Arjun
Cricketer Of The Year
Many fans continue to ask one another and the experts, "What's wrong with the Indian one-day team? Why is a team with so many star players at the bottom of the table? Why is a side with so much talent struggling to win ODI tournaments?" Quite frankly, the Indian ODI side is never likely to become a force to reckon with if the BCCI, more keen on trying to make a lot of noise to show who's boss, don't look at the domestic limited-overs system in India, which is badly flawed.
Look at the Ranji-OD series. You find the competition initially divided into five zones, which will give the stronger zonal sides an easy advantage. This is exploited by teams in zones where there are just one or two strong teams. Consequently, the all-India phase of this series has top teams from weaker zones making the grade ahead of teams stronger than them who are only second-best in stronger zones.
When are the matches held? These matches were held in the earlier part of the year, and consequently, more than a few matches in the northern and eastern regions were washed out due to rain or cut short due to bad light. To make things worse, the all-India phase was held in Mumbai, when it was so hot the conditions were difficult for positive, attacking cricket, and the players were tired throughout the series. As usual, they were held when the national side players were not available- at the most crucial phase.
Where do they play the matches? Since they try to finish off as many matches as possible in little time, you find three matches played on one day. They try to minimise on travelling costs, so they're held in the same city. Consequently, all the matches have to be played in tiny club and college grounds. Is this the way to prepare your future ODI players? For matches to play in big grounds? To add, all the matches are still played during the with the red ball day, when ODI's are played with a white ball, often at night.
The Deodhar trophy should be the premier limited-overs tournament in the country. The top players from all five zones face one another, so they have to have the country's top players (that is, the starting lineup players from the Indian side) in the teams, and the selectors must take interest in the events. This too is played during the day, on a few club grounds or former ODI venues which are not even used these days. Then you have the Challenger Trophy, which seems to emphasise far too much on individual performances than those of the team. And the pitches? Flat. Absolutely flat, and the fast outfields help gentle touches go for fours and the small grounds make it even easier to hit sixes without doing much. Spare a thought for the bowlers, who have to suffer in many run-fests in these matches.
It's time things change. Any change here can only be for the better. First of all, they may consider revamping the groupings for the Ranji OD trophy, as they did for the first-class structure. An alternative can be a change in only the all-India phase, which will feature the top 8 sides from all over India, regardless of which zone they're from. Thus, performances in one zone can affect the overall position of any team in another zone. They should hold these matches when the national team is out of action, so that the frontliners are available. Climatic conditions should also be considered, so that it's not too hot or rainy or dim to play. In other words, they shouldn't hold the matches in places like Himachal or Orissa.
All matches should be played in premier grounds such as Eden Gardens, Kotla or W'hede, must use the white ball, and there should be more D/N fixtures. The pitche should suit everyone, batsmen and bowlers, and there should be a variety in the kind of pitches laid. Outfields should be softer, encouraging attacking fielding and making it harder to hit the boundaries. This way, fielders can slide and dive more, while batsmen have to hit the ball harder, get their timing right and run more between wickets. Performances in the Deodhar trophy should determine the selection of the ODI side, while the Challenger series should have the frontline Indian side palying against two teams of reserves.
Most importantly, the system should be marketed properly. The system not only needs more improvements, it also needs fans- after all, they support the Indian team in large numbers, thus keeping the system going. That makes their support equally vital for domestic cricket. And please, give the matches some serious TV coverage!
Look at the Ranji-OD series. You find the competition initially divided into five zones, which will give the stronger zonal sides an easy advantage. This is exploited by teams in zones where there are just one or two strong teams. Consequently, the all-India phase of this series has top teams from weaker zones making the grade ahead of teams stronger than them who are only second-best in stronger zones.
When are the matches held? These matches were held in the earlier part of the year, and consequently, more than a few matches in the northern and eastern regions were washed out due to rain or cut short due to bad light. To make things worse, the all-India phase was held in Mumbai, when it was so hot the conditions were difficult for positive, attacking cricket, and the players were tired throughout the series. As usual, they were held when the national side players were not available- at the most crucial phase.
Where do they play the matches? Since they try to finish off as many matches as possible in little time, you find three matches played on one day. They try to minimise on travelling costs, so they're held in the same city. Consequently, all the matches have to be played in tiny club and college grounds. Is this the way to prepare your future ODI players? For matches to play in big grounds? To add, all the matches are still played during the with the red ball day, when ODI's are played with a white ball, often at night.
The Deodhar trophy should be the premier limited-overs tournament in the country. The top players from all five zones face one another, so they have to have the country's top players (that is, the starting lineup players from the Indian side) in the teams, and the selectors must take interest in the events. This too is played during the day, on a few club grounds or former ODI venues which are not even used these days. Then you have the Challenger Trophy, which seems to emphasise far too much on individual performances than those of the team. And the pitches? Flat. Absolutely flat, and the fast outfields help gentle touches go for fours and the small grounds make it even easier to hit sixes without doing much. Spare a thought for the bowlers, who have to suffer in many run-fests in these matches.
It's time things change. Any change here can only be for the better. First of all, they may consider revamping the groupings for the Ranji OD trophy, as they did for the first-class structure. An alternative can be a change in only the all-India phase, which will feature the top 8 sides from all over India, regardless of which zone they're from. Thus, performances in one zone can affect the overall position of any team in another zone. They should hold these matches when the national team is out of action, so that the frontliners are available. Climatic conditions should also be considered, so that it's not too hot or rainy or dim to play. In other words, they shouldn't hold the matches in places like Himachal or Orissa.
All matches should be played in premier grounds such as Eden Gardens, Kotla or W'hede, must use the white ball, and there should be more D/N fixtures. The pitche should suit everyone, batsmen and bowlers, and there should be a variety in the kind of pitches laid. Outfields should be softer, encouraging attacking fielding and making it harder to hit the boundaries. This way, fielders can slide and dive more, while batsmen have to hit the ball harder, get their timing right and run more between wickets. Performances in the Deodhar trophy should determine the selection of the ODI side, while the Challenger series should have the frontline Indian side palying against two teams of reserves.
Most importantly, the system should be marketed properly. The system not only needs more improvements, it also needs fans- after all, they support the Indian team in large numbers, thus keeping the system going. That makes their support equally vital for domestic cricket. And please, give the matches some serious TV coverage!
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