Sport - Cricket

An academy looking at the future

JAIPUR: The Future Cricket Academy may be a name born out of compulsion to oblige the sponsor, but the institution surely nurtures dreams that are futuristic.

In the words of Ian Fraser, Head Coach of the Academy, “Trainees get to know how to speak English and learn cricket as well. Basically, we are trying to produce better and developed players who can make it to the Indian team.”

Around 80 youngsters from around Rajasthan are training here under the able guidance of former India coach and Director of the Academy Greg Chappell and Fraser, who was the physio of the Indian team during Chappell’s tenure.

The academy — equipped with state-of-the-art facilities like floodlights, an international standard gym, five-star accommodation and 24 practice wickets — including some indoor ones — can be compared to any top academy in the world.

“Rodney Marsh who visited the academy some time ago said these are some of the best facilities and wickets he has seen around the world,” said a proud Bimal Soni, Deputy President, Rajasthan Cricket Academy, and main caretaker of the infrastructure.

Describing the academy as a brainchild of the RCA President, Lalit Modi, Soni said the institution will soon operate like the National Cricket Academy, Bangalore, with separate training facilities for cricketers of different age groups.

Fraser thinks there should be more such academies all over India to bring out more developed players. “Many players come from villages and don’t have money to buy kits and they cannot speak English . If they practice with such facilities, they will get ready for the next stage,” he said. — Sports Reporter

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