Management and Selectors August will be here sooner that anyone wants to believe and the competition in Italy will be stronger, and the stakes higher. It is imperative that USACA immediately shortlists [if they haven’t already done so] a squad of 20 to 25 players from which the final 14 will be selected.
Gentlemen of USACA, it is true that no team will ever satisfy everyone. But the sheer volume of criticism of the present selection policy begs a look in. Ultimately, selection must take place without friendship, favour, or regional affiliation.
The players selected must individually [and collectively where possible] begin a rigorous conditioning and strength-training regiment. Physical fitness is a non-negotiable. Playing five or six games over a short period of time demands good health and conditioning. And as any physio will tell you: When one is not fit, one tires easily. And when we get tired, the first thing that goes is our mental game. And when our mental game goes, that is when we start making mistakes. It’s elementary Watson.
Blue print for Success
USACA must devise a standard blue print for fitness with specific dates for evaluation of benchmark progress. Nothing sophisticated mind you, just a simple strength and conditioning regime decided upon by the head coach and conditioning team.
Each and every player shortlisted must be required to meet these strength-training and fitness benchmarks, monitored at regular intervals [twice per month, perhaps] starting now and going through the end of June. Players who fail to satisfy the final benchmarks at the end of June must be excused. This is no time for pussyfooting – too much is riding on it.
Of course, with players being selected from several regions spread across the United States, the logistics of regularly monitoring their progress arises. Again, here is a possible solution.
Regional Responsibility
It becomes the responsibility of each Regional Director [representative] to inform their players of the blue print, and designate a place and time for the regularly scheduled evaluation of progress. There are sufficient coaches and physios within each region capable of conducting the evaluations. Three days after each evaluation, the results of every player’s performance must be submitted by the Regional Director to the head coach and the USACA management. Again, a simple check-off list [met/not met] will suffice. Honest and forthright appraisal and reporting is absolutely necessary. If a player fails to attend that should be noted on the evaluation. Receipt/non receipt of evaluations must be published on USACA’s web site. Mind you, not the results but simply whether it was submitted/not submitted. This holds the regional representative responsible to his constituent the next time election rolls around.
But how would you know if a particular region submits a dummy report, or for that matter, a false evaluation of a player? An excellent observation and I am so glad you asked it. You see, the final evaluation takes place at the end of June at a scheduled weekend training camp with the head coach and conditioning team. If the players have been meeting the interval benchmarks as attested to by the various Regional Directors, then successfully completing the final evaluation should be a breeze. Any player failing to meet the required benchmarks will be cut from the squad. Also at this time the squad will be trimmed to 14 (with 4 alternates for unforeseen circumstances). This gives players enough time to make any job or personal arrangements that may be necessary.
Final thoughts
So far we haven’t said a word about training, and that is because it goes without saying that each player has an individual responsibility to work regularly and rigorously on his game. The players and the coaching team are well aware of the shortcomings/areas for improvement. [Suffice it to say that one area that screamed out to all and sundry in Nepal was the team’s catching]. Ultimately, the degree to which each player commits himself to improving his skills will be evident to the selectors.
Gentlemen, hopefully this gets the ball rolling. Tic tock; tic tock…
Fans, players, coaches, officials, please join the discussion and share your comments to move this important process along. If you wish to have your name withheld on the comments, please let me know.
Comment on this story or send directly to cricsham@aol.com
Posted comments
Look I dont know if USACA got the cheese to hire a top coach so Ricky might be on to something. But the feedback from most the guys is Barton and Patil make a huge difference in the short time they work with the team. They say it was a learning experience and wish they had the chance to work longer with them.
The mens team is like West Indies a bunch of indissciplince. Look if they make it to the next round that is it for them they not making it to the world cup. I say we drop most of them and play the younger guys and look to the future.
Ramesh, Florida
All the other associate teams have big name foreign coaches. The players will listen and respond to a foreign coach more than a local coach. I play on the US team and I see it.
Name withheld
Third man,
You chatting fuckery. I was with you until you mention Daniram. Daniram did not deserve a place on that team but he there because of steve massiah. Steve is a good batsman but a piss poor example for leader. He is the most indisciplined player on the team and the boys all follow him.
I agree that the directors are a bunch a lazy do nothings that is why we should make them responsible and if they dont deliver expose their asses.
happyhookr, NY
To Ricky:
What if they could afford a foreign coach, what do you think?
Str8 Talkr, NY
USACA dont have money to pay the coach now how will they pay a foreign coach?
Ricky
The best way to prepare the US national team for August, is to:
1. Run off the Regional Tournament (both seniors & junior) early like in May/June.
Over the years USACA has timed this competition badly - finishing in late Oct.
In this way you have a few hopefuls to look at.
2. Use most of the members who were in Nepal - with some slight tweaking.
Massiah - he remains hving topped the aves. and scoring the most runs.
Cush - he remains - a good all round performance - 2nd. most wkts.
Baker - he remains - decent all round performance - could have done better.
Nadkharni - he remains - dogged by injury - he still ave. 24.33
Thyagarajan - he remains - 2nd. best batsman on the tour - ave. 41.50
Wright - he remains - could have done better - he needs some relief with the w-keeping duties.
It's about time the US carries a specialist keeper = Carl is our key batsman - let his
primary concentration be on scoring runs.
Marshall - he remains -a decent performance
Darlington - he remains - our best bowler -the leading wkt. taker -econ. rate very impressive.
Allen - he remains -although not many wkts. - he bowled relatively tight and can bat a bit
Dhaniram - he remains - not as a frontline batsman -but as the best off-spinner by econ rate.
a miserly 3.13 per over -and will lengthen the team's tail
There are vacancy for the places of -:
C.Williams (no fault of his - they may not play him)
I.Awan - has not delivered - benn around too long
S.Verma - too expensive -that is his bowling
However like I stated earlier - if the Regionals are played early - we will hacve a better opp. to sift through
the pack for the best team.
Getting the Reg. Reps involved --we are asking to take US cricket backwards. It will not work!
Third man
You can't get a good job done repairing your favorite pair of shoe if you get a guttersmith to do the job. Guys stop it you killing me here!
Str8 Talkr, NY
To Ricky:
how you know USACA dont have money? Who are you, Dainty posting under a different handle?
Name withheld
You ask the most important question Mr. Sooppersaud. What kind of a side would we be sending to Italy in August?
Amit C
In the past we, the cricket lovers in this country, were resigned to the idea that "cricket was not going anywhere). I know large numbers of us are now reassessing our throughts. With Don Lockerbie doing such a fantastic job, it is "putting us on the map" with ICC. In going through an article by Dr. Samaroo, someone asked the question "where is Dainty"? Guess what folks I think Dainty should remain wherever he is at this time. What kind of a side would we be sending to Italy in August? I know it is impossible at this time to answer this question objectively. Howeve, we can create a preabmle, a kind of a blueprint of what we want our touring party ot look like. Once we have done this then let us work towards creating the "product". You can't get a good job done repairing your favorite pair of shoe if you get a guttersmith to do the job. You have to get a shoemaker, and a good one at that.
I have not met many USACA Regional Directors. In fact I have met just two of them. The NY director and the guy from Connecticut, Curtis Clarke A few years ago myself and the Connecticut guy were touring with a NY Masters team in Barbados. In fact we roomed together. Most of our conversation were centered around cricket and its development (stagnation) in the USA. Clarkey talks a good talk, but he walks a good walk, also. The Ny Regional Director talks a good talk also, but unfortunately that is all it is, talk, talk, talk. No substance. To implement the suggestions which Dr. Samaroo put forward we have to have people with the cranial capacity to do so. To begin let us get into power regional directors who know how and what to do. If they are to be the eyes and ears of USACA, with regards to players' information, the these directors must have some cdedibility.
I am happy that the US team were able to salvage at least one leg of the recent tour to Dubai and Nepal. Had we play discipline cricket we would have attained the Championship. Our catching throughout was ridiculous. The "bunch of old folks" on the touring party also accounted for some of the failures we experienced. But let this be a lesson. In future let us stck to our guns and try to select players who are deserved of selection. Let us set our standards and criteria high. Nothing sub-standard. friendship, nepotism, favoritism, and all the buddy-buddy busines should be something of the past (guess this will take some doing!)
Dr. Samaroo has give both a diagnosis and a prognosis for success. To adapt his advice we need to get people handling matters who first of all understand what Dr. Samaroo is talking about. Let us get people who are trained in handling things. Let us be semi-professional ( if not professional) and get the right people for the job (s).
I know we have lots of talent in the USA. If each regional director does his job (the way he is supposed to) then we can get proper feedback coming from the various region. We can't expect to wake up Saturday morning, go to the Gym, then show up for an ICC game on Sunday. Ludicrous. Fitness, fitness, fitness should be the name of the game.
Sam Sooppersaud, NY
USACA dont have money to hire a foreign coach.
Ricky
To 1lov and happyhookr
Agree, Steve is a poor example for leader too big for the game. Sham stop praising these guys it making things worse
Eric, NY
Mr. Samaroo the only way to get through to these players is to hire a foreign coach. Its not that the foreign coach is better but he can instill discipline and make demands on them players that the local coaches cant because they already have a relation with the coach and are friends. The discipline on the team stinks.
Name withheld
Winning is the worst thing happen to US cricket. It was better if they lost because these guys noow think they can win without hard work. I listen to some of them guys since they come back and I want throw up.
happyhookr, NY
Stop wasting time with these jokers. They all looking to IPL hoping for a contract and dont give a shit about US cricket
Str8 Talkr, NY
I agree the problem on the team is discipline and respect
Amit C
Dr. Samaroo these guys dont have to practice they are all stars. The Indian team got nothing on them. Steve already thinks he is gods gift to batting.
1luv, NY
"how would you know if a particular region submits a dummy report" ROFLMFAO
Tiny Tim, California
Overall fielding was not bad but our catching sucks. I dont want call names but some players have discipline problems
Name withheld
Mr. Dainty where are you? Sham Samaroo giving you a lesson in running cricket hope you learn something.
Ramesh, Florida
The problem is New York region. Krish and Shiv control US cricket. What has Krish done for US cricket all the years he was there? Now he is fighting to get his buddy Rudy to take over Jeffroy's position. Hey Krish tell us about the problem with the coach of the U15 last year. You still trying to push it under the rug?
Paul 2, NY
Hello Sir
I read your article and truly appreciates it. Keep up the great work.
Mr. Samaroo you are throwing pearls at swines. USACA don't have a clue about what you're talking.
Name withheld
USACA got no excuses now you gave them solutions. I also like the idea of holding officials responsible.
JrJ, California
Too much friendism in selection. US will not get pass the next round. Marlon, NY
We need a fitness program is a must. Too many butter fingers on the team. Batsmen and bowlers save us in crucial games.
Name withheld