Time for a reassessment of Indian quicks?

[GIMH]

Many a smart man has fallen prey to the temptation of the pies.

Word

 

[Goughy]

We lack the discipline and the training. Always bring up players but are not able to develop and nurture them properly.

I remember when I first played in an all Indian team and this topic was brought up by someone else. They told me a term which I cant remember with translates to something like "batting thief." IE People would play informal cricket, have their turn batting and then leave. Generally few wanted to bowl and all wanted to bat. Batting was seen as the important thing and bowling hard work - I cant speak for the social status of the people I played with - and something you wouldnt do unless you couldnt bat and even then all that sweating, pain and effort was below them.

I believe history shows fast bowling to be the pursuit of the strong backed, working man away from meddling coaches and I think, please tell me if I am wrong, but for far too long Indian cricket has had its power, influence and player base in a few dominant urban areas. Perhaps it is as simple as they have not been looking in the right areas for fast bowlers and, again, perhaps, things are changing for the better.

 

[Flem274*]

My two cents is it is a vicious cycle. Because India don't have many guys who have been successful quicks in test cricket for a long time (Kapil, Srinath, Zaheer, anyone else?), they don't have the know how to teach youngsters how to be successful quicks in test cricket for a long time.

 

[Jono]

My two cents is it is a vicious cycle. Because India don't have many guys who have been successful quicks in test cricket for a long time (Kapil, Srinath, Zaheer, anyone else?), they don't have the know how to teach youngsters how to be successful quicks in test cricket for a long time.

But foreigners have set up the MRF Pace Academy - Dennis Lillee etc.

 

[Daemon]

It's a shame Zaheer wasn't smart enough to stay away from the pies.

Was known to keep his distance from jelly beans though

 

[Burgey]

Does Zaheer have any coaching role in India? The bloke was quality his last few years.

 

[Jono]

Was known to keep his distance from jelly beans though

very good

 

[Pratters]

I remember when I first played in an all Indian team and this topic was brought up by someone else. They told me a term which I cant remember with translates to something like "batting thief." IE People would play informal cricket, have their turn batting and then leave. Generally few wanted to bowl and all wanted to bat. Batting was seen as the important thing and bowling hard work - I cant speak for the social status of the people I played with - and something you wouldnt do unless you couldnt bat and even then all that sweating, pain and effort was below them.

I believe history shows fast bowling to be the pursuit of the strong backed, working man away from meddling coaches and I think, please tell me if I am wrong, but for far too long Indian cricket has had its power, influence and player base in a few dominant urban areas. Perhaps it is as simple as they have not been looking in the right areas for fast bowlers and, again, perhaps, things are changing for the better.

The jats and the Punjabis are tall, strong men. Basically a few states in the north. You even have some tall people places in Southern India. Kapil Dev was a Haryanvi and that isn't a coincidence by any means.

 

[Daemon]

Not completely on topic, but relevant - Ranji Trophy 2014-15 : 'Hard to produce spinners on greentops' - Harbhajan | Cricket News | Ranji Trophy | ESPN Cricinfo

Probably the most intelligent words I've heard from Harbhajan Singh. Pitches are ridiculously one sided either way and it needs to stop.

 

[Arjun]

Too many changes. Too little patience. And absolutely shoddy player management by buffoons who don't know how to handle a fast bowler. Add to that misunderstood instructions to prepare pitches to help pace bowlers, that instead prepare pitches that help lazy seam/swing bowlers who do nothing spectacular.

 

[GirtBySea]

Ian Chappell has, and has for a long time, been very opinionated on his captaincy tactics and why the bowlers are bowling where they are.
Although for Sharma on his third tour to Australia, is still bowling simply too short.

 

[Salamuddin]

Genetics plays a big part. The fact is India (and Sri Lanka) don't produce strong, fit and/or tall men in the way that Pakistan, South Africa or Australia do.
Hence it will always be a struggle for those two nations to produce genuine quicks.

Leaving that aside though, the issue for me is why guys who do show promise as fast medium swing bowlers fade away so quickly after initial promise - sreesanth, munaf and RP Singh should have all had decent careers. The fact they didn't suggests there's clearly a systemic issue there in the support and training environment.

 

[sledger]

Genetics plays a big part. The fact is India (and Sri Lanka) don't produce strong, fit and/or tall men in the way that Pakistan, South Africa or Australia do.

Haha this post is great. Genetically weak Indians. Definitely using that in the future.

 

[cnerd123]

Genetics plays a big part. The fact is India (and Sri Lanka) don't produce strong, fit and/or tall men in the way that Pakistan, South Africa or Australia do.
Hence it will always be a struggle for those two nations to produce genuine quicks.

 

[duffer]

Heh.

 

[OverratedSanity]

 

[sledger]

 

[cnerd123]

 

[OverratedSanity]

Disappointed by no mention of the great man

 

[cnerd123]

Yea but TNA isn't real wrestling.