MCA talent hunt receives massive response, over 2000 pacers turn up for the event

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) recently initiated their talent hunt in the city. The state association received massive response from the young cricketers. Little did the organizers know that they will get to see over 2000 pacers turn up for the selections. Mumbai cricket circle has seen a dip in quality bowling over the last few years.

Perhaps this was one of the reasons why the MCA thought of unearthing the raw bowling talent from the U19 and U23 wings. Pravin Amre, who has been associated with Mumbai cricket for a long time now, stressed on the very same fact. He also expressed his satisfaction over the response that the state association received.

“We never expected such a good response. However, this is raw talent and we all need to be patient,” said Amre.

Meanwhile, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, the former Indian cricketer, was present at the Wankhede Stadium to examine the youngsters who had turned up for the talent hunt. He was honest in responding about the quality of pacers who had turned up. The 61-year old noted that about fifty per cent of the bowlers were not up to the mark. However, there were a few who were very good.

“From the raw talent aspect, it was a good response. Fifty per cent of them weren’t good, but if we can get 10 per cent of the remaining to progress to the next level, it will be good for Mumbai cricket,” said Balwinder Sandhu.

Qualities that the selectors looked at

These selection trials will continue to take place at the various venues in the city till January 20. When asked to cite the qualities that the selectors were looking at, Sandhu noted that the bowling action, pace, and swing were the prime parameters of judgment. Even if the action was not proper, but the bowler had pace, the selectors were happy with such aspirants.

“Bowling action, pace and swing. If someone has pace then the action doesn’t matter, because it can be corrected since they are raw. I looked for a spark. If someone has that spark, he can be groomed. At the end of the day, it depends on how well a bowler uses the inputs and information he receives from coaches,” quoted the former Indian cricketer and the MCA coach.

Meanwhile, former spinner Ramesh Powar expressed his satisfaction at the kind of spinners he saw. Powar said he looked at, “talent plus adaptability” among the spinners. In other news, young Indian pacers are making headlines in the ICC U19 World Cup.

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