Akash Chopra on U-19 & first class cricket

[diga]

U-19's fine, but don't forget first-class cricket It wasn't always like this, for U-19 cricket used to be considered a stepping stone and nothing more. If you did well for your state at the U-19 level, it was imperative to back it up with strong performances in district or league matches to earn a call-up for a Ranji Trophy trial. And if you represented India at the U-19 level, the best you could get was a spot in the list of probables for Ranji selection. First-class cricket was sacrosanct; There was a huge gulf - and there still is - in standard between U-19 cricket and first-class cricket. While it's great to rejoice in a teen prodigy's success at the U-19 World Cup, it may not be too bad an idea to let him then prove himself with a few successful seasons in first-class cricket and delay his arrival at the biggest stage. Losing a couple of years is much better than losing a player.

[diga]

Couple of interesting comments in the article: "What if the U-19 guys pick up bad habits in the domestic cricket, which is probably far easier than the international arena? I would say identify the best U-19 guys, push them into an A team/academy team and play in domestic cricket as a separate team & in different conditions under the strict monitoring by a qualified coach. That way the talent is not lost and the youngsters are hardened in domestic ckt." "i also feel that lot of domestic teams in India are filled with players in late 20's who are going no where in there careers and some players are favorites of state associations who keep blocking the path of deseving u-19 players. I am not trying to devalue domestic cricket but there is no need for it's over glorification either."

[diga]

Graeme smith/michael clarke/ Yuvi/Kaif played in the U-19 world cup together in 2000.... Quite a contrast where each ones career went and how India mismanaged(over emphasized on ODI/T20s) Yuvi/Kaif whereas SA & Aus got great captains & batsmen by emphasizing on tests

[Crookbond]

We have an obsession with the shorter format of the game. The day is not far when we wouldn't play Test matches seriously.

[Cricket Tragic]

Graeme smith/michael clarke/ Yuvi/Kaif played in the U-19 world cup together in 2000.... Quite a contrast where each ones career went and how India mismanaged(over emphasized on ODI/T20s) Yuvi/Kaif whereas SA & Aus got great captains & batsmen by emphasizing on tests

You're missing out on something called ability.

[rkt.india]

You're missing out on something called ability.

Yuvraaj has not less ability than Smith or Clark but he never really got to work on his FC game because he started playing ODIs at 18. He could never develop his game for that.

[BeautifulGame]

Graeme smith/michael clarke/ Yuvi/Kaif played in the U-19 world cup together in 2000.... Quite a contrast where each ones career went and how India mismanaged(over emphasized on ODI/T20s) Yuvi/Kaif whereas SA & Aus got great captains & batsmen by emphasizing on tests

Well India got a WC man of the tournament and SA got a choker.

[JaFanatic]

Well India got a WC man of the tournament and SA got a choker.

but kaif is a big disappointment

[BeautifulGame]

but kaif is a big disappointment

TBH Kaif was unfairly dropped from the test team