 A proactive move by TNCA
The Ranji Trophy season is round the corner and it is training camp time for the Tamil Nadu cricket team. The camp has been severely disrupted by the torrential rains in the city, but the TNCA has been no mute spectator. It has quietly shifted the camp to Sankarnagar, Tirunelveli, where the players are in action on the India Cements ground, with the promise that they will not be required to return to Chennai until the weather improves. Though outwardly the players may crib about the relocation, they must really be pleased that the association has been proactive in ensuring they are fighting fit when the first match of the season starts at Chepauk later this month, after the South Africans play an ODI there.
As usual, the camp is attended by some 25 probables, from whom the final team will be picked. A prominent absentee is Sadagopan Ramesh, who should feel justly aggrieved that Tamil Nadu left him out of the Buchi Babu teams, following his exclusion from the state team in the Ranji Trophy knockout last season. He will be turning out for Kerala this season.
Another Tamil Nadu lad, in and out of the team a few seasons ago, signed up with Assam, and has been extremely successful, his recent performances including some standout innings
for East Zone in the Duleep Trophy. Vasanth Saravanan is a highly talented batsman who suffered from Tamil Nadu's problems of plenty and inadequate appreciation of his merit here.
Notable omissions from the probables list this year are opener M Vijay who has scored prolifically for Alwarpet CC, and Jesubabu Honeymen, among the runs for Vijay CC. Vijay, in particular, has impressed one and all with his brilliant batting and Honeymen is a busy little player, very effective at this level.
Tamil Nadu has been focusing on physical fitness over the last few seasons, and achieving results too, thanks in no small measure to the work of the team's trainer Basu, who has contributed immensely at the National Cricket Academy as well. Basu's man management skills are excellent too, and he enjoys the trust of the players. B Arun, the coach, too has similar qualities, and together, they ensure the well-being and morale of the team.
At Tirunelveli, the team is being looked after well by former wicket keeper Venkatasubramaniam of India Cements. This initiative has been a real feather in the cap of TNCA.
V Ramnarayan
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