt in domestic cricket: namely discipline, respect for fellow players, playing the game with complete dedication and devotion, experimentation and improvisation, assists the players to develop self-respect, self-esteem and, most importantly, characterise and individual’s approach to life.
These tournaments are the stepping stones to one’s success. English county cricket has attracted several great players like Sir Vivian Richards and Kapil Dev. One uniform thing in people’s approach to the participation of senior players in these formats of the sport is their belief that these leagues are only to improve the skills of youngsters, little realising the importance of a major factor that haunts every team in the world: “dressing room harmony”. The exposure and learning experience is taken to an all new level! The presence of these Big Names not only provide a moral boost to the junior players, but also ensures that they play with more confidence each time they step on the field and constantly keep correcting their weak spots. After all, their encomiastic comments are those that elate the young guns.
Keeping all this in mind one would completely accept that domestic cricket is the reason for the consistent performance of players over generations, thus making us understand and realise its prowess in the current world. So how can we make this popular in those countries which are not economically stable enough to host a league? Considering that the ICC itself has several bodies reporting to it including The Cricket Boards of all Countries, it can take steps and implement proper mechanisms to host at least one major domestic league in every cricket playing nation. This is the very least the ICC can do. The individual cricket boards can conduct regional tournaments periodically, thus ensuring a healthy cricketing environment even in remote locations of a country.
Every nation bestows huge responsibilities on its players, little realising that without sufficient training one goes nowhere but down the valley. So, come what may, domestic cricket shall have its say in the present scenario and shall continue to make a difference in every possible manner in the future as well—it is just the life that goes away, not the soul, after all, and the soul here is the format itself—”the secure golden nugget” that budding sportsmen depend on. The legacy shall continue…
Thank you for reading. Follow me on twitter @PradVasu. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LWOSWorld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
For the latest sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
Are you interested in writing about Cricket? LWOS is looking for passionate Cricket fans to get their views heard by thousands. Have a look at our WriteForUs page for more information.
