Bangalore: Members of the India A team are practising with plastic balls, which swing more than the leather ones, and are undergoing match simulation at ‘open nets’ here to prepare for the conditions that they are expected to encounter in New Zealand.
India A team coach Lalchand Rajput is making them do these and other exercises during the ongoing 10- day camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) here.
“Since the ball swings a lot in New Zealand, we are practising with plastic balls, which really swing appreciably. We will also have match simulation at ‘open nets’,” Rajput, a former Test opener, told MAIL TODAY . “There are various things we can do in a 10-day camp, and prepare them in such a way that they are really raring to go when they reach New Zealand,” said the coach, who was also in-charge of the India A team that toured the West Indies recently.
He said a few friendly matches will also be organised at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the NCA is located.
While the weather conditions in New Zealand can’t be replicated here, 50-year-old Rajput is ensuring that players prepare mentally to tackle whatever they encounter during the 19-day tour.
“I’ve been to New Zealand with an under- 19 team, so I’m aware of the conditions there. That’s a challenge for these youngsters — to prepare themselves mentally for what they’re going to encounter there,” he said.
“That’s why we’re having a 10-day camp, so that we could take them as close to those conditions as possible.” Rajput said that during match simulation different challenges will be thrown at members of the Abhinav Mukund-led team, which also comprises the likes of Unmukt Chand, Ashok Menaria, Rahul Sharma and Jaydev Unadkat.
“We can do match simulation at the ground, like ‘open nets’. Then, we give them certain targets and the number of overs in which they’ve to achieve it. This way batsmen and bowlers have a challenge."
“Whenever I’m in- charge, I do that, whichever country we tour,” he said. “And it’s good for players as well, and they’re responding very well. It’s good that we’ve enough days to prepare.”
India A will play three ODIs and then two unofficial four-day ‘Test’ matches against New Zealand A, beginning on September 18. All the matches will be played at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln.
Since the NCA is located within the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Rajput took the players inside the stadium to watch part of the fourth day’s play in the second India-New Zealand Test match on Monday.
“It would’ve given them additional motivation, and they’d have told themselves: ‘yes, one I day I have to be here’. You always prepare for what you require,” he pointed out.
Rajput said that no member of the Indian team could be approached to give a motivational talk.
“Since we are here, we will look into that aspect and see if a player can come and talk to them,” he said.
Stalwarts like Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath, who also happen to be the president and the secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, have their offices just a few metres away from the NCA and can be invited for such a talk. Rahul Dravid and Venkatesh Prasad are also part of the KSCA. There will be no boot camp for the India A team, like the one organised for the Unmukt-captained under-19 side that went on to win the World Cup in Australia recently.
“That happens for big tournaments. But that’s the reason why we are having a 10-day camp, so that we get to know each other and have a good bonding,” reasoned Rajput.
“Definitely, we’ve to perform well and win the series. But, above all, the main aim of a coach is to take players to the next level, and the level for them is the Indian team.”
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