Formal Cricket India: A beginner's guide

You've always dreamt of playing for your country, but you did not know how. Now your child has the same dream. You want to do everything to see at your child's dream come true, but the same old question nags you: how?

Well, look no further. Designed to serve as a blueprint for every aspiring cricket player, here is a brief look at how to make those dreams come true.

School showdowns:

Children often develop an astonishing ability to emulate and pick up little idiosyncrasies from watching their favourite cricket idols. This is perhaps the best time to nurture their commitment to pursue their passion.

It is not for nothing that it is said, 'Catch them young!' As children grow into their adolescence, they have a great sense of pursuit of ambitions. Their hunger makes it the right time to hone their skills. School is where young cricket aspirants get their first taste of competition, where competitions such as the Giles and Harris shield for the under-14 and under-16 levels respectively assume importance.

Besides these prestigious tournaments, there are also under-15 and under-17 open selection tournaments affiliated to local associations such as the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). Players selected at this level get an opportunity to play for one of the four zones (North, South, East, and West).

College carnival:

There are various opportunities at the college level that ambitious young cricketers can utilise to their benefit. At the college level, local associations such as the MCA in Mumbai host various tournaments across the country. In Mumbai, these include the Vinoo Mankad and C K Naidu tournaments for under-19 and under-22 categories respectively.

Also at this level, there are selection tournaments in each city, like the Shalini Bhalekar and Manohar Sawant tournaments in Mumbai, wherein the players are selected for the Mumbai under 19 and Mumbai under 22 levels.

That's not all, though: All performances at this level in the various tournaments are taken into consideration when selecting players at the zonal level.

Besides these interesting events, aspirants also have the opportunity to represent their respective universities and subsequently their respective zones at the all India level.

Corporate clash:

Many will have heard of the Corporate Shield or the Times Shield, popular tournaments on the corporate cricket circuit. Though these tournaments are not taken into direct consideration, exceptional performances could merit a state team selection.

Club with a purpose:

Club cricket forms an important link in the selection process to the national team that will eventually represent the country internationally. Club cricket has its own distinguished position in the overall domestic cricket circuit. The most well-known Club Circuit tournaments include the Kanga League and the Puroshattam League.

The circuit is divided into seven sections from 'A' to 'G'. The first two groups, 'A' and 'B', are most significant in that selections based on performances in these groups count towards selection for state tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, and Irani Trophy.

District diversity:

Encompassed by a vast geographical region, each state comprises a multiplicity of cricket associations affiliated to the state. They help reduce the burden of a centralised responsibility on the respective state. For instance, the Punjab Cricket Association takes pride in the fact that it hosts inter-district and pre-state tournaments on a two or three day basis. These tournaments also allow aspiring young cricketers to interact with the Ranji Trophy team during the off season when the cricket goes into hibernation.

Even lesser known cricket associations have a bigger role to play in the larger picture. For example, the Angul District Cricket Association organises district level cricket tournaments. Apart from that, it takes on the responsibility of sending forth players to participate in the Orissa Cricket Association organised tournaments. In the past, it has organised two inter-district cricket tournaments such as the Kalahandi Cup Cricket Tournament and another in the form of the Orissa-Assam cricket tournament for the Ranji trophy.

State—in mind and matter:

While club cricket provides a parallel means to get selected to the state team, players that come through the zonal circuit represent their state at the inter zone competitions. This would include more than two teams competing. For instance, the west zone comprises teams from Mumbai, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Baroda.

Players selected at the zonal level consist of those that have shown potential as well as concrete performances. They rightfully merit their place in the state first class side to compete in such prestigious domestic tournaments such as the Ranji Trophy.

Higher ground—national side:

State first class matches have a major bearing in deciding who gets to don the prestigious uniform of the national side. Consistent performance at this level is crucial to catch the eye of the selectors and compete for a place in the national side. Most of the players that have gone on to represent the national side have been prolific players at the state level and therefore, vindicated their selection to represent their country at the international level.

There are no short cuts to success. But there is always a path that guides aspirants along their destined path. But hard work and consistency in discipline when pursuing long cherished dreams create smooth highways to destinations of success. But the end is only the beginning. The international circuit may seem the ultimate destination. But the journey has just begun and the summits to conquer are limitless.

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