what is the way forward?

[jairamesh]

So how do we make all these things work for us? For starters I would revamp the central contract system. We hand out contracts to players who are stars rather than focus on player positions. E.g., if we have 25 central contracts we have 18 contracts handed out to batsmen coz they performed well and 2-3 to bowlers like Zak or Ashwin. What I would do is make central contracts focused on positions, so out of 25 contracts have 9 contracts for batsmen, 9 for bowlers, 3 for wks and 4 for all-rounders. You can be evenmore specific by ear-marking 6 out of 9 bowling contracts for pacers. What this system will do is get youngsters to focus on other disciplines than just batting. Now youngsters only want to become batsmen as they see Tendulkars/Sehwags/Dravids/Laxmans etc. But once they see that someone like Manoj Tiwary didn't get the central contract as he wasn't one of the top 9 batsmen but likes of Dinda and B Kumar made millions as they were in the top 9 bowlers, more youngsters would want to become bowlers. Money talks and eventually we will see more bowlers come through. This is just one of the strategies.

In theory it could work, but... ...I believe central contracts in India have lost their value due to the boogie of IPL. You have players like Jadeja and RP Singh earning over $ 1,000,000 for 8 weeks of work, also with little pressure from media and fans to perform. Compare that to an Indian central contract (worth $ 180,000 :hehe:), on top of that with every India game bringing huge attention from critics, fans, and media. It is no surprise you see the current lot joking and smiling on field because IPL is such a good soft cushion for them.

[jairamesh]

One way to avoid the problem is having long term contracts in place so that the franchises reap the benefit of developing youngsters. Obviously a system of checks and balances needs to be put in place so that franchises don't exploit the system and cheat youngsters by signing them to an unrealistic contract for say 8 years.

Just scrap the bi-annual re-shuffle and re-auction. This will get the teams to start developing their own players.

[Ultimate_Game]

In theory it could work, but... ...I believe central contracts in India have lost their value due to the boogie of IPL. You have players like Jadeja and RP Singh earning over $ 1,000,000 for 8 weeks of work, also with little pressure from media and fans to perform. Compare that to an Indian central contract (worth $ 180,000 :hehe:), on top of that with every India game bringing huge attention from critics, fans, and media. It is no surprise you see the current lot joking and smiling on field because IPL is such a good soft cushion for them.

Then you simply make the central contracts relevant by either making central contracts way more valuable than the IPL ones - maybe worth $10 million, or by having contract ceiling in IPl for non-contracted players the way they do for non-intl players nowadays. Point is you can always come up with a system to ensure that youngsters would want to become bowlers. Where there is a will there's a way but you will need BCCI to work and actually start doing what it should be doing in the first place but that's asking too much of Messers Srinivasan/Shukla/Pawar etc.

Just scrap the bi-annual re-shuffle and re-auction. This will get the teams to start developing their own players.

I never figured out the re-auction concept in the first place. To generate brand value and franchise appeal one would think that BCCI would want players to stick with franchises :dontknow: I mean how many would follow NFL if Brady was a Patriot one season and a Colt the next?

[jairamesh]

Then you simply make the central contracts relevant by either making central contracts way more valuable than the IPL ones - maybe worth $10 million, or by having contract ceiling in IPl for non-contracted players the way they do for non-intl players nowadays. Point is you can always come up with a system to ensure that youngsters would want to become bowlers. Where there is a will there's a way but you will need BCCI to work and actually start doing what it should be doing in the first place but that's asking too much of Messers Srinivasan/Shukla/Pawar etc.

This I have called for before. BCCI need to make central contracts more relevant to Indian cricket, and dynamics have changed due to IPL.

[Ultimate_Game]

This I have called for before. BCCI need to make central contracts more relevant to Indian cricket, and dynamics have changed due to IPL.

BCCI is the one who owns/controls/manages IP so the dynamics haven't change that much. It's just that BCCI wil have to do some work to ensure youngsters are groomed properly and actually want to focus on all disciplines and not just batting. But as long as BCCI only cares about money, nothing much will change.

[Sooda]

I wondered why can't BCCI help in sharpening the game of upcoming talent before drafting them in to the squad. For e.g. before Raina was selected, he could have been tested upon a wide array of bowling and given recommendations (or sent to relevant academy) to speed him up to international standard .... Same for bowlers .... honestly, with so much money at stake, even the players can themselves take the initiative What happens is that a player is picked, gets found out in international cricket, then we either look for replacement who is no better or the guy either develops his game or fades out. This has happened to a lot of players such as Yusuf Pathan A program in place to develop upcoming players would definately help to better prepare the players and serve as the bridge to facilitate a transition to international cricket

One answer is A team cricket. England have a superb Lions programme- KP, Monty and Onions played DULEEP TROPHY tourno in India as far back as 2004 (I think) a few years ago the Lions team played in the WI domestic tourno and Briggs the left arm spinner was top wicket taker. If not taking part in whole scale tournos that way why havent our young players been given at least FC matches on tours. It has changed now for the better and more is being done on that front, but some of the younger batsmen might have been better and more ready to take the place of the older guard now if they had that experience.

[Sooda]

My view, Identify strategy: Short Term a) Retain World Cup 2015 b) Win Test series in England, South Africa and Australia. Long Term a) Reach number 1 in Tests by 2017, b) Reach number 1 in ODIs by 2017 c) Remain there for at least four years. c) Repeat cycle (incl both short and long term goals) Strategic action: Better integration of Ranji to India A program to India first team, achieved by: a) Revamp of Ranji tourney (which has already happened and seeing some positives coming out) b) More India A tours, with BCCI resources I would even kick start India B tours. c) Provide every Ranji side with World Class training facilities along the lines of MRF Pace Academy, surely BCCI has enough funds here! d) No one with links to IPL shall be on BCCI board:hehe:, selection committee, or coaching staff. d) Review progress bi-annually, and any severe shortcomings should result in sackings (captain, coach, selectors, etc.) i.e. introduce consequences To achieve all the above, all nitpicking needs to done as explained in the OP.

The coaching point is a good one. Look at the effect Meryck Pringle has had on Rajasthans pacemen

[zen]

One answer is A team cricket. England have a superb Lions programme- KP' date=' Monty and Onions played DULEEP TROPHY tourno in India as far back as 2004 (I think) a few years ago the Lions team played in the WI domestic tourno and Briggs the left arm spinner was top wicket taker. If not taking part in whole scale tournos that way why havent our young players been given at least FC matches on tours. It has changed now for the better and more is being done on that front, but some of the younger batsmen might have been better and more ready to take the place of the older guard now if they had that experience.[/quote'] valid points As I said somewhere, failing to plan = planing to fail, and that has been BCCI's story so far

[rkt.india]

itna maatha khapaane se kya fayda... BCCI is braindead

[Magneto]

The best way forward is not to arrange Test/ODI series with England, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa etc. No T20 matches with NZ and WI too. That way we are well set and all goals will be attained. :two_thumbs_up:

[Ponka]

Planning is not like Ponka's random predictions. That's the problem with some these days wanting results instantly. Winning next series can be one tiny step to progress or just another band aid depending how team is selected.

No not wanting results instantly...want new blood in the team and Ponka would be happy to even get a draw out of the next couple or so future tours...this would be immediate short term goal... For 2015 and winning test series in Aus Eng SA and sustain the supremacy, you need a proper system to be developed which you're saying but you're talking about 2017 to reach there. Ponka is saying planning should be done until 2015. If proper system is developed till 2015 then next 5 years after 2015 will take care of itself cuz of that system.

[Marut]

Leave out all long term planning - they dont work in our country. As a first measure, select the best eleven to represent India in all formats. Bench out of form and out of shape seniors and get the young blood firing. If we are loosing anyway, we better loose with youngsters, at least we will be building a team for the future. Second, Remove Dhoni from captaincy, he has lost enough matches in a row and has lost the moral right to be captain now - choose a youngster (Kohli) to captain the side, it is risky but a bold move - if it backfires, take remedial action without waiting helplessly for a miracle. Third, reduce IPL duration and matches. That, IPL is doing nothing to improve cricket in India must be obvious to even diehard IPL fanboys now; so we have to protect our players from IPL related injuries, fatigue, glitz and bad cricketing habits.

[diga]

Leave out all long term planning - they dont work in our country. As a first measure, select the best eleven to represent India in all formats. Bench out of form and out of shape seniors and get the young blood firing.

Exactly... first arrest the slide & then think about long term planning, if not 0-5 against Eng in ODI's is inevitable

[NareshK]

Exactly... first arrest the slide & then think about long term planning' date=' if not 0-5 against Eng in ODI's is inevitable[/quote'] 0-5 againt Eng is inevitable anyway. Even Jamshed scored 2 centuries against Indian team. Which of our bowlers are going to stop Cook from scoring centuries in every game ? England is also not weak against seamers like some of the Pakistan batsmen are. Expect a proper whipping.

[vayuu1]

Still some scope of improvement in ranji cricket ,i mean scrap this stupid rule a team gets 3 points if it gets first inning lead,it should be maximum1 point ,if a team wins match it gets 5 points and if it wins match by innings or 150+ runs it gets 2 bonus points for that,instead of absolute green tops make tracks which are sporting ,where only skillful(both batsman and bowlers)will thrive and it's high time bcci involves science and technology in improvent of Indian cricket,with the kind of money it has ,like biomechanics and the other stuff eng ,aus do,also please hire educated people as pitch curators ,it really helps ,what kind of components can improve indian pitches, quicken them a bit and also how can the bounce be improved,before any tour outside Asia have ur camp at places like dharamshala,Hyderabad and mohali ,especially dharamshala,it is very similar to eng,aus,sa condition ,send more and more a tours as well as under 19,under 17 tour,scrap the zonal system in team selection,select specialist people for specialist job ,stop picking tits and bits players,send a your team atleast 4 weeks before any important tour to get used to conditions,there should be atleast 3 four day practice games before tests,

[vayuu1]

And make a pool of different player for different format and carefully rotate them and stop this godamn ipl for people's sake.

[Marut]

Exactly... first arrest the slide & then think about long term planning' date=' if not 0-5 against Eng in ODI's is inevitable[/quote'] 5-0 or 4-1 is almost inevitable, needs a miracle othewise. If we lose let it be an experience to the young generation and not otherwise.

[Tridibans_16]

Feck off Fletcher from any association with the team, make the administration more transparent (I know not gonna happen :(( ), remove Dhoni as captain from tests and T20s, blood in new openers, middle order.