For a cricketer who has had the privelege of playing first-class cricket for ten or more years, would they not want to give back to the game that has given them enjoyment for the past decade?
Many would say, “yes, they would”. Coach at schools, do commentary, write in the newspapers, open up an academy…..these seem to be the most common methods for ex-cricketers to give back.
I have a better idea, one that will strengthen cricket in this country by a great margin. As part of their contracts, after a professional cricketer retires from franchise cricket, they should be required to spend the first 3 months of the following season playing provincial-amateur cricket (currently SAA-sponsored cricket).
Just imagine being an 18-year old, a hot prospect straight out of Kearsney College, but with absolutely no experience. You walk to the crease and you’re batting with Errol Stewart or Doug Watson. What kind of confidence will that “kid” gain from spending time at the crease with a veteran cricketer? Behind the scenes, the youngsters or “B” players will learn what an international dressing room feels like or understand the intensity of practicing at higher levels when you have a guy like Andrew Hudson or Jonty Rhodes in your ranks.
It would run like this: Shaun Pollock retires from all professional cricket in 2007/08 season. He returns to Kingsmead in August 2008 to contribute to the pre-season training. He teaches Darryn Miller how to get on the front foot with confidence, and advises Saidi Mhlongo on some good swing-bowling techniques. He acquires the captaincy of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial team and leads from October through to December. During this time, batsmen have improved, bowling has been strengthened, leadership skills have increased, discipline has been taught, training sessions have intensified and maturity has been fast-tracked.
What else? A few more people showing interest in provincial cricket as some household names are amongst the “lower ranks”. More active sponsorship deals for the provincial tournaments….meaning more money pumped in for training facilities.
These “seniors” will be paid as professionals, similar to the “overseas professional” agreement. The money invested in such a venture will pay dividends as the feeder system is strengthened, franchise cricket benefits because the up-and-coming players are already prepared for franchise cricket. The national team benefits because the preparations for new internationals are minimal as they have been learning from the provincial level of the intensities and structure of the national setup.
After the Christmas/New Year’s break, the provincial teams would be left on their own without the use of the “seniors” to see how their progress has transpired.
Let’s go back just 3 seasons when we lossed many players to retirement. Imagine what the provincial system would be like now if the retirees were bound by this contract. Let’s go through some of the provinces from 3 season ago and see who would be the beneficiaries:
KZN – Jonty Rhodes, Errol Stewart
Easterns – Daryll Cullinan, Derek Crookes
Border – Piet Strydom, Piet Botha, Mark Bruyns
Free State – Allan Donald, Gerry Liebenberg, Louis Wilkinson
Northerns – Rudi Steyn, Shafiek Abrahams
Boland – Henry Williams, Steve Palframan
WP – Gary Kirsten
This system will work if it is managed correctly. This season we’re probably going to say good-bye to Andrew Hall, Andre Nel, Charl Langeveldt, Doug Watson, Roger Telemachus and Shaun Pollock. If cricket has truly been at the centre of their hearts, they would IPL it during the winter and give back to SA cricket in the summer.
Tags: amateur, botha, cricket, errol, feeder, jonty, practice, provincial, strydom, training
