RIGHT at the moment, it appears that the BCCI is much-obsessed with retaining the number one Test spot in ICC rankings. They got the SA itinerary altered to include two Test matches. The team won both Test matches against Bangladesh (wow, what an achievement!). And now experts and former players are exhorting the board to go in for spinning tracks against the Proteas. All in a bid to hang on to that number one position.
While this missionary zeal shown by the Board for the Test team is quite all right, the shoddy performance of the Under-19 team shows that something is wrong somewhere and needs looking into.
The Under-19 World Cup just got over in New Zealand and defending champions India finished a dismal sixth. (India reached the finals in 2006 and won in 2008). So, just in a matter of two years, the youth team instead of showing consistency and improvement, has gone downhill like nobody’s business, while the Board is busy getting more Test matches organised and also at the same time trying to wriggle out of the IPL-auction fiasco.
OK, the Board has its hands full. There is too much on the plate. But the priorities need to be right as well.
It does not come as a surprise really that Australia went on to win this Under-19 World Cup for a record third time, that they had the best fielding unit on display and that their captain Mitch Marsh (son of Geoff Marsh and brother of Shaun Marsh) was in total control of proceedings on the field. (The sons of John Buchanan and Craig McDermott were also part of this Cup-winning Australian squad).
The importance of the Under-19 World Cup does not need to be overly stressed. Everybody, including board officials, former players and selectors keep telling us that this is the feeder line for the senior team. It is an index to the whole system. Given the size and volume (and money) of the game in the country, is the system producing enough quality players to take over the mantle from the senior players?
The board, selectors and players are busy congratulating themselves now that the Test team has earned one more point in ICC rankings by beating Bangladesh two-nil. And all this while, the Under-19 team is losing to everyone in sight (to England, to Pakistan… to Hong Kong… no, no hang on…they managed to beat Hong Kong after all).
Before the start of the Under-19 World Cup, the youth team went to South Africa for some practice matches and even then the junior selectors were busy debating as who should go to New Zealand to watch the players and who should go South Africa. There were these two selectors and both wanted to go to New Zealand with the team because it is more beautiful out there. What a bunch! Really.
While it is a great achievement to beat Bangladesh two-nil and hang on to the number one slot, these selectors, former players and Board officials should be a little worried about the dismal performance of the junior team as well.
The IPL is a great concept and two more teams will mean more megabucks for the Board. So, by all means concentrate all your energies in that direction. But spare some time to see what is happening to the feeder line as well. In two years, this team has gone from champions to sixth place. Yes, but the Board has become even richer. Expectedly, Sachin Tendulkar went to Bangladesh and scored two more centuries in two Test there, Gambhir just missed equaling Bradman’s record (of consecutive tons) but emulated Viv Richards record of consecutive half centuries. Dravid also broke some record (and his jaw too) and Zaheer breathed fire. This series was always going to be good for statistics and that is exactly what it ended up being.
But the board, selectors and pundits should now come out of this euphoria of beating Bangadesh and reflect on the terrible setback of the junior team in New Zealand also. Because if this feeder line dries up – as it looks like happening – then Sachin Tendulkar will have to keep on playing till 2050. Because there will be no one to replace him.
