Drop in standard of U 19 cricket worries officials

By Ranjan ANANDAPPA

UNDER 19 CRICKET: Inadequate preparations and lack of International exposure was the main cause for the dubious performance of the Sri Lanka Under 19 team at the recently concluded Youth World Cricket Cup in Australia. A somewhat sad looking Sri Lanka Under 19 coach Naveed Nawaz attributed the dismal performance of his team who were unable to enter the main stream of the tournament. The Lankan team had to be satisfied winning the 'plate' championship which had a number of non-Test playing nations. "Before we went to the Asia Cup in Malaysia, we had little or no exposure except a tour to India and Bangladesh, playing mostly on sub-continent pitches. I am sure all the other countries who participated in the championships would have had enough experience playing in different conditions.

During the first couple of matches it was bitter cold, while the tournament was in progress the boys were gradually getting used to it, but then it was too late," said Nawaz.

In the previous tournament held in New Zealand, Sri Lanka ,although not winning the championship were well prepared for the situation with tours to Australia and fared well somewhat adequately.

With the beginning of another school cricket season, the main focus should be on picking talented players with the 2012 Under 19 World Cup in mind.

The up-coming tournament will be held in the UAE. According to Nawaz, recommendations have been made to address the situation by forming a development committee for the Sri Lanka 'A' and Under 19 teams while participating in future tours, specially focussing the next under 19 World Cup competition in 2014 to be held in Dubai. The committee comprises some well-known past cricketers like Chairman Selectors Ashantha de Mel, Ranjith Fernando, Romesh Kaluvitharana, Kapila Wijegunawardena, present under 19 coach Naveed Nawaz and Michael de Zoyza. They will submit the best laid plans for the development of the Sri Lanka 'A' and Under 19 teams for their future tours.

Sri Lanka was once held in high esteem in the cricketing world for their exploits at junior level cricket, but in the recent past it is no exaggeration to say that the standard has declined drastically, analysing their performances not only in the World Cup, but in general. Usually, after representing the country at the highest junior level like a World Cup, most players are spotted as future players who are ready to represent their country at the highest international level.

But how many could be identified as potential Sri Lanka players in the present under 19 side? In the inaugural tournament in 1988 held in Australia there were players of the likes of England's former captains Nasser Hussain and Mike Atherton, Indian spinner Venkatapathy Raju, New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns, Pakistan's Mushtaq Ahmed and Inzamam-Ul-Haq, Sri Lanka's Sanath Jayasuriya, West Indian Brian Lara, Ridley Jacobs and Jimmy Adams. Likewise in the past nine Youth World Cups, a number of top players have emerged and gone on to represent their respective countries.

In the 2002 competition held in India, players like Yuvraj Singh of India and South African captain Graeme Smith were discovered. There were many Sri Lankan players too, who had made the grade to the top level.

In the 2008 Junior World Cup held in Malaysia one of India's prolific scorers Virat Kohli, who is going great guns at present, led India to win the Under 19 plum defeating South Africa. In that 2008 tournament, Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal,Lahiru Thirimanne, Dilshan Munaweera and Thisara Perera all who are presently representing the country's main team at the moment were members of the junior team. West Indian Chris Gayle who has been a bowler's nightmare in all forms of the game was a member of the 1998 West Indies Under 19 team along with Ramnaresh Sarwan.

Then Tim Southee of New Zealand made his Test début weeks after playing in the 2008 World Cup while Wayne Parnell of South Africa and Darren Bravo of the West Indies made a big impact that year and later went onto represent their respective countries.

So, the Under 19 World Cup has been the stepping stone for many outstanding players.