They key to producing great cricketers ? Opinion | bettor.com

They key to producing great cricketers ? Opinion

Successful cricket teams around the world consider their success to be a product of their domestic circuit. Domestic leagues such as the NatWest Pro 40 or the KFC Big Bash are considered to be the catalysts for producing an array of top quality players. Yet such teams often struggle at the international level with the same pool of players, due to a plethora of reasons. Bangladesh is one cricket team where for the most part of their cricketing history, they have grappled with in inability to translate their talented bunch of players into consistent performances at the international level.

If one is to consider the Australian system of plucking out players at high school level, then it is a grand example of instilling interest in the game at a very young age. In a nation which has a rich sporting heritage, Australia has produced some of the best cricketers to date because of their elaborate system. The prime reason for this is the combination of being educated and playing sport going hand in hand. Participation in extra-curricular activities is an outright compulsion for many Australian students, considered to be indispensable for a child?s growth. The Belridge Senior High School in Perth is a prime example of how an institution had established a specialist cricket program which develops young cricketers and provides them with a chance to succeed in a professional setting.

?In contrast, students from the subcontinent are expected to master one aspect of their lives and compromise on the other due to factors such as familial pressure and societal expectations. Not many Pakistani, Indian or Sri Lankan cricketers would be holding degrees by the time they embraced their national colors and even fewer would have graduated from a secondary institution. High school drop outs are common given that the rule of the thumb is that they could become sportsmen, where an academic setting would not allow them to.

Cricket is well and truly a fact of life in Australian high schools. Classes which go on throughout the day which range from pressing subjects such as mathematics, statistics and languages take a heavy toll on those who digest them. The cure for exhaustion comes in the form of recreation during the evening and despite the youth having a general liking towards movies and hanging out a natural interest in resorting towards playing cricket is guaranteed. Evening hours are considered to be ideal where an inquisitive youngster retains an interest in the game after working all day long. The end result is more top notch performances from the players without fear of failure.

Cricket in the schooling system can be considered as the antidote for a country?s future. Players who excel in Australia are often given a chance to represent their respective counties and later on be in contention to represent the nation at the Under 19 Level. Meritocracy in any sport is bound to yield significant dividends. Being exposed to the harsh realities of the sport at a young age helps in toughening up youngsters and equips them with tackling the challenging nature of the game, later on in life.

Sadly, this system is implemented in just a handful of countries such as Australia, South Africa and to a lesser extent, in the United Kingdom. One needs to acknowledge that for the gentleman?s game to be played in earnest, education has a key role to play.

Disclaimer: Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely of the author and do not represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.

Source: http://blogs.bettor.com/They-key-to-producing-great-cricketers-Opinion-a177769

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