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| 6 simple ways to get into Indian team | | |
The Goliath called Indian cricket - a big money spinning machine for the Board, channels, advertisers, and players.
Countless people are toiling day in and day out to get a place in the sacred eleven, knowing that just one appearance can make a prince out of a pauper. But very few chosen ones are able to unravel the mystery of how to get into the team, and get to stay there.
The author has some tips for the talented ones. Some tried and trusted ways to make your way in, or get to stay there.
Computer literacy
If Sourav indeed manages to squeeze back into the Indian team now, he will not have to thank his ability with the bat as much as the ability with the keyboard. Former skipper's e-mail promises to undo all the damage that the Chappell's e-mail did provided Dalmiya gets ejected out of the CAB by the end of this month.
Just wielding the willow well is simply not good enough. All budding cricketers need to spare some time mastering 3's (Strengthening Software Skills). Knowing the dynamics of e-mail leakages is as important as knowing strengths and weaknesses of the opposing camps. For those who are not computer literate, one fears there is not going to be much hope! Just hitting the ball long and hard may be passé!
Benevolent injuries
One need not agree with what all Manjrekar has said about Sachin, but for less gifted souls, if you can feign injury, it will help a great deal.
First and foremost, it will ensure that you are rested rather than dropped! There can be nothing worse than getting dropped, as that could instantly signal that you are out of favour - a distinctly uncomfortable feeling that your managers and advertisers can live without. Faith and credibility in you skills can matter a lot in the Indian cricket, especially when striking rich marketing deals.
Second, faking injuries can save one from real injury, the one that can come from facing strong opposition on juicy tracks. Some people still believe that the sight of a lush green Nagpur pitch in 2004 series against Australia aggravated Sourav's injury and he had to withdraw from a match that sealed Australia's series win in India after three long decades.
Parking zone
Are you in the right zone? And here one is not talking about the temperament or the thinking process! After an illusionary spell of a few years, looks like the zonal politics is back again.
Have selector from your state push your case. Today, being from Punjab or Maharashtra might be an added advantage. Things certainly do not look too bright for the talented ones from places like Bengal, Karnataka or Baroda. Uthappa, Zaheer, and above all, Sourav can vouch for it.
However, do not try to bribe your selector.
However, do not try to bribe your selector. In 2003-04 season, one Maharashtra player tried to do that but Selectors were prompt to report it. Abhijit Kale was banned for a year, so why take chance!
Opting for a state knowing Board's power equations might help, as it did for Rohan Gavaskar in 2004. A stint with Dalmiya's Bengal did the trick and the Southpaw got to play eleven matches. However, an average of less than 20 killed any dreams of standing up to his father -- one of the tallest batsmen of all times.
Speed thrills
Speed does not matter, tag matters a lot. Sticking out sign of Speedster against your name may not worry the opposition too much, but will please the management to no end.
Taking five fast bowlers to the tour of Sri Lanka despite the belief that slow bowlers might strike it rich in the island and the 2007 World Cup is a reminder of this line of thinking. So run for the nearest speed gun to see how far you can go, and believe it, with little bit of speed you can go vary far!
Silence is a virtue
Performances matter, but silence matters even more. Let the top guns debate the tricky issues, but keep your lips sealed.
Harbhajan came up with the defence of deposed skipper Sourav and almost lost his place in the team. Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik could never manage to get into the good books of Sourav for his allegedly aggressive way of conducting himself.
But what about the minnows, even big guns are not immune! From late Lala to despondent Dada, even top shots have to pay the price for rebellious nature, even if for right reasons.
A stark reminder is the life-long enmity, as it appears now, that Sourav earned with Greg after speaking out to the broadcaster during the Tests in Zimbabwe.
Sort out the matter in private. Walk and talk with humility. Be diplomatic, earn rewards. Thanks God, Manjrekar is a commentator, and not a player.
The virtue of mastering 'W-T-W'
This is for the specialist batsmen unsure of their place in the team. Can you bowl wicket-to-wicket? How much spin or speed you are going to impart will not matter, but the tag of part-time slow bowler will do wonders to your career.
Dinesh Mongia has played 51 ODIs in his career, bowling just about eight balls per ODI for his eight career wickets. But he may be a good prospect for the World Cup, feels the team management.
So gear up to the new challenges with fresh perspective. Just padding up will not do much for your chances. Hard work without smart work? That's just not cricket!
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