'We are a resource for the whole of Australian cricket'
The Wednesday Interview with Bennett King, the man behind the Australian academy at Queensland
06-Jul-2004
Cricket academies are vehicles that fuel the national cricketer and help the country move forward, according to Bennett King, the chief coach at Australia's centre of excellence, the former Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy. In this exclusive interview, King talks to Nagraj Gollapudi about the academy and its benefits to its students:
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Why did the academy move from Adelaide to Queensland?
We were trying to find a place where the academy best fitted within the Australian cricket environment, and a survey to find that out was carried out across the country. The end result was moving to Queensland. Cricketers from around the world who attend the centre of excellence stay at Griffith University, as well all the other normal students. Griffith was one of the key partners in the proposal that eventually won the day for Brisbane, competing against proposals from all over Australia to encourage the academy to relocate there instead.
We were trying to find a place where the academy best fitted within the Australian cricket environment, and a survey to find that out was carried out across the country. The end result was moving to Queensland. Cricketers from around the world who attend the centre of excellence stay at Griffith University, as well all the other normal students. Griffith was one of the key partners in the proposal that eventually won the day for Brisbane, competing against proposals from all over Australia to encourage the academy to relocate there instead.
How has the academy evolved over the years?
It has grown a lot from 1987, when it was first established, and is pretty indicative of the development of cricketers around Australia. The growth has been, to an extent, where it has influenced states, who have set up their own academies. The centre combines well with the states and acts as the resource for the whole of Australian cricket.
It has grown a lot from 1987, when it was first established, and is pretty indicative of the development of cricketers around Australia. The growth has been, to an extent, where it has influenced states, who have set up their own academies. The centre combines well with the states and acts as the resource for the whole of Australian cricket.
Is the academy regarded as a finishing school?
It depends on what the states want for their athletes. Some people may call it a finishing school, some may call it a value-added process, but generally, the guideline of the centre is to develop a player who will play at the highest level, and ultimately represent Australia. But, of course, there a lot of tests they have to go through before they get to that level.
It depends on what the states want for their athletes. Some people may call it a finishing school, some may call it a value-added process, but generally, the guideline of the centre is to develop a player who will play at the highest level, and ultimately represent Australia. But, of course, there a lot of tests they have to go through before they get to that level.
So how do you short-list suitable candidates?
There is a set of criteria which we send to the states, and they are required to nominate players who will benefit from coming here. When they get here, our job is to see that the players fit into our criteria that we provide. We are here to service the players chosen by the states, and have no say whatsoever in their selection.
There is a set of criteria which we send to the states, and they are required to nominate players who will benefit from coming here. When they get here, our job is to see that the players fit into our criteria that we provide. We are here to service the players chosen by the states, and have no say whatsoever in their selection.
How long is the programme?
It's a 13-week programme, and it's structured so that by the end of the training cycle they know how to improve their game. That's in a general sense what we do. The areas we look at are the physical, mental, practical and a player's attitude, and we try to cater to each one of those areas. Each batch consists of 26 players and the player-to-coach ratio is about four to one, and normally the coach gets a clear idea of the player's various traits in those 13 weeks.
It's a 13-week programme, and it's structured so that by the end of the training cycle they know how to improve their game. That's in a general sense what we do. The areas we look at are the physical, mental, practical and a player's attitude, and we try to cater to each one of those areas. Each batch consists of 26 players and the player-to-coach ratio is about four to one, and normally the coach gets a clear idea of the player's various traits in those 13 weeks.
I believe that we can help shape and mould what the country is looking for in their cricket
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How much of the training is science-based?
We certainly have a scientific base around our coaching, but science is not the be-all and end-all, because with a cricketer there are a lot of other things to take into account. For example, a player being a better person can in turn make him a better player; and his way of life might make him a better player. It's not just the scientific aspect when it comes to cricket coaching, it's quite varied.
We certainly have a scientific base around our coaching, but science is not the be-all and end-all, because with a cricketer there are a lot of other things to take into account. For example, a player being a better person can in turn make him a better player; and his way of life might make him a better player. It's not just the scientific aspect when it comes to cricket coaching, it's quite varied.
Can you elaborate on the state-of-the-art facilities the players work with?
We have a first-class gymnasium, recovery areas, several types of wickets to work on, nets, and the two different ovals. Then we have an information-technology section, and conference facilities. But apart from all of those things, the most important advantage we have is very good weather, which is great for the athlete, as he is virtually out there for five days a week. He puts around ten hours of work each day, which is split into theory, skill, work and recovery work. We are also working on simulations of conditions around the world, but that will take some more time. Also on the drawing-board is a state-of-the-art indoor set-up which will incorporate sports science as well. It's also an area where we can actually formulate cricket resources like coaching aids, manuals etc, which will improve Australian cricket.
We have a first-class gymnasium, recovery areas, several types of wickets to work on, nets, and the two different ovals. Then we have an information-technology section, and conference facilities. But apart from all of those things, the most important advantage we have is very good weather, which is great for the athlete, as he is virtually out there for five days a week. He puts around ten hours of work each day, which is split into theory, skill, work and recovery work. We are also working on simulations of conditions around the world, but that will take some more time. Also on the drawing-board is a state-of-the-art indoor set-up which will incorporate sports science as well. It's also an area where we can actually formulate cricket resources like coaching aids, manuals etc, which will improve Australian cricket.
The centre is offering training to overseas students too, can you tell us more about that?
The Australia-India Council has a cricket scholarship called the Border-Gavaskar Scholars, which involves three or four promising young players coming to the academy for a few weeks. The scholarship provides an exciting opportunity to the Indian students to see how coaches from another country work, to experience a foreign environment, and experience a different culture and playing conditions. That's the real key for Indian cricket to move forward, because once they learn to adapt to different playing conditions they will be a leading force.
The Australia-India Council has a cricket scholarship called the Border-Gavaskar Scholars, which involves three or four promising young players coming to the academy for a few weeks. The scholarship provides an exciting opportunity to the Indian students to see how coaches from another country work, to experience a foreign environment, and experience a different culture and playing conditions. That's the real key for Indian cricket to move forward, because once they learn to adapt to different playing conditions they will be a leading force.
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So this scholarship is different from the one offered by Griffith University?
Yes. Griffith's programme is called the Border-Gavaskar Masters Scholarship. It's an academic scholarship and not a cricket scholarship.
Yes. Griffith's programme is called the Border-Gavaskar Masters Scholarship. It's an academic scholarship and not a cricket scholarship.
What is different about Griffith's scholarship, and why India?
Last year, Mr [Jagmohan] Dalmiya, the Indian board chief, said something along the lines of: "India has brought in foreign coaches and support staff to help Indian sport. These foreign coaches and support staff will not continue for eternity. We must train our own staff for the future." Griffith University is offering a Masters Scholarship to Indian residents, honouring the two legends [Border and Gavaskar] and it's their way of trying to put something of real value back into India. We all know that India's cricketers are among the most talented in the world so maybe education is the key that can unlock the future in terms of the sports scientists, sports administrators and the support staff that India needs.
Last year, Mr [Jagmohan] Dalmiya, the Indian board chief, said something along the lines of: "India has brought in foreign coaches and support staff to help Indian sport. These foreign coaches and support staff will not continue for eternity. We must train our own staff for the future." Griffith University is offering a Masters Scholarship to Indian residents, honouring the two legends [Border and Gavaskar] and it's their way of trying to put something of real value back into India. We all know that India's cricketers are among the most talented in the world so maybe education is the key that can unlock the future in terms of the sports scientists, sports administrators and the support staff that India needs.
Are academies the future?
Academies are definitely the future - they are already here now, and what role they can play in the future is yet to be determined. If you ask me about any distinct advantages, I believe that we can help shape and mould what the country is looking for in their cricket, and it can serve as a national base. So the national academy gives an overview of what that country and its cricket is looking for.
Academies are definitely the future - they are already here now, and what role they can play in the future is yet to be determined. If you ask me about any distinct advantages, I believe that we can help shape and mould what the country is looking for in their cricket, and it can serve as a national base. So the national academy gives an overview of what that country and its cricket is looking for.
But do you believe natural coaching is as important as structured one?
I wouldn't like to get into any debates. My philosophy with my coaching is that I want the player to be a better cricketer from when they came in to the centre. How I get them to the higher level is part of how we make that happen, and a part of how individual coaches make that happen. People have different styles of coaching, just like a player - no one player is similar to another.
I wouldn't like to get into any debates. My philosophy with my coaching is that I want the player to be a better cricketer from when they came in to the centre. How I get them to the higher level is part of how we make that happen, and a part of how individual coaches make that happen. People have different styles of coaching, just like a player - no one player is similar to another.