NCA too mechanical: Binny

Theu00a0National Cricket Academy (NCA) has attracted heavy criticism in the last few days from former India cricketers, Kiran More and Karsan Ghavri. Roger Binny, one of its earliest coaches, who also served as co-director along with Hanumant Singh during the inaugural year in 2000, conceded that players 'haven't benefited' from the academy.


Roger Binny

"We started out on the same lines as the Australian Cricket Academy (ACA). That's why we had Rodney Marsh set it upu00a0-- the seeds were planted nicely. The whole idea was to bring U-19 and other junior cricketers and work with top-class coaches for a lengthy period. However, that never happened since there's no continuity in the coaching process. "Players join the academy and are sent home after a month. That's why NCA is losing out. It's become very mechanical, players need to be treated on a personal level," he told MiD DAY.

"Having them (players) here for one month doesn't serve purpose. What's the point of having separate batting and bowling academies? The batsmen need to face good bowlers, and vice-versa. They have to be under one roof (like the Australian module). This isn't working out," added Binny.

Ideal rehab ground?
The likes of Irfan Pathan, S Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan have spent ample time in the Bangalore-based academy recently to treat injuries, but haven't recovered completely. However, Binny doesn't support the view that NCA is not the ideal platform for player rehabilitation.

"The players are to be blamed because they don't want to sit out due to injury and allow the recovery process to take place. NCA cannot be blamed for that. There's a lot being said about certificates being handed out easily. Don't forget, the players are accepting them, and selectors are hurrying them back into the national side," he said.

Scouting approach poor
"BCCI are saying that parents are more bothered about education. If a student wants to study further, he should be given the option courtesy of the BCCI. The board must go to colleges and guarantee his future," added the 1983 World Cup winning all-rounder

Kumble needs free hand
Binny said that Anil Kumble, the current NCA Chairman, must garner more support: "Anil has brought in some good ideas, but unfortunately they haven't been put in place yet. Give him a free hand because he is the right man for the job. He just finished playing at the highest level. There's nobody else in the country to do this job better."