Bob Woolmer
FROM THE PAVILION
Mark Boucher’s recent world record batting as a night watchman for South Africa in Zimbabwe last weekend got me thinking. Well done Mark, here was a man taking his opportunity. It was an opportunity granted by the state of the game and by a captain and or coach who decided to relieve one of his front line batsmen from the firing line. Experts in their field who understand the game and were therefore able to act thoughtfully.
Consider then the difference in the game at the grassroots level. One of the more controversial cricket matters that happen at school is the lack of opportunity for a lot of aspiring young cricket players. I will use my own example, which I know has been duplicated for many parents.
Some time ago my eldest son had made the “A” team, U11 I think, at his school. I was as pleased as punch for him. He had shown genuine signs of promise as a youngster and at the age of three could bowl a tennis ball straight more often than not, with a lovely side-on action. He also hit a ball quite cleanly and had taken to mini-cricket while very young. As I coached every afternoon as well, I had limited opportunity to see my son play.
So when I did get the opportunity I was disappointed that he never got a bowl and batted at eight in the team. He spent time throwing acorns at a friend at mid on – heard the story before?
His school side were extremely powerful. Every Wednesday they mashed the opposition usually by 10 wickets, more often than not the same pair opened the batting and the bowling. The team won every game and quickly. As I could only spend an hour at the ground I didn’t expect to see my son bat but I had hoped that one day the coach (teacher in charge) would give him a bowl.
Eventually frustrated as many fathers might be, I walked up to the coach and asked if my son might get a couple of overs before I had to leave. I was embarrassed, as in my position as an ex- international cricket player and well- known coach I did not want to interfere with the team’s coach nor would I have expected others to interfere with my team. How naive can one be! Well the team’s coach obliged and my son got his two overs and as luck would have it he took four wickets, two in each over. Dad was pleased as punch and left happy.
What occurred after that was more disappointing. After his one foray into the scorebook he was left out to give him more opportunity in the “B” team. When asked by the “B” team coach what he did, honesty prevailed.
“Sir, I bat at eight and field at mid- wicket,” so the “B” team coach promptly followed suit. One cannot expect the “B” team coach to know better than the “A” team coach can we? Sadly he went down a couple of teams and now has given the game up for some years. Now, either Dale didn’t take his opportunity, which I might argue he did or the opportunity was lost because of the penchant to win at all costs.
The coach/teacher in charge invariably gives up three or four afternoons a week to introduce the youngsters to the game, mostly voluntarily (as it is not part of their school contract). Often they have very little knowledge of the game, hoping desperately that they do not get a question that will show them up.
Of course they make mistakes! Don’t we all? And sometimes as disgruntled parents we criticise the omission of our son! This is, of course, the start of the armchair selector and coach syndrome. “We know we can do better!”
Yet we also know that in general the teacher/coach is doing his best and 99 times out of 100 a wonderful job. I dare say that sometimes teachers and coaches have their favourites and can’t stand little Johnny, who causes chaos at every practice. The solution is for all schools to balance opportunity with winning at all costs.
At the international and provincial levels it is usually win at all costs and the coach and the captain count the cost if they don’t. A school is so short of interested teachers that he will have that job for life if he wants it. The less interested he is the more frustrated the players and the parents are going to become.
But should our school cricket be under the same pressure to win and lose? I believe kids should learn to win and be able to handle loss with grace. I also believe, however, that a youngster should get the chance to perform and let his performances push him up or down the order as time goes on. Coaching, like teaching, is a process and it takes five years or longer for a youngster to get to grips with the game before he starts to perform. There are the exceptions to the rule, as in all walks of life, but generally the figures hold good.
What is important for parents of our aspiring young cricketers to remember is that encouragement is more important than constant criticism. I believe firmly that in the five years from the day the children go out to play with a hard ball at 10 years of age to age 15 you will be able to see which boys will go on. If, during that period, they have had opportunities to bat, bowl and catch, up and down the order, they will understand the nuances of the game: the disappointment of not batting, the elation of scoring runs and taking wickets. And acorn- throwing will be a defunct occupation.
I believe it is time to try a new cricket game, a game that gives players an opportunity. The rotating game, based on the mini-cricket principle but from week to week. Open the batting in week one and bat at 11 in week two and so on. Over a full season everyone gets a chance to do well or badly, but at least gets a chance.
I would also like to propose that the exams be held in the winter months. Cricket is a time-consuming game. While soccer, rugby and hockey last little longer than an hour, it would seem there is more time for work in the winter periods. I bet the teachers who have to coach cricket as well would welcome it.
Opportunity for all is the cry, not just for the disadvantaged, but for all children who are desperate to emulate the Lance Kluseners of the world. The teachers/coaches that do not understand the nuances of the game would not be under pressure from stupid parents like myself – and if my son came home on Tuesday saying he was opening the batting tomorrow I would be the first one there, even if he got a first baller.
The teacher/coach remains vital to the game of cricket, as we need to get the best out of our players so we need to get the best out of those prepared to help. It is time to invent a new format for the youngsters and make it interesting for the teacher. The game is changing rapidly at the top level but the junior level needs a revamp too.