farhan1
29th January 2010, 15:51
There's a 17th team in action at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup - and it's a pretty handy line-up with some well-known international names.
Sadly, however, the side won't be seen out on the park - it's made up of coaches, support staff and others who are part of the wider tournament personnel.
A number of the teams competing in the tournament have called on the service of their country's former stars in a coaching capacity, including Ijaz Ahmed (Pakistan), Minhajul Abedin (Bangladesh), Kevin Curran (Zimbabwe), Matt O'Dwyer (Ireland), Pandit Chandrakant (India), and Chris Kuggeleijn (New Zealand).
In addition, former Australian pace bowler Andy Bichel is coaching the Papua New Guinea team, while New Zealand's Mike Shrimpton has been coaching Afghanistan.
There are more former international players among the teams' support staff including Aravinda de Silva with Sri Lanka, Rumesh Ratnayeke on the Hong Kong coaching team, Roddy Eastwick with the West Indies, and Greg Chappell in an assistant role with Australia.
The list of great players grows further when the ESPN Star Sports commentary team is added in, including New Zealand's Simon Doull and Ian Smith, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram, and India's Sanjay Manjrekar. Add in match referees Jeff Crowe (New Zealand) and Javagal Srinath (India) and there are plenty of contenders for the 17th team.
Having so many great cricketing heroes around the tournament has been exciting for many of the players. Sri Lanka batsman Banuka Rajapaksa said his team had been thrilled to have Aravinda de Silva on the support team. "It is tremendous to be coached by him - I never expected in all my life to be in a team with Aravinda."
Afghanistan captain Noor-ul-Haq said his side was fortunate to have had the assistance of former kiwi test player Shrimpton. "He is a great coach, and he is training us in a very good way - we are lucky to have him," he said.
It's also a positive experience for the coaches. Former Australian bowler Andy Bichel got involved with Papua New Guinea initially because it is close to Queensland where he is based. "But I have got a lot more out of coaching this team than I ever imagined," said Bichel. "Coaching gives me the chance to give back to the game and say thanks to all the coaches who helped me reach my potential.
"There has been a massive improvement in the short time I have been with them because they are very talented cricketers. The personal satisfaction is immense and it's great seeing young men develop their skills."
Zimbabwe coach Kevin Curran has a huge commitment to the team he's coaching - seeing them as the future of cricket in Zimbabwe. "In Zimbabwe we are restructuring our cricket - we lost our top players and must start again," said Curran.
"It's important to have your best coaches coaching the young players at under 15,17 and 19 level. It's too late at international level, because once you get to the top you basically need an organizer not a coach."
So let's put the team on the park. Leave Crowe and Srinath to umpring and peacekeeping duties, and Shrimpton and Estwick as coaches, here's a possible squad of 15:
Alister Campbell, Sanjay Mandrekar, Aravinda de Silva, Greg Chappell (capt), Ijaz Ahmed, Minhajul Abedin, Kevin Curran, Matt O'Dwyer, Ian Smith (wk), Pandit Chandrakant, Andy Bichel, Ramesh Ratnayke, Simon Doull, Chris Kuggeleijn, Wasim Akram.
Sadly, however, the side won't be seen out on the park - it's made up of coaches, support staff and others who are part of the wider tournament personnel.
A number of the teams competing in the tournament have called on the service of their country's former stars in a coaching capacity, including Ijaz Ahmed (Pakistan), Minhajul Abedin (Bangladesh), Kevin Curran (Zimbabwe), Matt O'Dwyer (Ireland), Pandit Chandrakant (India), and Chris Kuggeleijn (New Zealand).
In addition, former Australian pace bowler Andy Bichel is coaching the Papua New Guinea team, while New Zealand's Mike Shrimpton has been coaching Afghanistan.
There are more former international players among the teams' support staff including Aravinda de Silva with Sri Lanka, Rumesh Ratnayeke on the Hong Kong coaching team, Roddy Eastwick with the West Indies, and Greg Chappell in an assistant role with Australia.
The list of great players grows further when the ESPN Star Sports commentary team is added in, including New Zealand's Simon Doull and Ian Smith, Pakistan legend Wasim Akram, and India's Sanjay Manjrekar. Add in match referees Jeff Crowe (New Zealand) and Javagal Srinath (India) and there are plenty of contenders for the 17th team.
Having so many great cricketing heroes around the tournament has been exciting for many of the players. Sri Lanka batsman Banuka Rajapaksa said his team had been thrilled to have Aravinda de Silva on the support team. "It is tremendous to be coached by him - I never expected in all my life to be in a team with Aravinda."
Afghanistan captain Noor-ul-Haq said his side was fortunate to have had the assistance of former kiwi test player Shrimpton. "He is a great coach, and he is training us in a very good way - we are lucky to have him," he said.
It's also a positive experience for the coaches. Former Australian bowler Andy Bichel got involved with Papua New Guinea initially because it is close to Queensland where he is based. "But I have got a lot more out of coaching this team than I ever imagined," said Bichel. "Coaching gives me the chance to give back to the game and say thanks to all the coaches who helped me reach my potential.
"There has been a massive improvement in the short time I have been with them because they are very talented cricketers. The personal satisfaction is immense and it's great seeing young men develop their skills."
Zimbabwe coach Kevin Curran has a huge commitment to the team he's coaching - seeing them as the future of cricket in Zimbabwe. "In Zimbabwe we are restructuring our cricket - we lost our top players and must start again," said Curran.
"It's important to have your best coaches coaching the young players at under 15,17 and 19 level. It's too late at international level, because once you get to the top you basically need an organizer not a coach."
So let's put the team on the park. Leave Crowe and Srinath to umpring and peacekeeping duties, and Shrimpton and Estwick as coaches, here's a possible squad of 15:
Alister Campbell, Sanjay Mandrekar, Aravinda de Silva, Greg Chappell (capt), Ijaz Ahmed, Minhajul Abedin, Kevin Curran, Matt O'Dwyer, Ian Smith (wk), Pandit Chandrakant, Andy Bichel, Ramesh Ratnayke, Simon Doull, Chris Kuggeleijn, Wasim Akram.