Date:28/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/28/stories/2008082856992000.htm

Sport - Cricket

Kerala Ranji team to prepare in Sri Lanka

Principal Correspondent

KOCHI: With very few quality grounds available at home, the Kerala Cricket Association has decided to prepare its Ranji Trophy team in Sri Lanka this season.

“This is the first time we are doing this. We will be sending a 20-member team to Sri Lanka on October 10 and they will be there for 20 days,” revealed the KCA Secretary T.C.Mathew on Wednesday evening.

“The problem is, we don’t have proper grounds in Kerala. We don’t have proper practice wickets and we have just started working on our new stadiums,” said Mr Mathew.

“We are relaying the turf in Palakkad (Fort Ground), it’s almost a dead wicket now, so that has been ruled out. And we have lined up a lot of matches at the other ground at Angadipuram this season.”

Cheaper option

The KCA had sent its Ranji team to Bangalore last season. “But Sri Lanka offers us a cheaper option than Bangalore or Chennai and Colombo is just 45 minutes from Thiruvananthapuram. Food and accommodation are also cheaper there,” he explained. “Matches will be played in Colombo, Dambulla, Kandy and another venue, so that will offer us some variety.”

The team will be playing two four-dayers and two three-dayers during their Lankan stay. “Since the Lankan ‘A’ side is too strong for us, we will be playing against an ‘emerging side’ which is virtually their next line. I believe it’s a mix of seniors and juniors.”

Change in format

The Ranji team will be selected from the KCA Trophy tournament which will be played at the Angadipuram Ground during the last week of September. The selection tournament was played in an inter-zonal format last season but this time, around 50 players will be divided into three teams and they will play against each other.

“The North Zone has often been weak, so we have decided to divide the team equally this time,” said Mr Mathew. “And most of our under-22 and under-19 cricketers will be missing the KCA Trophy since the tournament dates are all clashing.

Kerala will play three Ranji matches at home this year.