Dubai "Learn the basics of the game correctly to derive years of enjoyment from the game of cricket," remarked Rodney Marsh, the legendary Australian cricketer who is the director of coaching at the ICC Global Cricket Academy.
Speaking to Gulf News during the ICC Global Academy junior coaching classes, sponsored by Al Tayer Motors, Ford Motor Company and Gulf News at the Deira International School, Marsh said: "Learning the basics is everything. Even the best Twenty20 players in the ongoing Indian Premier League are the ones with the best techniques."
Marsh, who has groomed some of the finest cricketers of the era said: "There is no way anyone can score runs if his basics are wrong. Similarly you may not be able to take wickets or keep the runs in check if you do not know the correct basics in bowling. Children who do not learn the basics correctly won't become good cricketers."
Marsh does not believe that Twenty20 is mere slam-bang cricket. "You cannot teach one to go out and slog if he does not know the basics. They should first know to watch the ball and pick up the line and length of the ball. This all comes from hours and hours of practice. I can bet all my money over the fact that you will never get caught if you do not hit the ball in the air. Very good batsmen hit the ball all along the ground ... and that is what these kids need to be taught," he said.
However, Marsh is not against hitting in the air. "When the occasion demands they can hit over the top but first they should learn to play properly. We do not want to teach kids how to slog but we want to teach kids how to bat. There is no substitute for technique."
Marsh also believes that one should take up cricket at an early age. "You have to start early if you want to be a good batsman. You may become a good bowler if you are six feet tall and athletic even if you start at 15, but it is difficult for a batsman," said Marsh who played under-16 cricket when he was only eight years old.
Best facilities
Mudassar Nazar, a head coach of the academy too stressed on correct coaching. "Kids are all the same when they start off. It all depends on the coaching facilities that are available for them to progress. We are providing the best of facilities for them to grow."
Dayle Hadlee, another head coach of the academy, feels that parents should make sure that kids get correct training. "In cricket basics have to be in place at a very young age because it is very hard to break bad habits later on," said Hadlee.
