MCA's talent hunt scheme gets humungous response as around 2,000 pacers from U-19 and U-23 age groups turn up for trials at Wankhede on Day One
Former India pacer Balvinder Singh Sandhu watches a bowler during the MCA trials at the Wankhede yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
It was his swing bowling that got India its first wicket in the 1983 World Cup final at Lord's. But Balvinder Singh Sandhu is now responding to a task of finding more than just swing bowlers for Mumbai cricket. Sandhu, 61, was at the Wankhede Stadium yesterday to spot talent among raw, out and out fast bowlers and spinners. The response to Mumbai Cricket Association's latest talent hunt scheme was humungous in every sense of the term. Around 2000 pace bowlers belonging to the under-19 and under-23 age groups turned up at the Test venue.
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Ex-India offie, Ramesh Powar and a few other selectors were satisfied to see around 600 spinners. "From the raw talent aspect, it was a good response. Fifty per cent of them weren't good, but if we can get 10 per cent of the remaining to progress to the next level, it will be good for Mumbai cricket," said Sandhu, who has served Mumbai and Maharashtra as coach.
'Looking for that spark'
Sandhu was at the ground from 9.30 am till 6 pm. Asked about the kind of qualities he and his fellow talent spotters were looking for, Sandhu replied: "Bowling action, pace and swing. If someone has pace then the action doesn't matter, because it can be corrected since they are raw. I looked for a spark. If someone has that spark, he can be groomed. At the end of the day, it depends on how well a bowler uses the inputs and information he receives from coaches."
Test of patience
Though the kids were keen, the day tested their patience as they waited for hours at the Garware Pavilion for their turn to parade their skills. In a scheme of such magnitude there would be bowlers turning up with faulty actions. Sandhu didn't seem to have a problem with that as long as the bowler had pace, swing and a good physique.
Powar, who claimed 470 first-class wickets with his off-spin, also watched pace bowlers. Each bowler bowled six balls during the initial part of the day. Later, the lads got just three deliveries. Powar said he looked at, "talent plus adaptability" among the spinners.
MCA's Cricket Improvement Committee chairman and managing committee member Pravin Amre is determined to boost Mumbai's bowling stocks through this scheme. The trials will continue till January 20 across venues. "We never expected such a good response. However, this is raw talent and we all need to be patient," said Amre, who admitted that captains and coaches bemoaned the dipping bowling standards in city cricket.
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