A season in the life

As another season gets underway, we need to acknowledge the importance of each domestic season. It is often presumed that the standard of first-class cricket in our country is poor but such loose talk emanates from those who have not gone through the grind of first-class cricket or who have no understanding of the game. They cannot appreciate the experience and the rigours involved in playing first-class cricket over a period of years.

With the selection process being the way it is, one outstanding season is enough to pitchfork a player into the big league. This, though, sometimes denies him the opportunity to polish his skills, which can help at international level. How the likes of Surendra Bhave, S Sharath, Amarjit Kaypee and S Sriram, who had fantastic first-class records but didn’t get to play a single Test, must be feeling.

The start of a season is full of hope and expectation for any player or team. For players progressing from the Under-19 and Under-22 levels to Ranji Trophy, the first aim is to get over the pressure of proving themselves, then settle in their team. Players who are already established at first-class level set themselves goals in terms of runs or wickets so that they can graduate to at least the India A teams.

Top teams in the Super League prepare with the aim of winning the Ranji Trophy, whereas weaker teams hope they have a decent season and don’t get relegated.

Teams in the Plate League go in with the aim of finishing the season in the top two, so that they get promoted to the Super League, where performances are noticed by the selectors. Competition in the Plate League is considered substandard, unlike in England where players performing in division II of County cricket often catch the selectors’ eye.

This season, there is a change in the points system, the major difference being an extra point each for winning or losing on first-innings basis. The idea of awarding the team trailing on first-innings in a drawn game with one point was mine. I feel this gives a team some incentive for holding on to a draw even if they have lost on first-innings. Earlier, after trailing in the first innings, a loss and a draw had the same implication for the losing team, so the second innings meant little to them. This also distinguishes a team that has shown the tenacity to draw a game from one that has lost outright. An outright win will fetch teams five points, as opposed to four last season.

Since the 2003-04 season, the BCCI has ensured that the players are earning a substantial amount in match fees. The youth can now look at taking up cricket as a profession. If they can manage to do well at the first-class level over a period, they can make enough money to provide for their future, even if they do not play for the country. The welfare of the cricketers is being addressed well, what with the provision of physios, trainers, qualified coaches, video recording, concessional airtravel facilities and, above all, the pension schemes for retired players.

Let’s hope that the players understand that to avail of these facilities over a period of time, they should make sure that cricket flourishes. Each one of us has to take the responsibility of playing the game in the right spirit and keep the image and virtues of this great game untarnished.