Fifty-odd cricket-loving kids had an unexpected tryst with a great of the game, when Team India coach Greg Chappell spent half an hour with them at the Balbhavan Sports Academy, in Rajkot, Friday evening.
The former Australia captain, in Rajkot to take part in the selection of the India team for the first two one dayers of the upcoming series against the West Indies, seemed quite kicked to spend time with the young ones.
"It's always very nice and refreshing to visit young cricketers and encourage them," Chappell told Rediff.com. "I was happy to accept the invitation, when I was requested to visit Balbhavan Sports Academy and spend some time with the kids.
"When I was his size, I used to bowl leg-spinners," he revealed, pointing at little boy of about four-feet in height. "Of course, later I grew into a batsman and medium-pacer."
Chappell gave the kids batting and bowling tips, concentrating on the right grip, the right way to go forward and back especially in defense, the right way to pull, and such.
The coach told the rapt kids about the value of bowling line and length. "Always maintain a good line and length. The grip of the ball is also very important, regardless of whether you are a fast bowler or a spinner," he said.
The kids wanted show, not tell, so Chappell picked up a bat and walked his talk; he then bowled a few at some of the youngsters.
"It's a stimulating experience to listen to his invaluable words and receive important tips from him. I'll definitely try to follow them and emerge as a better player," said 12-year-old Abhishek B Talatia, who studies in Standard VI in the prestigious SN Kansagara School, Rajkot.
Chappell said he found the kids very enthusiastic. "They're very lucky to have got such good facilities at this coaching centre. They're fortunate enough in that they're being trained by qualified coaches and former first-class cricketers. You always learn a lot about the basics of cricket by talking to or listening to such experienced men."
While signing off, Australia's premier batsman of the 1970s told the kids "One of the most important parts of a player's development is to compete in matches and play games against other cricketers, preferably ones who are better than them, who challenge him to give of his best."
AU Babi, the highly experienced head coach of the institution, who has produced more than fifty Ranji Trophy cricketers for Saurashtra and Gujarat, said "Sometimes even a flying visit by a truly great cricketer like Chappell plays a vital role in encouraging young players.
"Chappell did not just drop by here, he also batted and bowled with them and gave them tips. You can imagine what this means to a bunch of budding players. They'll surely be better off remembering whatever Chappell has told them."
