The annual summer coaching camp conducted by the Guntur District Cricket Association (GDCA) evoked good response from the youngsters, with about 150 of them turning up to take part in the month-long camp inaugurated at LEM School at Brodipet in Guntur on Monday.
The 30-day camp will witness coaches Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, I. Bhaskar, Md. Irfan and Balaji Kishen Singh, along with trainer and former Ranji player V.V.B. Saraswathi Reddy, imparting the basics to the trainees.
Guntur's contribution to the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) is notable. M.S.K. Prasad went on to play for Team India as wicketkeeper-batsman, while players like Vincent Vinay Kumar, Oscar Vinod Kumar, Bharat Singh Naik, K.S.T. Sai and Mallikharjun represented the Ranji squad and some of them also played for the South Zone. In the current Ranji squad, there are two faces from Guntur – Manoj Sai and G. V. Sarat Babu.
“Make use of the camp and bring laurels to Guntur,” said ACA vice-president S.L. Narayana Row, while M.S.K. Prasad, who is now director of operations in the ACA, asked the players to remain disciplined while learning the most popular game of the country.
The association has prepared five wickets – two turf wickets, two matting wickets and a cement wicket for practice. The association is also providing biscuits and bananas for the trainees at the end of coaching from 6 a.m. to 8.30 a.m.
M.S.P.V. Ramana Murthy, ACA central zone secretary, said during the camp practice matches would be conducted to enable the players to assess for themselves their strengths and weaknesses.
GDCA vice-president M. Ranga Prasad, Secretary M. Venkateswara Rao, central zone in-charge K. Bhaskar Ramamurthy and KDCA secretary Koka Ramesh took part in the inaugural function.
