Blewett oversees first Border-Gavaskar scholars

Southern Redbacks and Australian cricketer Greg Blewett called in to the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday morning (27 June) to cast an eye over the first three young Indian cricketers to attend the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy (CBCA) - a program of the Australian Institute of Sport - as part of the Border-Gavaskar Scholarship Program.

Greg, a former CBCA pupil, along with Australian under-19 captain Michael Clarke and CBCA coach Wayne Phillips, spent some time working with the Indian players, including under-19 captain Mohammad Kaif, in the indoor nets at the Adelaide Oval before posing for photos with them and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The three Indian players - Kaif, Sridaran Sriram and Shiv Sunder Das - are at the CBCA until mid-July thanks to funding made available by the Australia-India Council (AIC).

A selection panel, set up by former Indian great Sunil Gavaskar, chose the scholars and it is hoped to expand the scheme if it proves successful.

In addition to the financial contribution it has made to the Scholarships, the AIC also contributed to the production costs of the modernised Border-Gavaskar Trophy, played for in Tests between Australia and India. That Trophy, also on show at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday morning, was originally unveiled at the ground ahead of the first Ansett Australia Test of the series last summer.

The Trophy and Scholarships are named after Gavaskar and former Australian captain Allan Border, the leading batsmen in the history of Test cricket. Gavaskar's total of 10,122 runs in 125 Tests is bettered by just one man, Border, who scored 11,174 runs in 156 matches.

Chairman of the AIC, Michael Abbott QC said: "The Australia-India Council was formed in 1992 to help promote understanding and cooperation between the two countries through projects and exchanges in many areas, including sport.

"The AIC is delighted to be able to see the Border-Gavaskar Scholarship program reach fruition, and we are sure this project will help to further promote sporting links between Australia and India."

Commenting on the arrival of the Indian players, Border said: "I'm proud to be associated with both the Trophy and the Scholarships.

"Any scheme that gives young players the chance to improve their abilities by exposing them to different conditions and different cultures has to be beneficial and these scholarships do just that."

Greg Blewett said: "I've been lucky enough to play for my country and my attendance at the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy was crucial in my development to reach the highest level.

"If it can benefit these three young Indian players in the same way in helping them reach senior international status then that has to be good not only for them, but also for Indian cricket, and therefore the game at a world level too."

For Michael Clarke, the arrival of Mohammad Kaif is a chance to renew a friendship, as both men played in the recent under-19 World Cup, won by India.