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By Venkat

Does any one care when an Uttar Pradesh team takes on a Mumbai side without Sachin and Agarkar? It’s just a neglected form of cricket still making efforts to remain active. I just feel for the players who toil hard for their stage’s pride and prestige without much support from the men of their states.

First Class cricket has been on the downslide ever since heroes like Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar et al gave up the game. Nowadays, the Tendulkars and the Dravids have hardly stopped bothering about what their state sides are up to. I remember a time when a jet-lagged Sunil Gavaskar came from the Windies tour after facing the Fiery Four and then wearing the Mumbai (then Bombay) colours and scoring heavily against Delhi led by Bedi. Now, playing for one’s state has become something the present players have looked upon, citing personal/health reasons, but without realizing that the states have been a major factor for their becoming heroes. But a section of committed cricketers like Sanjay Bangar (Railways), Murali Kartik (Railways), Sairaj Bahutule (Mumbai) and Ajit Agarkar (Mumbai) have always found time for their state sides as their ultimate priority is bagging the Ranji Trophy as the events leading afterwards COULD earn them a place in the National Line-Up.

Professionalism, the word which one can’t find in the dictionary of Indian cricket (be it whatever form) and applies more than aptly to the First Class setup. The match takes place on those dead as a dodo “patta” wickets and decided mainly on the first innings lead – which for me seems not-so-encouraging. Our system is nowhere close to Australia, England and South Africa, where the players are considered as pros and in India, we follow the semi-professional system, which is as good as the second division in English Football. The Aussie system is as good as international cricket, where teams get no respite.

Sponsors, again a major question mark as far as the teams are concerned. Mumbai team won the Ranji Trophy without a sponsor. The corporate class is majorly concerned with the national team; hence the first class teams suffer. Sponsorships in County Cricket are as good as 3 months pay for the English team itself. This makes the players feel secure about the future...in India, we have players who have left the game simply because they couldn’t afford it. Such insecurity must be ripped off and the only solution to this problem is more sponsorships for the teams and the players.

Crowds have been a major problem in Indian first class cricket. We saw a full house in Chennai (Irani Trophy) and Bangalore (Challengers) but now the season has kicked off, where are the men ? The stadiums look like an eerie place with just 24 people entirely – 22 players and 2 umpires. Innovation has been a step back according to the BCCI. With the success of Twenty 20 cup in England, the South Africans have also followed their path with an Invitational trophy in this season. Will it happen in India ? I hope it happens, and if it does, it’ll be good for the game and the players.

I guess these factors hold the key for the resurgence and emergence of Indian First Class cricket. I don’t think its impossible but it can only be possible with a responsible administration which is willing to try out new things ! But for now...the game will go through the regular grind and battle for survival...
 

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