Bruce Adams, an Australian cricket coaching mentor, has voiced strong criticism of India’s cricket academy system, asserting that it is failing a significant portion of its junior cricketers.
Adam claims that over 60% of young players are not receiving adequate training, despite their parents investing substantial sums in academy fees. He highlighted that during recent trials, 40% of participants who had been enrolled in academy coaching for two to three years lacked proper foundational skills. He observed instances of “chucking” among bowlers, a fundamental flaw that should have been corrected early in training. He described the situation as “sad and embarrassing,” noting that many non-cricketing parents remain unaware of their children’s lack of progress.
Adams has over 18 years of experience in mentoring young cricketers, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds in India. Leading a team of former first-class players and coaches, he provides high-quality training and education to over 1,500 children from remote tribal areas, helping them realise their potential in cricket and beyond.
Drawing an analogy to academics, Adams stated,
“If your child was going backwards at school in maths or science, parents would be asking what the teacher and school were doing.”
Adam urged parents to question why their children aren’t improving in cricket, especially after years of academy coaching and significant financial investment. He particularly criticised large franchise academies, comparing them to fast-food chains like McDonald’s or Burger King, suggesting that they offer a one-size-fits-all approach to coaching. “It’s simply a process line of people and cricket… Most parents are getting pickled and creamed big time!” Adams remarked.
India boasts a vast number of cricket academies, with reports indicating over 2,000 such institutions across the country. However, concerns have been raised about the quality of coaching provided. Journalist Harsha Bhogle noted that while academies are proliferating, there is little evidence that they are enriching Indian cricket, suggesting they may serve more as income sources for retired cricketers.
In regions like Noida, the rapid growth of unregistered cricket academies has been attributed to factors such as a flourishing corporate cricket culture and the availability of affordable land. Many of these academies operate on leased farmlands, often lacking proper facilities and infrastructure.
Adams’ critique underscores the need for a thorough evaluation of cricket coaching standards in India, emphasising the importance of effective training to nurture the nation’s future cricketing talent.
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