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Former Indian pacer Javagal Srinath is not only known as one of the finest pacers ever to play the game for India but also as a thorough gentleman on and off the field. Even after hanging up his cricketing boots, he continues to be associated with the game as a match referee and even trains the upcoming match referees from India.
In a recent development, Javagal Srinath has hit back at private cricket academies in India and claimed that the sport must not be sold, but taught properly. In an with a leading media organisation, Javagal Srinath said that some of the private academies in India do not have the right attitude and objectives. BCCI should be careful and apply the right mind to keep a tap on them.
"I have nothing against private academies, but cricket should not be sold, instead, it has to be taught,” Javagal Srinath was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
Commenting on the significance of the Ranji Trophy, the former Indian speedster claimed that India's local tournament is a stepping stone to Test cricket and players keen to play the longer version of the game need to excel at this level.
"We were lucky as players then prioritized Test cricket over ODIs. Now it is different because IPL is challenging. Proper guidance is required in emphasizing the importance and depth of red-ball cricket. A good red-ball cricket with a good cricketing brain can always shift his game to suit any other format," explained Javagal Srinath.
Javagal Srinath further mentioned that some of the greats of the game were quite adaptable in changing the formats and performing accordingly, and academies need to groom youngsters in the same way as earlier cricketers were being prepared.
The 52-year-old also outlined the fact that cricketers need to play longer innings at the league level. "We need to insist more on two-day and three-day matches. That's that only way you are going to build required inclination and mindset towards the game," Javagal Srinath concluded.
Javagal Srinath made 67 appearances in Test cricket and played 229 ODIs in a promising career shortened due to injuries. He picked up 551 wickets with an average of just over 29 for India. He was part of the Indian team that made it to the final of the ICC World Cup in 2003.