The National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore has been in existence since 2000, but most often has been like a ship without a captain. The only commendable aspect of it is that it is providing a few retired cricketers who have taken to coaching, a satisfactory living.

The truth is, so far it has handled only proven young cricketers and is trying to make them finished products. It also tries to correct first class cricketers who have developed faults. Headed by former Australian cricketer, Dav Whatmore, who in his time coached the Sri Lanka and Bangladesh national teams, the NCA is meant to cater to the future of Indian cricket.

Former England fast bowler, Frank Tyson, who lives in Australia, did a lot of good work at the NCA, and if some Indian coaches have emerged it is entirely due to him. Age has caught up with Tyson, who is unable to travel anymore.  However, he would have been amused at the selection of Whatmore, as director of operations, because Tyson said that the former is not academically inclined.

‘I had to advise him to pass the Level Three coaching course and it took a lot persuasion on my part,’ said the perceptive retired school teacher

Whatmore’s appointment, done on the recommendation of India’s former captain, Ravi Shastri, has seen an influx of overseas ‘experts’ and that too at a price. Of course, money is a small consideration for the BCCI, as it has long been the wealthiest body of its type in the game, much to the envy of the others. One would, however, appreciate if the money had been better utilised.

There are ‘experts’ in physical training and biomechanics, who are instructing coaches, and there is considerable confusion in their ranks, though they are disinclined to admit it as they know what is good for them.  Sport is simple, provided people know how to keep it so. The winning West Indies teams of the eighties and the winning Australian teams that followed, fortunately did not clutter their minds with too many technicalities. The fear is Indian cricket will see this happen because of the new trend.

When someone like Sunil Gavaskar could have been invited to explain the fundamentals as well as the intricacies of batting, there is someone from Australia, Rene Fernandes, who is doing these and is unable to provide any fresh insights. How can he?

The game has changed very little since it began all those years ago. But the philosophy of the NCA seems to have been influenced by the one that is a part of the entertainment business – the show must somehow go on – and the present dictum operative in the NCA is one of – when you cannot convince, just confuse. Where is Indian cricket headed?