5 years and funding to improve your national side - what would you do?

[Debris]

So win-win then

 

[Migara]

Hire a hit man and shoot all the select suckers.

 

[Prince EWS]

Only way Australia will get a half decent spinner or a solid middle order.

Haha it is funny that the two area Australias are struggling with - lower middle order and spin bowling - and the only two settled areas of the New Zealand team at the moment. It's almost like they were meant to be one combined Test nation.

Anyway, if New Zealand join Australia, can New South Wales split from it?
Actually - I'll just make that my answer to the thread regardless. Get NSW Test status.

 

[91Jmay]

1) Reduce the amount of T20 we play back to what it was when it first came in.

2) Keep the current amount of CC games the same but have it as five day cricket. Totally pointless to me to not start preparing players for test level immediantly.

3) Reduce the number of counties - controversial but it would mean better quality cricket is played.

4) Scrap Kolpak players, two overseas players per year can stay though as it is good for youth players to get exposure to great foreign players.

5) Build another 5 Loughborough standard youth training facilities around the country (North East, North West, Midlands, South East, South West) - can't hurt can it.

6) 6 counties -
North (Yorks, Durham and Lancs )
Midlands West (Warks, Worcs and Northants)
Midlands East (Derby, Foxes and Notts)
South (Surrey/Middlesex, Essex)
South East (Sussex, Hampshire and Kent)
South West (Glamorgan, Somerset and Gloucestershire)

Would have to be accompanied by a draft system (such as in american sports) as the West Mids team would be appaullingly bad. South West is an issue but if i used my super wealth to subsidise transport for the teams a flight from Devon to Cardiff can't be that long?

I'd also increase crickets presence in state schools ten fold (terribly low representation of state school lads in the England team, we are literally using about a 5% of our population to pick the team from).

 

[Shri]

Wouldn't change much. Would just introduce a franchise style FC system and scrap the Ranji competition. Would make it compulsory for the franchises to have reserve and youth teams. Would give huge bonus money to curators for every good pitch. Would make the outfield have a lot of grass in every cricket ground across the country to improve fielding in players from a young age.

 

[G.I.Joe]

Dropping Peter Siddle and Marcus North is free, i would invest in grass roots cricket and the Big Bash, giving the ACT and NT teams.

.......

 

[Daemon]

Singapore!!

1) Make a couple more grounds

2) Change all the astro turd pitches to turf wickets

3) Fund schools to have the resources to start cricket as a CCA

4) Fund the club sides and try to get them to have youth teams and training facilities

5) Host T20 competitions and try to get overseas players like we have done in the past (mostly Lankan players so far, we could try and get others). Show highlights of these on television and try to make the reportings as uncomplicated as possible. Most people don't start cricket because they find it hard to understand.

6) Get more qualified coaches to coach the kids at school level. The coaches we have now are random people from the national team and ex-players for Singapore. One school even had a groundsman coaching them for a couple of years...

7) Advertise the **** out of the game so that the Chinese (majority of the population) start taking interest. Most of the players now are expats. Every once in a while, a Chinese fella tries his hand at cricket at a young age, and most of the time they turn out to become pretty decent cricketers.

 

[Bun]

Buy South Africa and NSW.

 

[Jarquis]

I want Pickup to post in here, and Uppercut.

 

[Chubb]

For Zimbabwe, I would continue what ZC are doing with the domestic structure - attracting a few good overseas players and such - but I would build a brand new state-of-the-art cricket academy and I'd aggressively pursue re-entry into test cricket. I'd encourage ex-pros from around the world to launch their coaching careers with stints in Zim, as Jason Gillespie has. I would attempt to get exiles to come home, although in the last couple of years many already have. I'd also make sure the club grounds and facilities are up to standard to help player development. In addition, I would try to get good club cricketers from England to spend their winter playing club cricket in Zimbabwe to raise the standard at the lower level.

In Zimbabwe you have the advantage of the school system which STILL produces quality talents in many different sports.

 

[slugger]

Simple in NZ I would get cricket back on free to air television. all domestic 20/20 games all int. ODi and when possible good test matches like aus vs nz or eng vs nz.

 

[Hurricane]

1) The best players seem to have a Dad or an older brother or someone who was a cricket nut who trained them from a young age. Reckon I would invest in coaching - all of my practices were just turn up to the nets and have a bowl and a bat for 2 hours and then go home. The only practice where I ever improved is where the coach got out some softer balls and threw them at my legs for 15 minutes so that I wouldn't back away to square leg anymore. I reckon individualised coaching programs for school kids that teach you how to play a cover drive or a hook shot etc...and that is all you practice for a session. That coaching needs to be when you are 10-14 years old.

2) Would have only 20/20 cricket and 4 day cricket in our domestic comp. I wouldn't play more 20.20 cricket would just play more 4 day stuff. Our batsman need the practice. Would just have the blackcaps play ODI cricket.

 

[NZTailender]

I reckon individualised coaching programs for school kids that teach you how to play a cover drive or a hook shot etc...and that is all you practice for a session. That coaching needs to be when you are 10-14 years old. .

The only specialised thing I was taught at cricket training during primary school was how to play the pull shot - the correct footwork, what line to read and play, etc.

To this day is the only shot I can play correctly. Everything else is agricultural slogging. So I think that idea of yours is pretty great.

 

[Shri]

There should be some self training and improvisation encouraged. I was the only guy in my school who could play a backward-crouching-falling away pull shot over deep square leg for six!

 

[Spark]

Build clinics for spin bowling. Axe the selectors and get the best ones.

That and get fielding standards back up. Far too many OK/mediocre fielders running around Aus cricket these days and not enough excellent/outstanding ones.

 

[AaronK]

oh Pakistan cricket can use this kind of break .. 5 years ban from playing international cricket but resources and funding are given to focus on improvment of cricketing issues in pakistan..

here is what i would do

1) Break the PCB System and get rid of the current system ...instead i would select an international task force consists of icc members and international x cricketers and cricket experts.. this task force will not have a representative from pakistan.. I would pick 5 members on the task force to oversee pakistan cricket.. one of their main job is to pick a pcb chairman. A chairman that would be qualified based on his experiances and knowledge.. not related to the president of Pakistan government..

The task force would also perform the role of jury and check and balance during the selection commitee process and other pcb related cricketing issues.

2) Ban every single player that has ever been involved in match fixing, spot fixing, Oath taking and ball temparing.

3) Change the first class system in pakistan and divided it in to 3 levels..

Prelimanary level

this is the first and primary class of cricket.. players who wants to play cricket start from here..they would have to constantly perform at least for 3 seasons in order to qualify for the next level

First class level
advanced level and the next stage after preliminary level... consist of 8 teams that would play first class cricket every season.. only 50 to 60 best once would be qualified for the next level which is Pakistan A.

Pakistan A

consist of 50 to 60 players divded in to teams. they not only would play against each other in their own tournment but also they would be divided and send overseas to take part in Aus, Eng and South African domestic cricket...this is the final level as the best from these crop would represent pakistan in international matches.

4) I would seperate Test, ODI and 20/20 teams.. I would keep 2 express fast bowlers to play only in test matches and would alllow them to play limited cricket so they could stay fit..the limitted over players would be also rated based on their fielding.. only the best fielders would make the team.


50) Bring back cricket to pakistan.. send an invitation to every test playing nation to tour pakistan.. I would promise them president type of security and provide them that security. Not to forget, make better pitches so that the matches turn out interesting.

 

[Hurricane]

^^^ Great post...thanks for the Pakistan perspective. Well thought out and plenty of desire for your country to improve.

 

[smash84]

-Make the selection process more clean and transparent all all levels no more uncles and fathers pushing for their kids selection over the deserving ones.

-Improve pay levels for domestic cricketers.

-Organize regular talents hunts, a lot of highly competitive but unorganized cricket is played in Pakistan there is always a chance you will find a hidden gem somewhere.

-Improve batting coaching at the junior level currently too many batsman in Pakistan rely on hand eye coordination then proper technique.

-Encourage fast bowlers too bowl as quick as possible this has always been Pakistan's USP.

oh Pakistan cricket can use this kind of break .. 5 years ban from playing international cricket but resources and funding are given to focus on improvment of cricketing issues in pakistan..

here is what i would do

1) Break the PCB System and get rid of the current system ...instead i would select an international task force consists of icc members and international x cricketers and cricket experts.. this task force will not have a representative from pakistan.. I would pick 5 members on the task force to oversee pakistan cricket.. one of their main job is to pick a pcb chairman. A chairman that would be qualified based on his experiances and knowledge.. not related to the president of Pakistan government..

The task force would also perform the role of jury and check and balance during the selection commitee process and other pcb related cricketing issues.

2) Ban every single player that has ever been involved in match fixing, spot fixing, Oath taking and ball temparing.

3) Change the first class system in pakistan and divided it in to 3 levels..

Prelimanary level

this is the first and primary class of cricket.. players who wants to play cricket start from here..they would have to constantly perform at least for 3 seasons in order to qualify for the next level

First class level
advanced level and the next stage after preliminary level... consist of 8 teams that would play first class cricket every season.. only 50 to 60 best once would be qualified for the next level which is Pakistan A.

Pakistan A

consist of 50 to 60 players divded in to teams. they not only would play against each other in their own tournment but also they would be divided and send overseas to take part in Aus, Eng and South African domestic cricket...this is the final level as the best from these crop would represent pakistan in international matches.

4) I would seperate Test, ODI and 20/20 teams.. I would keep 2 express fast bowlers to play only in test matches and would alllow them to play limited cricket so they could stay fit..the limitted over players would be also rated based on their fielding.. only the best fielders would make the team.


50) Bring back cricket to pakistan.. send an invitation to every test playing nation to tour pakistan.. I would promise them president type of security and provide them that security. Not to forget, make better pitches so that the matches turn out interesting.

The first thing to do would be to kick out Ijaz Butt.

The rest would be Xuhaib's points. He has made some good points. AaronK's suggestions are a little extreme for my taste.

 

[jashan83]

I would take this from the point of View of countries like Nepal, Malaysia, Tanzania, Botswana or similar countries. I take the working budget of 100M US$ for one country

The first step would be building 3 decent stadiums. This would cost around 45M USD. (DY Patil in Navi Mumbai at such construction cost 25M USD). These 3 stadiums would be in different part of the cities., Say if I am in Nepal these would be Kathamandu, Biratnagar & Birendranagar. This is based on both Population and also ensuring a geographical spread through the country. A geographical spread would mean that they act as hub for development in different areas.

Similarly in Malaysia these cities would be Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru & Kota Kinabalu.
Tanzania:-Dar es Salaam, Arusha & Kigoma
Botswana:-Gaborone, Palapye & Francistown

My second step would be having central contract with 30 Players to make them professional cricketers.The professional contract would be based on the per capita income of the nations. There would be 4 Slab of Players with Slab A getting the highest followed by Slab B, C & D.
Central contracts would increase the focus of players and also lead to better performances with players bound for regular practice.
The average value of contracts can be (15 times the Per Capita Income)
Nepal:- 15000 $. Total Budget ( 0.5 M$)
Malaysia:- 120,000$, Total Budget( 3.6 M$)
Tanzania:-9000 $, Total Budget (0.3 M$)
Botswana:- 90,000$, Total Budget (2.7 M$)

Parallel to it, we would set up a domestic league with 6 Teams. These teams would have a catchment area based on population and geography to cover. The national players would be based out of their native areas itself. I any of the 6 teams do not have any central contracted players then Central board would loan them 2 Players (One from Slab A or B and other from Slab C or D). These 6 teams will have 3 stadiums for their matches. They will be divided into 2 teams per stadium.
However if an team would like to develop it's ground in it's geographic locale it can go ahead, how both teams would have to Share the total income or total deficit of both the grounds on a equal sharing. The rough budget would be 1 MUSD in running each of the club.

MOST IMPORTANT would be these clubs would be provided with budget to develop cricket in schools of their region. They should be able to cover atleast 50% of the schools in the area. There they develop coaches who teach the students cricket. Regular school level competitions will be held once in 6 months. The best players in this would be offered scholarships to cover study costs till Bachelor's on a guarantee to play cricket and practice for at least 750 Hrs / Year. The better students can be directly added to central contracts if they have the potential

Besides this once in 6 month each club will hold camps where they will pick up the best players who give the trials. Competition for local clubs will be organized.

With the above 2 measures we try to spread cricket to the roots.

Also one of the other major step would be live telecast of cricket matches both Club and Country on TV as well as Radio. As we know initially this proposition will not be acceptable to TV channels, hence for 2 years we would pay TV certain money. For Nepal it can be as low as 1 M USD to 10 M USD in Malaysia. The club cricket games would be so positioned such that in breaks "How Cricket is Played" is shown to country. Such articles would also be printed in both English and Local Newspapers.

To popularize cricket even further, in the major cities screen would be put which covers cricket matches continuously so that cricket is in Notice. The screen would show matches of all the teams like India, Australia, England, Pakistan and popular first class matches like IPL or Country cricket. When no matches are there, some great matches specially 20-20 would be shown.

One popular star would also be taken as Brand Model for cricket.

Last step would be to have the Cricket Board both national and clubs to have permanent employees 10 each, whose purpose would be to manage all the activities.

Now with present ICC budget of say 2-3 M USD to Associate (That too Top ones), I know it is difficult. The income can be increased if Cricket becomes a part of Olympic, then you get extra income from Olympic Associations. The most challenging part is spreading cricket to the roots and sponsorship

 

[smash84]

I would take this from the point of View of countries like Nepal, Malaysia, Tanzania, Botswana or similar countries. I take the working budget of 100M US$ for one country

The first step would be building 3 decent stadiums. This would cost around 45M USD. (DY Patil in Navi Mumbai at such construction cost 25M USD). These 3 stadiums would be in different part of the cities., Say if I am in Nepal these would be Kathamandu, Biratnagar & Birendranagar. This is based on both Population and also ensuring a geographical spread through the country. A geographical spread would mean that they act as hub for development in different areas.

Similarly in Malaysia these cities would be Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru & Kota Kinabalu.
Tanzania:-Dar es Salaam, Arusha & Kigoma
Botswana:-Gaborone, Palapye & Francistown

My second step would be having central contract with 30 Players to make them professional cricketers.The professional contract would be based on the per capita income of the nations. There would be 4 Slab of Players with Slab A getting the highest followed by Slab B, C & D.
Central contracts would increase the focus of players and also lead to better performances with players bound for regular practice.
The average value of contracts can be (15 times the Per Capita Income)
Nepal:- 15000 $. Total Budget ( 0.5 M$)
Malaysia:- 120,000$, Total Budget( 3.6 M$)
Tanzania:-9000 $, Total Budget (0.3 M$)
Botswana:- 90,000$, Total Budget (2.7 M$)

Parallel to it, we would set up a domestic league with 6 Teams. These teams would have a catchment area based on population and geography to cover. The national players would be based out of their native areas itself. I any of the 6 teams do not have any central contracted players then Central board would loan them 2 Players (One from Slab A or B and other from Slab C or D). These 6 teams will have 3 stadiums for their matches. They will be divided into 2 teams per stadium.
However if an team would like to develop it's ground in it's geographic locale it can go ahead, how both teams would have to Share the total income or total deficit of both the grounds on a equal sharing. The rough budget would be 1 MUSD in running each of the club.

MOST IMPORTANT would be these clubs would be provided with budget to develop cricket in schools of their region. They should be able to cover atleast 50% of the schools in the area. There they develop coaches who teach the students cricket. Regular school level competitions will be held once in 6 months. The best players in this would be offered scholarships to cover study costs till Bachelor's on a guarantee to play cricket and practice for at least 750 Hrs / Year. The better students can be directly added to central contracts if they have the potential

Besides this once in 6 month each club will hold camps where they will pick up the best players who give the trials. Competition for local clubs will be organized.

With the above 2 measures we try to spread cricket to the roots.

Also one of the other major step would be live telecast of cricket matches both Club and Country on TV as well as Radio. As we know initially this proposition will not be acceptable to TV channels, hence for 2 years we would pay TV certain money. For Nepal it can be as low as 1 M USD to 10 M USD in Malaysia. The club cricket games would be so positioned such that in breaks "How Cricket is Played" is shown to country. Such articles would also be printed in both English and Local Newspapers.

To popularize cricket even further, in the major cities screen would be put which covers cricket matches continuously so that cricket is in Notice. The screen would show matches of all the teams like India, Australia, England, Pakistan and popular first class matches like IPL or Country cricket. When no matches are there, some great matches specially 20-20 would be shown.

One popular star would also be taken as Brand Model for cricket.

Last step would be to have the Cricket Board both national and clubs to have permanent employees 10 each, whose purpose would be to manage all the activities.

Now with present ICC budget of say 2-3 M USD to Associate (That too Top ones), I know it is difficult. The income can be increased if Cricket becomes a part of Olympic, then you get extra income from Olympic Associations. The most challenging part is spreading cricket to the roots and sponsorship

Great suggestion. Seems like you have given the matter some thought.