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Junior cricketers raise the bar

Stan Rayan

ON A HIGH: The Kerala under-22 team, which finished runner-up in the South Zone inter-State cricket championship in Hyderabad on Thursday.

KOCHI: There was a big commotion recently over the Kerala Cricket Association's backstage moves to pressure many of its senior players to retire.

"Not a nice way to send them off," cried cricket pundits.

True, stars like former captain Sunil Oasis, Ajay Kudua and M. Suresh Kumar, who, apparently, were asked to leave Kerala's Ranji stage, deserved a better deal. A warm and memorable farewell too, for these were men who inspired the State to write some glorious chapters in its cricket history.

Now, as we ruminate over the recent happenings, some very glad tidings have come from Hyderabad. The under-22 Kerala team finished runner-up in the P. Ramachandra Rao Trophy South Zone Championship the other day and, for the first time, qualified for the all-India event along with champion Hyderabad.

Raiphy Vincent Gomez, a former under-19 India player, proved to be an inspiring captain at the championship. The all-rounder held the fort with a crucial unbeaten century as Kerala forced champion Hyderabad to a draw. He also had a 70 against Andhra apart from three-wicket hauls against Tamil Nadu and Goa. Kerala gained the first innings lead against Andhra and Goa and did not lose a single game in the six-team league event.

Five years ago, when Kerala won its maiden under-16 South Zone inter-State title, S. Haridas, then the KCA secretary, had predicted that the side would play a crucial role in the State's future. Raiphy had been the captain then and the team revolved around S. Aneesh, P. Prasanth, Robert Fernandes, Rohan Prem and Abhishek Hegde.

These boys virtually formed the nucleus of the under-22 side in Hyderabad too with Robert Fernandes (95 vs. Andhra and fifties against Karnataka and Goa), S. Aneesh (four wickets vs. Andhra) and Abhishek Hegde (72 vs. Goa and 51 n.o. vs. Andhra) rising to the occasion along with Raiphy.

"Often, when players do well in the under-16 age group, they fade away by the time they reach the under-19 level. But these boys have proved that they can be relied on. They are special," said Mr. Haridas.

With the under-22 boys stunningly raising the bar, the KCA has included seven of them among its 26 Ranji probables.

But there is a problem. The dates of the Ranji Trophy Plate League clash with the under-22 all-India championship at Mohali and this has put the KCA in a dilemma.

"We haven't decided what to do," said T.C. Mathew, Secretary, KCA. "We cannot deny Ranji berths to some of the talented under-22 boys. And given an option, they would surely love to play the Ranji because they will be in the National limelight.

"And since Kerala has a good chance of qualifying for the Ranji Elite Group (now renamed the Super League), we need them in the senior team. But, we have qualified for the under-22 National for the first time, so we have to send a good team to Mohali too. We'll have to balance the two events smartly," said Mr. Mathew.

So, it looks like three members of the under-22 team could find a place in the Ranji final fifteen with the stress being on strong batsmen. Which means that Raiphy could make his Ranji debut this year.

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