Going by his work, the signs are encouraging

FOR A youngster who dreams of donning the country's colours, nothing can be more inspiring than getting an opportunity to sweat it out with an icon on the cricket field. Under the guidance of an expert, the aspiring ones are bound to improve in leaps and bounds as the atmosphere is set for imbibing skills with ease.

And if the mentor is a dedicated and hard-working sportsman like Bishan Singh Bedi, then it demands greater discipline and sincerity.

The former Indian captain is still actively engaged in the pursuit of excellence with the same fervour, though, his role has changed. Even the sweltering heat and age, fail to defy the motivation of the hard taskmaster as he gives hundred per cent to his job.

Bedi, who has been regulary conducting summer camps in the Capital at various venues under Bishan Bedi Cricket Coaching Trust (BBCCT), received support from the Sports Authority of India this year and the problem of pitches and ground facilities was sorted out.

``SAI is providing the facilities and the camp is organised by my trust,'' said Bedi, who has been given 65 trainees for a duration of three months.

``It's a place where talented youngsters can improve skills. The focus is on the basics which is very important,'' said Bedi, who has got the services of five other coaches, including three qualified ones from SAI - Messrs Arun Bharadwaj, Ramesh Chopra and Mohan Sharma. The two former cricketers helping Bedi are Punjab fast bowler Yograj Singh and Delhi medium-pacer Balwant Singh.

The camp may not have any technically equipped services but the ace-left arm spinner uses traditional ways to rectify minor corrections.

Citing an example, Bedi explained, ``I am using the stumps and made a corridor for a bowler to follow a certain path. Run-up, delivery stride and follow-through are aspects I would like a bowler to check upon.''

Similarly, a batsman is reminded of playing along the ground in `V' and fundamental requisites like `ground your bat, move your legs'.

Bedi, who tries his best to improve every player on view, demands great discipline from the youngsters. An indiscreet shot can cost a batsman a day's practice or a fielder can sit out if the best is not put in. ``Discipline is the key. You have got to give your best effort,'' said Bedi.

Apart from skills, importance is also given to fitness and improving cricketing knowledge. ``The foremost emphasis is on physical fitness. For this, we have Capt. K. B. Dogra, who has worked with the National side earlier. We are working on motivation skills for which we have regular visits from former cricketers. We will use audio-visuals too,'' added Bedi, who too, is involved in theory classes of one-hour duration.

The presence of Capt. Dogra, still as fit as always from his days of training athletes, is quite an encouraging factor. As is the enthusiasm that Yograj Singh generates by way of competing with the youngsters. For Arun Bharadwaj the time spent at the camp is an education in itself. ``It is a learning process for all us with some very stirring inter-action with a former great like Bishen Bedi'' said Mr. Bharadwaj.

``Cricket is a way of life. It's a concept and I even take a look at parental involvement,'' said Bedi.

Such camps by senior cricketers at various centres can surely strengthen the standard of the game at various levels.

If one complains about the plethora of international matches and ill timed domestic fixtures, one aspect which is equally neglected has been the junior cricket structure, which, too has been at the receiving end.

There are not many opportunities for juniors, the Vijay Merchant (under-16) and Cooch Behar (under-19) tournaments being the main ones. More and more longer version tournaments should be in store for the up and coming aspirants.

``Even the age-group tournaments suffer from over-age problem,'' said Bedi, who pointed specifically at the Rohinton Baria tournament for University players.

A single National Academy for a such a vast set up is far from a sound way of tapping the talent. ``There should be academies at least in places like Mumbai, Calcutta, Kanpur...'' opined Bedi, who is a consultant with the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

Even in this era of sport sciences and computerised coaching, the manuals of the experts can prove more than handful. Even Bedi has to think for a while when was he last involved in such a camp. ``I had headed a camp by SAI in mid 80's. But I am enjoying it,'' says Bedi.

Cricket skills apart, the students at this camp also learn lessons in becoming good citizens. Discipline in every walk of life is the emphasis of Bedi's camp as he spends time talking to each individual. It is a sight as he reads out from cricket books - autobiographies and coaching manuals - and later pays attention to each individual in the dining hall at the end of the day's session.

The wealth of knowledge available with cricketers like Bedi needs to be utilised on a larger scale. ``I am willing to share all that I have learn't on the cricket field'' says the master with humility. It is now for the cricketing fraternity to exploit the treasure that Bishan Bedi happens to be.

The cricket camp under Bedi is just the beginning of a programme by the SAI to involve past cricketers in coaching. In June, similar ventures will be launched in badminton and table tennis. Vikram Singh and Madhumita Singh Bisht will handle badminton while Indu Puri and Manjit Dua will take charge of table tennis.

According to SAI Secretary Amrit Mathur ``the SAI is happy to have reputed past players to work with us. The idea is to enhance the quality of coaching and inject more purpose in our training programmes.''

RITESH GUPTA

New Delhi

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