Cric-Tok with Russel Arnold

When we started Cric Tok, it was to involve a famous personality from the world of Cricket. I as its editor in chief never imagined it could be fun and humorous as well.. I surprised myself and quite pleasantly so. The reason being quite obvious, the person on the other side of Crick Tok happens to be none other than the magical and often extremely funny Russel Arnold.

Russel is that type of a person with whom you can strike a conversation almost immediately. Instant humor follows. I was to do a very formal interview with Russel but with him around there has to be nothing but fun. So  I decided to change the rules of the game and we went in to do a Rapid Fire Round with the legend from Sri Lanka. The rules of the game were pretty simple. I would give him single word question and Russel in turn would return the fire, bullet for bullet. What Followed is pure fun. I tried to put Russel in a spot of bother but he managed to wriggle out each time with great finesse.

So Here Goes:

TBK:  My First Thought obviously goes to the Game of Cricket. 

Russel : Life

TBK: Thinks I will bowl the Doosra, so here goes my second bullet: Wife

Russels defence mechanism is as strong as ever, does not want to read this wrong, so his reply is as  solid : Rock(comes the reply)

TBK: Chennai, Southern State and my mind wanders around Tamizh which is my next word in query to Russel.

Russel is the man for the punch and this time the reply is one that touches a few chords. Russel: Mother(Tongue). 

By now I want to get him out, the tussle with Russel is getting interesting and as the bowler I want to dominate, not knowing that the man at the other end is a master at this game. For this I thought I would bring in the most loved Twitter Parody into action. My Question this time was about Srini Mama.

Pat comes the Reply from Russel: Twitter Thala. I can already hear the crowd breaking into applause and whistles.

TBK is not the one to accept defeat that easily so the war of words continue:

Ashwin had to come in some time in this blog so I decided to fire my next salvo. TBK: Ashwin.
Russel has this delivery well covered with his reply and I appreciate the way he plays out the Carrom Ball. Russel: Wizard.

I mark my run up to bowl a fast toe crushing slinging yorker at Russel. TBK: Malinga. Russel digs out this one at the right moment, saving his stumps for another delivery. Russel: Freak.

IPL season is just round the corner. I can feel the feverish pitch in my home town Chennai with hues of yellow everywhere. I quiz Russel around IPL and his reply is a typical Whistle Podu one. Russel: Chennaiyin Super Rajas.

The Term Wide evokes claps from the crowd or despair depending on the situation. Can you evoke Laughter from the word Wide. So I throw a Wide at Russel. His reply leaves me in splits: Idli Gundan.

Perhaps I can get him in his Home Country Sri Lanka, so I move outside of India and ask him about his own country: Sri Lanka. Again I nod in agreement with his beautiful Reply: Paradise. Of Course Sri Lanka is a beautiful nation, Paradise on Earth.

Talks of Ashwin and Russel, the subcontinent can never be complete without single reference to Off Spin. Its not an easy trade I think and the tribe a very rare lot. Russel is beginning to read my deliveries before hand: Art.

World Cup 2016, my next word for Russel, the answer is but obvious in my mind: Repeat 1983, 2011 . However Russel Fires Back: Repeat 1996. All the Best Russel on that one.

By now I want to get him out, I reserve the best delivery for the last and joy knows no bounds when I do manage to get him back to the hut with this one: Most Embarrassing Moment on the Cricket Ground. Russel: LBW to Ganguly. Howzzzzzzaaaaat, I shout. Simon Taufel at the Umpires end lifts his finger Out it is.

Well Played Russel. You must have played innings of great quality throughout your career, and this one of words was played out even more beautifully. In your second innings as a Cricket Commentator and a Social Media enthusiast you are winning over more fans. On Behalf of Gen Next we would love to wish you success in all that you do. Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts. I loved bowling the questions at you.

Back in Chennai we at Gen Next Cricket Institute have started planning for #SummerSlam 3.0. So if you are interested in joining our Camp this summer do call Sekhar on his mobile: 9884017371. Believe me its going to be a whole lot of fun!!!!!

Crick-Tok with Simon Taufel

Its always been our endeavor to bring before you the very best be it the world of cricket, on field or off the field, through our lively blogs. It is only because of your overwhelming response and encouragement that we come up with new initiatives from time to time. Starting this month we have this new column called Crick-Tok which will feature Famous personalities from the World of Cricket. These Blogs will be fast and furious, short and enjoyable and most importantly you will derive immense learning pearls from each one of them, leaving you wiser, happier and richer in experience. We are sure that as the clock goes Tick-Tock, you will enjoy each moment of Crick-Tok, Pun Intended.

In this edition of Crick Tok we bring to you a conversation that TeeBeeKaa-(thats how Akhira and Aadhya love to call him) :) aka TallBoyKarthik has with the unarguably the Worlds Best Umpire Simon Taufel. The world knows him as the best umpire but I would love to introduce him to you as a gem of a person. I met him the first time at the Loyola College Grounds on his visit to Chennai. We struck off a conversation like old mates would and credit goes to Simon for making me feel so comfortable. Humility in its meritorious place, the Ability to charm people with his friendly approach, that is Simon in short for you. So its now over to Crick-Tok between Simon Taufel and TBK.

Your childhood memories of Cricket and idols of the game that you loved to follow as a child. Who were you inspired by? 

I grew up watching players from Australia like Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh, Greg Chappell and Alan Border, and Malcolm Marshall, Desmond Haynes, Ritchie Richardson, Joel Garner and Clive Lloyd from the West Indies. It was when my mother brought me home an autograph from Dennis Lillee one day that I really was inspired to play cricket and be a bowler. Being a bowler, I also admired the smooth effortless rhythm of Richard Hadlee.

What or rather How were you drawn into Umpiring?

Umpiring chose me, I didn’t chose it. One of my team mates wanted to become an umpire and asked me to join him at a NSW umpires course in 1990. I agreed and we both did the course. Unfortunately, my friend David did not make the 85% pass mark and I did. He went back to play cricket the next season and I decided to give umpiring a go. I was inspired through the course when I met the likes of Dick French (former Australian Test umpire) and first class umpires and trainers, Alan Marshall and Arthur Watson.

 Any interesting anecdotes that you would like to share while you were on the field as an umpire and learnings thereof.

I’ve seen many interesting things on the field. Everything from a gas bottle blast in Faisalabad, dogs on the field in Kandy, cats in England and plastic bottles thrown at the MCG. Greg Matthews was probably one of the most interesting characters – he would often tell me what type of delivery he was going to bowl before he bowled it and regularly reminded me that he would only appeal when it was out! I quickly learned that cricket was very much a mental game and I had to be mentally tough to manage all these distractions.

I have always felt that the CEO of any organization is much like an umpire, needs to make correct decisions, has to be seen as impartial, your thoughts? 

I can understand that. Umpires need to take in all the facts and evidence before them and make a fair, unbiased, considered and accurate decision. We expect our decisions to be respected and accepted. The strength of an appeal should not influence our decision. We need to know all the rules (the Laws) and operate within the agreed framework and apply these conditions without fear or favour. Being a leader of people or a company is no different – we need to be true our own values and responsible and accountable for our decisions.

Integrity means that both business leaders and umpires live their values of honesty, fairness, trust, accountability and leadership through their actions and behaviours. Our behaviours and motives need to be above reproach.

Lessons learnt on the Cricket Field that can be incorporated in the Corporate World.

There are many. In fact I advocate that the basic skills of being a good umpire start with being a good person. We are who we are 7 days a week. We don’t change into someone different on the cricket field or in the office. The fundamental transferrable skills underpin success in any chosen vocation – preparation, effective communication, hard work, a growth mindset, self discipline, leadership, teamwork, resilience, goal setting, mental toughness, being coachable, fitness and building trust, just to name a few. I’ve been really lucky to work at an elite level of sport for many years and to learn from some excellent people. I now owe it to them to be able to pass on this knowledge to others who have the desire to be the best that they can be.

Sports or the Corporate World is all about handling pressure . Your advice to the Youngsters.

Pressure only exists when you care what other people think, including yourself. Nerves and butterflies in your stomach are good provided you can control and embrace them. If they are excessive, then they will control your mind and often that makes your body tense up and you cannot play freely. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself (internal pressure) to perform. Realise that it’s just a game and if you work hard, keep it simple, then good things are likely to happen – so trust in yourself and your ability. Don’t let other people or the occasion distract you from your game and what you want to do (external pressure). Keep it simple, watch the ball, see where you want to land the ball and enjoy every moment. We cannot be perfect but we can be excellent.

 You gave up umpiring when you were at your peak. Any reasons why. Can you spell out your future plans.

I needed a new challenge (professionally) to keep me involved in the sport as I had been umpiring for around 23 years. I love going places where no one has been before and umpire performance and training programs gave me that challenge. I also wanted to spend some more time with my family (personal) and be around more for them. They had supported me so much by allowing me to be away for so long, I felt it was time to support their career choices and needs.

Having spent the past 6 years in sports administration and match official support, writing and delivering training and accreditation programs, I’m now focusing on building my own business. It involves writing a book, providing consultancy and project support to corporate clients and sporting organisations. I’m focused on helping people identify performance gaps, offering them ideas on how to reduce those gaps and sharing what worked and what did not at the elite level, and it is very rewarding. I also deliver keynotes and development sessions for students and young players /match officials as I think it is most important to put back into the game and help the next generation – just like others helped me during my career.

You visited Chennai recently and it was our pleasure to have you at our institute. Any thoughts about the interaction that you had with the children here?

It was an honour to visit Ashwin’s academy and see the great effort being put into future of the game. What impressed me was the commitment and energy of the cricket coaches – they appeared to have a genuine love for cricket and to help the kids grow. I really enjoyed talking with the young players and seeing the smiles on their faces that the game brings. Cricket unites us, across different languages, different age groups, religions and cultures. We connect using the language of cricket. I was impressed to see so many people delivering programs for the kids not only to develop their sporting ability but to also help them become good people and better citizens of India.

Any message that you would like to pass on to the parents of the young budding cricketers?

Let the kids enjoy their cricket. Please don’t put additional pressure on them to perform and if they make mistakes, that’s ok. It’s means that they are learning. If they enjoy what they are doing, then they will stay in the game longer and will give more fully. Try to resist living your love of the game through your child and allow them to be themselves. They need your love and guidance, not your dreams and goals.

A conversation with me can never end without talking about our mentor Mr. Ashwin. Your thoughts about him and umpiring when he was bowling? 

I believe everyone should have a coach and a mentor – they are different roles by different people. A good coach asks the right questions at the right time. A mentor is a trusted person who knows you well and someone who you can confide in. A mentor should be committed to supporting you make decisions in your best interests.

When Ashwin is bowling, if it is tough for the batsmen, it is tough for the umpires. Normally the batsman don’t know which way the ball is going to turn with him and that made it harder for me when I was umpiring. My experiences with Ashwin showed that while he competed hard, he was easy to work with. We seemed to have a professional working relationship and focused on our own roles on field – I think there was a healthy mutual respect for each other. He seemed to work to a plan, didn’t waste time with his field settings and had enormous trust and faith in his captain. He gave his best and applied himself fully in the best interests of the team.

Quite a session of Crick-Tok. Lots of Pearls picked up and there is wide ranging advice for people of varying age groups, right from Parents to Youngsters. Shukriya Simon, that's the Simon way of saying thank you. a Hidden Secret, he knows Hindi quite well. We at Gennext are eagerly looking forward to his next visit to Chennai. Keep watching this space for more lively sessions of Crick-Tok. Till we meet next time, Goodbye from all of us, stay well and God Bless..

Gennext Shines in the Middle East

Its been quite a while since yours truly pitched in with his words but TBK cannot really be faulted for the work that has been happening all around us at Gennext. Workaholic it has been the last few months and so I decided that this one Sunday will be the one to express my thoughts with all the hectic happenings all around us. For starters TBK is now officially a part of the Gennext Team. Personally its a great honor bestowed on me, to shoulder a great responsibility alongside one of the greatest Legends of the Game, our dearest mentor Ravichandran Ashwin.

I still recall one of the evenings a few months back, we were all gathered at RKM grounds in T. Nagar. It was one of the happy, fun evenings which is normally the case with my boss around, actually I am entitled to call him that officially now and it does feel great. So back to that evening, all happy faces around. All of a sudden, my mentors face turned grim and serious. At that point of time, I was still the happy go lucky fan boy and not a full time employee. Ashwin turned to Sudarshan and both of them had an animated discussion. I was like - Hope Things were fine.

It turned out that we had to vacate RKM ground in a months time and we had no place to go. It was almost as though the ground under us was pulled away and we were hurtling headlong into a dark abyss. Where do we go from here? What do we do? One single Center and One School was all that we had at that point of time. However this is where the leaders vision comes through. Ashwin was perturbed for a few minutes but he recovered from that initial shock almost immediately. He announced quite nonchalantly "Guys we are expanding. We are no longer going to be dependent on one single center." A magic few words were all that was needed to turn this entire organization around towards unheralded growth.

We moved to Loyola....KRM a school in Perambur fell in place. Pon Vidyashram our existing center in Valsaravalkam started to show exciting growth. APL in OMR, Chennai one of the upmarket schools decided to join hands with us.An announcement to follow shortly in this regard. At the time of penning down this blog we are in advanced talks of closing the deal with one of the leading schools in Chennai as our next center. While we seem to have more than discovered our mojo at our home base in Chennai we also have expanded our footprint beyond our shores into Foreign Land. We have now tied up with Desert Cubs in Dubai. Gennext Desert Cubs will cater to the requirements of Cricket Coaching in the Middle East. Our Team consisting of Ashwin, our COO-Sudarshan, our coaches Santosh and Srinivasan were there in Dubai last week to kick start our operations there.

The Visit to Dubai was a roaring success and Teams on either side are gung-ho about the relationship with a lot of interesting plans for the future. I would be failing in my duty at this point of time if I do not thank Mr Ramesh ,Mr Balaji and Mr Vinay who were the key architects of this exciting relationship. As I spoke with Ashwin yesterday he was pretty excited with all that transpired in Dubai. His words still ring in my ears"TBK, this tour to Dubai was a grand success and we are really crossing boundaries"

So much has transpired in the last few months and many more good tidings to come in the future. All that has happened has happened for the good including our move from RKM to Loyola. The biggest learning for all of us being that we were in a closed shell as long as we were at RKM, but the moment we decided to open up our vision, the world has become our stage, endless, seamless growth options. All this growth that we have experienced in the last few months has been entirely due to all our staff at Gennext. For me personally this has been an exciting new journey which I pray to continue for many more years to come.

Gennext Moves on

We derive our strength from seeing a wide grin on the child's face. Times are such that we have to keep improvising in terms of infrastructure and our our own coaching methodologies. We as an institute are always on the look out for newer opportunities and challenges, about processes and innovations that will make us better as an organization.

This summer was no different with children and parents thronging our centers in T.Nagar(RKM Grounds), our school centers, Pon Vidyashram(Valsarwalkam) and KRM(Perambur). The enthusiasm shown by the parents and our dear most children gives us more motivation to reach out to newer areas and schools. Our mentor Ravichandran Ashwin in his several conversations with the team in his role as a Mentor has stressed on the fact that as an institute we need to get our processes right,results would follow on its own.

So when we walk into one of our school centers and we see our kids coming up with assignments done up in a creative manner like the picture below suggests we know that our processes are right and in place. Of course due credit has to be given to the coaches in coming up with out of the box solutions. All of this is very much encouraged at our institute.

 

 As an institute we have felt the need to keep growing, for us its North that beckons the only direction going forward both literally and in a positive manner. We have felt the need to serve a larger clientele. So we have decided to move on from our existing camp from RKM Grounds in T. Nagar to Loyola College Grounds in Nungambakkam. The Loyola College Grounds is now fully functional and ready to cater to your needs of Cricket Coaching and Practice. This facility was inaugurated last week by our respected founder Mr Ravichandran and also by the present Parents. To Join the Camp at Loyola College you can reach out to Mr Sudarshan our COO on his Mobile: 9841784061 or our Admin Manager Mr. Shekar on his Mobile: 7845039990.

 

Up North in Chennai itself we have tied up with the KRM group of schools in Perambur to cater to requirements of that part of the city. We are glad that this tie up with KRM is the coming together of two like minded organizations that are of the opinion that sports and academics go hand in hand. We are more than happy to see the kind of encouragement, support and motivation from the Parents, the children and the school management. Our mentor Ashwin paid a visit to the KRM school in Perambur and Pon Vidyashram in Valsarvalkm to spend quality time with the children there.

 

As we expand, we will keep it pretty much simple, grow at the same time Quality of what we roll out as products from the institute for our clients shall be our prime focus area. If you want to reach out to any of us feel free to do so on any of the below mentioned numbers.

 We promise to keep you all updated on the latest happenings from the world of Gennext Cricket Institute. Till then its Goodbye from all of us.....Stay Happy....Stay Healthy

The Cricket Carnival Moves on- This Time to Gennext-Kings Cricket Academy Dubai

When we take up an assignment as an academy, we focus on quality and not on quantity. That has been our philosophy and so it shall remain as such in the years to come. Our Mentor and Indias premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has remained focussed on each and every child that joins the academy. Given that he is busy with a hectic and packed schedule, he does ensure that he spends quality time at the academy. In the long run the academies success will not lie in the number of cricketers we churned out of the academy but the number of better human beings who we moulded from our academy. That is our intention and aim.

The opportunity with the Kings group of schools came in at a time when we were scouting for like minded partners from across the globe, particularly with reference to the Middle East. Thus there was perfect union between our vision and the thoughts of the management of the Kings Group of Schools. Our body language, our dialogues and communication with the external world are all in sync with the aspirations of our management.When we set off to Dubai, we had our priorities and goals set which cannot be sounded in a much more emphatic manner than this Tweet from our mentor Ashwin. Indeed to learn new things and to pass on what we already know.

For us each day is a new beginning and the process of learning and unlearning happens as a routine chore at the academy.

The process of learning and understanding more about the game of cricket or for that matter any other sport is never complete without proper partnership between the coach and the young cricketer. Each individual is blessed with a skill set that is unique to him or to her. Keeping that in mind the coach has to tune the requirements and plan for each and every individual sportsman. This is exactly what we set about doing when we reached our academy in Dubai. Parents on one side, wards on the other, it was indeed a freewheeling session. Idea was to communicate with each and every player who is a part of the academy. Technology was put to best use to ensure that communication was straight and simple, end of day there is nothing that pays off better than hard work. 

Replete with examples and illustrations we try to make the process of understanding finer concepts of the game that much simpler and easier to grasp. 

We are open to feedback and are always on the lookout for new kinds of challenges.  When the UAE womens team came up to us seeking our expertise through our mentor ashwin we were quite up to it and spent quality time with the womens team. 

We at Gen-Next Cricket Academy are a very closely knit family right from the top to the bottom. We believe that each of our employees is a very important stakeholder in the day to day running of the business. Playing the game for fun and for the love of it is equally important on the business side as well. 

Thus concluded our Cricket Master class in Dubai. However an article like this is never complete without a mention of our sponsors and key associates who have left no stone unturned in making this program a grand success. In today’s cricketing scenario, sponsors play a vital role in promoting the sport.

GenNext Kings cricket Academy have been aptly supported by their valuable sponsors right from inception. During the recent master class conducted by Ashwin, the sponsors to the likes of Avon Insurance Brokers, Danube, Prime Hospitals, Trading Enterprises (Volvo) and Zulekha Hospitals have supported the academy.  One of the key highlights by the sponsors was supporting the cricket clinic for UAE Women’s National cricket team, conducting health clinics for kids and parents, transportation and most key aspect of ensuring the insurance coverage is available.  Ashwin also conducted leadership and motivational talks for major corporates to extend his skilled and strategic view on cricket and life beyond cricket.

Parenting-Queries from One Parent to Another

Its a Lazy Sunday morning, one time during the year when you just don't feel the need of a air-conditioner. I hear from the newspaper that the temperature has dipped by 4 degrees, hovering at around 19 Degrees Celsius. This lovely weather is a luxury for people in Chennai, and yours truly feels the need to be under the comfort of a blanket. Just as the eyes want to shut off to slumber, the mobile rings and its Sudarshan, the COO of our Cricket Academy on line. Sudarshan wants me to quickly come to the ground to have a conversation with the founder of our academy Ravichandran Uncle.

Its a opportunity that I cannot really refuse because any conversation with uncle is worth its weight in Gold. I quickly take a few mugs of shower, ice cold water mind you, The Geyser can wait, no time for hot water. I don't want to miss any of the conversation. So after that bone chilling bath I quickly rush to the RKM grounds. On the way in my mind I have already decided that this conversation will lay centered around Parenting. TBK has so many questions up in my heart to ask of Uncle and doubts to be clarified from a Parents perspective. I am on time, as I drive my bike around the curve, I can see Uncle's car coming in the opposite direction.

Customary Greetings follow. As usual I am in awe of Uncle not just because of the fact that he happens to be Ashwins father, but because of the fact that he is ready to strike a friendly conversation with anyone. I bow my head humbly to the simplicity of the Gentleman. So our conversation begins.

TBK: Uncle, When I admit my child to any Cricket Academy, the general expectation is that my child should be in the playing Eleven of any tournament. Parental Pressure and Expectations are on the rise. As a Parent what is your advice to a Parent like me?

Uncle: First of all the Parents can come and watch the children play from a distance. Getting closer to the children or the coaches during the hours of practice is a strict no. My son scored five runs or six runs , again a question in futility. Yes after the practice is over they can and must talk to the coaches about their children's performance.How can my child improve on his skills is a very valid question. My son did not get a chance to play in a tournament is a wrong question. Be  at the receiving end and take all the feedback that the coach gives. Don't complain. As a parent you must be above everything else. You cannot and should not influence his selection. Don't try and get close to the selectors or coaches.

TBK: There is another expectation that if I put my son in a Cricket Academy, He will become a star player like Ashwin. How valid is that kind of an expectation or otherwise?

Uncle: That is a very wrong expectation. When Ashwin was growing up I never knew that he would play for India. Even when he was in the Ranji team I did not have that kind of an expectation. There is and there will be politics in the game. When a player gets popular, there is bound to be jealousy and other kinds of challenges. At such a critical juncture it becomes very important that you support your child as a Parent. Let me give you an example. Two boys are in the center batting. One boy is striking well and he is 42 not out. The boy at the other end struggles his way to a 12 and gets out. The immediate reaction in the Parents will be. See that boy got 42, my son got only 12. At the spur of the moment scolds the boy saying: See How well that boy is playing and how badly you played. Never scold a child about his performance. Give him friendly advice instead. Finally you don't dream that your child should become big in sport. Allow your child to dream big. You as a Parent can support his dreams.

TBK: What kind of positive or negative impact can Parents or Coaches have on the child?

Uncle: It can be a huge factor. Parents getting together and having a negative discussion about your own child or someone else's child. By all means get together and discuss but don't discuss the average performances of your child in front of other parents/coaches/selectors.This can have a ripple effect. It reaches the ears of the selectors and it becomes a sort of chain reaction, spreading like a disease, thereby affecting the future prospects of the child. Secondly Coaches and Selectors should form an unbiased opinion of the sportsman, and should never go by hearsay or based on the opinion of other coaches and parents. See the child perform, and suggest corrections. Give Positive advice that will encourage the growth of the child. Thirdly when it comes to selection, coaches and selectors should keep in mind that they never go by the reputation or name of the Cricket Academy. They should once again oversee the performance of the child and then form an opinion.

TBK: Academics or Cricket Which is more important?

Uncle: Right Eye or Left Eye, which is more important? TBK: Both eyes are equally important Uncle. Uncle: Yes you are right, both eyes are important. Similarly Cricket is as important as academics. As a parent you are responsible for your child's growth. You need to take active interest in his academics as your child. When Ashwin was growing up, I used to do all the running around. He would play matches, I would go to his school and make a note of all the lessons that he had missed. Ashwin would come and insist on going to the ground. I would incentivize him. Finish this lesson and then go to the ground. He would tap the ball at home. At that moment I would ask questions from his subjects and prepare him for his examinations. Till his tenth standard, I would prepare by going through his text books, understanding the lesson myself before teaching it to him. If I had any doubts I would not hesitate in asking doubts from his friends or subject teachers. I knew each of his teachers by name and still remember them. When he reached his 11th standard, I had him shifted to a State Board school-St.Bedes. I understood that in the state board curriculum, the same thing had to be learnt over and over again. I would not understand a thing but would make him to repeat that Mathematical and Science Equations over and over again, till he had learnt it.  As parent I had encouraged  him to play sports and study well. There needs to be a balance between the two. As a parent it is your responsibility to ensure that the balance is maintained.

Pearls of wisdom indeed, especially when it comes from Ravichandran Uncle who has seen all of it from the eyes of a parent. This blog is meant for all parents all across the globe. We keep having these conversations and will bring you more in the days to come, so stay tuned in to us for more.

A Candid Casual Conversation with our coaches

Days of consumerism at its very best. We are in an era where the consumer is the King of Kings and therefore is spoilt for choice. Internet has bought the world right to the doorstep of the consumer and thus has enabled the customer to pick from an array of merchandise be it in the from of physical products or services. A customer walks into a retail store, he not only looks at the product but checks if they are backed by authenticated standards of quality.  Example in India ISI is a benchmark for quality for all kinds of consumer Durables.

The Customer is asking more questions before settling down to a buy whether it is a product or service. It has therefore become very pertinent that when it boils down to coaching we offer to our wards world class facilities, infrastructure and training. Coaching has changed by leaps and bounds over the last few years. We at Gennext have always felt the need to keep ourselves abreast with the latest coaching practices and standards being followed the world over.

Several of our coaches have attended coaching clinics conducted by ICC in countries like Dubai and Australia. In this blog of ours we will share the views of our coaches who flew in to Dubai to attend a certification course conducted by ICC.

TBK decided to prod on further and have a small tete-a-tete with Kaushik .

TBK: Kaushik, This was a first time experience for you in Dubai. How was the experience?

Kaushik: Being the first time, I really did not know what to expect out of the programme, but they set the expectations right in the initial stages itself. They said that for me it was a Level 1 programme, since its the entry level, I would need to pick up the coaching methods for young cricketers who are 5-6 years old.

TBK: What was the one big point of differentiation that you picked up from Dubai:

Kaushik: It made a huge amount of difference, the way I used to approach coaching before and the way I am going to approach it now will be drastically different. They use a lot of unique and innovative methods in coaching which I am looking forward to implement over here. They assigned a coach to our group and treated us as learners of the game. I liked that approach a lot.

TBK: Thanks Kaushik for your inputs, moving on to Coach Aravind, Can you please throw light on the Coaching practices being followed in Australia?

Coach Aravind: A World of difference TBK. Just to give you a small example, In Australia they train a batsman to bat with both the hands, right and left.

TBK: Do you impart here to your wards what you have picked up in Australia?

Coach Aravind: Coaching has now gone global. With the improvement in technology and the availability of internet there are no gaps in what we treat as coaching here in India and what is being doled out as coaching in other parts of the world, I focus more on Physical Fitness and Diet. There is no big difference other than the fact that they have a proper planning of how to organise the nets, how the use of technology aids players, these are some of the unique practices you can say are being followed internationally. I focus more and more on quality rather than quantity which is something that I picked up during my stint in Australia.

Quickly Moving on to Coach Rama:

TBK: Coach Rama, How was your experience in Dubai?

Coach Rama: I had a wonderful time in Dubai. The most important thing that I picked up and was stressed upon there was that we need to make the children to love and enjoy the game cricket, rest all will follow. This shall remain my focus area going forward.

TBK: You handle the junior most group in the academy. What is the difference that you notice in yourselves after attending the camp in Dubai?

Coach Rama: As I said earlier the kids have to love and enjoy the game. Earlier I would come, decide on the drills and implement it. Now I go a step further. I come to the academy, plan out the various drills for the day, and at the end of the drill, I incentivise the children, with a small token of appreciation like a chocolate or a candy bar. This will make a big difference in the way the children approach the game.

TBK: The soft spoken Santosh is up next. He may look very soft by appearance but when it comes to cracking the whip, there is none better who can do it, Typical Butter in one hand and a Cane in the other style, not quite literally. :) Santosh, you have complete Level 1 now, Could it have come earlier?

Coach Sanch: I entered the game as a cricketer, not as a coach. As a player you think differently, primarily about your game and the cause of the team. As a coach you need to think in another manner. you are not wearing the players cap any more but that of a coach. When i started off as a coach I thought I will bring in my skills and experience as a player. But when it comes to coaching it does not really work like that. You have to think about a set of individuals and not just a single player. As Aravind pointed coaching is now global, no longer localised. Since I have had playing experience Level 1 came off much easier to me, Now whether it was a bit late or early, it best for the individual to judge.

TBK: The one thing that I have noticed about your coaching style is that you almost don the role of a school teacher the moment the session starts, Every Coach has his own style. Is this your style of coaching?

Coach Sanch: You are right . Every coach has his own style. I feel that a young player needs to be corrected the moment he makes a mistake. It comes off instinctively to me, almost a second nature. But there has been a drastic change in my coaching style post to attending the ICC Coaches Clinic in Dubai. Earlier the communication was one way primarily from my side, but now I ask the boys a lot of questions, depending on their skill sets and style. They come back to me with answers. Thats one big change I see in myself after attending the Clinic in Dubai.

TBK: Do you follow someone as a Role Model Coach?

Coach Sanch: I Do not have anyone as a Role Model Coach. But someone who I always look up to as a coach is Guru Kedarnath. His style of coaching is based on a simple two way communication. You go to him with any problem, he will give you a set of question within which you will come up with a solution. I would say that the day I start to follow that style on a regular basis, I can stake claim to being a good coach.

TBK:The next coach up front is someone exemplary, someone who fits the role of a coach to the Tee. Someone who Ashwin himself goes up to seek advice or to correct flaws in his technique, Coach Srinivasan. He is a coaching manual all by himself. I was dying to know what upgrades were made to the software of Coach Srinivasan post visiting Dubai.

Coach Srinivasan: When you meet the right person in life, it gives you to improve your own standard of living. Similarly when you go to ICC, it is the right place not only for me but for any aspiring coach. It is the best place to learn and become better, definitely for me as well, it was the right place to improve myself. I have done this level before in different academies, but since this comes from a world class body like the ICC, I have definitely picked up different flavours from the coaching perspective.

TBK: What are the plans going forward? I am sure you have picked up something in Dubai that you would want to implement out here in the academy in Chennai.

Coach Srinivasan: In India they have a sort of Guru-Sishya culture where the Guru teaches and the student picks up the teachings and adds it on to his skill base. There it is different. The International coaches interact a lot with the student. In the western world more emphasis is placed on going together,growing together. That is something that I already know but will lay more emphasis on going forward. There are unorthodox playing techniques as well, like that of a Malinga or a Ajantha Mendis. What they say is to work along with the players in their own styles and make them to feel comfortable. Thus interaction with the players becomes so very important.

TBK: Coach Subash is up next. He comes up with a very cheerful countenance, ever smiling and very helpful. He is always supportive and gives a patient hearing to each player.He encourages the players to make notes at the end of each and every session, to see where they are and where and how each player can improve. Tell me Subash, How was the Dubai Experience?

Coach Subash: First at the very outset I wish to thank Gen Next Cricket Academy for having given me this opportunity to attend this unique Coaches Cricket Clinic in Dubai. Coaches as you would know play a great role in a teams success or failure. You will be aware how Gary Kirsten propelled the teams fortunes in the 2011 World Cup or for that matter even John Wright. There were a lot of key takeaways from my trip to Dubai. There they laid a lot of emphasis of player interaction with the coaches. In the Junior level coaching due importance was given to how to make Cricket a fun game for the kids and allowing them to fall in love with the game. This is something that we follow here at the academy. The coaches in Dubai told us about the importance of planning each session. Another Point that I wish to add is that the coach is always in a position to give very valuable inputs, something that a player may not realize. For me, when I have any doubts as a player I approach Ashwin. For example I was always under the impression that to detect the arm bal, you have to notice and recognize it at the point of release. Ashwin made me to understand that the give away for a arm ball is the bowlers run up, a step prior to release of the ball. These are the kind of inputs that a coach can give.

For us at Gennext Cricket Academy it always about giving more to our wards, and ever being seen as giving the best in terms of value for money. In the words of our Founder Mr. Ravichandran "Allow the kids to have fun, give them maximum exposure, Let them play in the centre pitch for there is nothing like a real match situation." This blog is not about a Marketing pitch that we are making, its about telling the world the kind of international coaching standards that we follow and how we keep upgrading ourselves,year on year, season by season. We would like to conclude this blog with a quote from Team India Under 19 Coach Rahul Dravid "I think we judge talent wrong. What do we see as talent? I think I have made the same mistake myself. We judge talent by people's ability to strike a cricket ball. The sweetness, the timing. That's the only thing we see as talent. Things like determination, courage, discipline, temperament, these are also talent."

Its Us Vs Us

An ideal morning for a lovely game of Cricket. There is nip in the air, clouds are a little low lying and there is this gentle air that is blowing across the ground. Typical Picnic morning English conditions when you may want to snooze around in lush green environs watching a lovely game of cricket. So when the COO of our institute asked TBK to come over and cover an interesting match as a reporter I was game for it. Now This was indeed a very unique match being played between Gennext Cricket Institute and Tamil Nadu Sports Journalists Association. 

One was that I was a tad bit nervous as I was covering a match between journalists and Cricketers. It was a match between Men who wield the Pen and the Keyboard and the Men who wield the bat and the ball. Why then the title "Its Us Vs Us" Well I am of the opinion that here was a motley group of sports journalists who day in and day out cover the matches of the cricketers, cornering their glory milestones, being their biggest critique, splashing newspaper headlines with their glorious achievements and making heros out of mere mortals. So in a sense there is no real match out here but the coming together of individuals, the coming together of expressions just for the cause of fun and celebration. Indeed Us Vs Us.

My daily morning begins with the newspaper and so when I came across a set of names to go along with my blog I was in a sense very excited because I was being given an opportunity to write about the gentlemen from the fourth estate. I have always made it a point to begin reading the newspaper from the sports page, like the Urdu script, that being my fascination for sports. So when names like TN Raghu,Santhosh kumar, N Srinivasa,Venkatnarayan,S Sudarsan,Dipak Ragav,EK Sanjay, Srikanth,Ashok Venugopal,Vivek Krishnan,S Bagawati Prasad pop up in front of your eyes in Bold, you are in a zone where you get to write about a group of gentlemen who write day in and day out for you.

Coming to the match itself. I never intended to do a ball by ball ball coverage, neither an elaborate article of who win or who lost. TNSJA came together, Thanks to Balaji Sir, Sudarshan and Baggs whose idea it was to play this match. We grow up in life ,become adults and make a mark in a chosen professional field, yet the child in us refuses to die down. Exactly what happened on the Cricket Field today. The esteemed gentlemen from the press wielded their bats with a lot of clout and willowful power. A Few sixes and fours rained across the field. With all that breeze around its never easy to clear the ground that too with a tennis ball, but TNSJA were clearly here to have some fun and display that they as adept at wielding the bat as they power their pen . We were pleasantly left surprised at their fielding prowess. A few stunning catches and we had to dig in to playing some amount of serious cricket. The Game of Cricket had emerged victorious.

Our most respected Ravichandran uncle was there in person to give away the prizes to all the winners. We wish to thank Manna Foods India for those lovely gift hampers, Specsmakers for their goodies and Dollars & Pounds for their Gift Vouchers. It was indeed a wonderful gesture on the part of the sponsors. The event in totality was a feel good factor, end of the day it is these wonderful gentlemen who represent us in print and the joining together of hands bodes very well for the cricketers and the journalists. On the whole a very pleasant and happy outing and I am sure that this is just the first such event of many more to come.

Happy Birthday Ashwin

Each time I step on the hallowed grounds of Gennext Cricket Institute, I know that I am in a different zone. I know for certain that I am in for a visual treat for the body mind and soul. I can pick on each person who works over here and everyone will have a positive story to relate to. I call it hallowed grounds because here is where raw talent is molded into an all round human being. Today also happens to be the day when our mentor Ravichandran Ashwin was born. We all got together to present to him on his day a collective bouquet of memories and conversations with people who mean a lot to him, who have spent quality time with him and have been a part of his life outside of his own immediate family. Rightly said that he is extremely focused on his goals and a person who strives for perfection. A Few others say that Ashwin is someone who is not averse to experimenting. Some said that he is full of pranks and a very loving person to be around with.  For me as TBK I have found him to be very simple and most easily approachable. To be reborn as a new avtaar, that of TBK, the credit goes to you my friend. As I was crossing the Pondy Bazaar Signal, a gentleman on a two wheeler accosted me and said "TallBoyKarthik Sir I keep reading your blogs on Ashwin." Thanks to you a new passion is born and a new personality carved out.  Happy Birthday Ashwin from all of us at Gennext Cricket Institute. Have fun reading this blog and have a wonderful day.

Ravichandran Uncle-Founder Gennext Cricket Institute

I recall that there was nothing called a birthday celebration in my own childhood. However all that changed the moment my wife came into my life. Ashwin was born and my wife would deck up the entire house with all kinds of baloons and festoons. Little Ashwin would get up in the morning and wear his new clothes and go to school with a packet of chocolates to be distributed among his school friends. Later on in the evening Ashwins friends would come home and we would have a party at home with soft drinks and chips. Ashwin would enjoy the evening with friends, playing some games and they would all have fun. I am thankful to the Almighty for having blessed me with a son like Ashwin. I am also thankful to the Lady Gynaecologist- Dr Saraswathi Ramachandran in whose hands I saw Ashwin for the first time, the day he was born. I am not in touch with her but wish to meet her some day to thank her wholeheartedly. Happy Birthday Ashwin-Lots of Love and Blessings from Appa and Amma.

Sudarshan-COO Gennext Cricket Institute

It's a privilege for us at Gen-Next to have Ash as our mentor. I love his sense of humor & the fact that he has no airs about him. The Knowledge transfer from Ash to our Gen-Next coaches have done them a world of good & has helped us in running a successful academy. Happy birthday, Ash! Wishing you a fabulous year, I know you will ace the challenges that lie ahead. Keep inspiring Gen-Next as you always have. #Ash31

Srinivasan-Head Coach at Gennext Cricket Institute

I have always felt that Ashwin is extremely open minded towards feedback. I would say that he is an ideal student of the game of cricket. Whenever he has sought my counsel I have offered the same to him . The best part of his character is that he implements suggestions given to him almost immediately. He is never satisfied till these inputs are put into practiced and implemented to perfection. Once he wanted me to work on his sixer hitting abilities specific to the swing of the bat and the bat flow. So I helped him perfect the art. Soon after this in a One Day International match against New Zealand at home, India needed one run to win and then Ashwin came into bat. He could have easily taken a single and finished the match but Ashwin chose to finish the match with a huge sixer. He was keen to try the shot that he had just picked up. Post the match he messaged me with a child like exuberance on how happy he was at hitting that six. Such is his eagerness to learn new things and experiment. I wish Ashwin a Very Happy Birthday and many more successes and laurels in the years to come.

Aravind-Coach at Gennext Cricket Institute

I enjoy your company buddy and Wish to continue this partnership for many more Years to come. Happy Birthday Ash.

Santosh-Coach at Gennext Cricket Institute

We were playing a school game against the Salwan Boys high school Delhi at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore. We got 171 in 50 overs and they were 101/1 in about 27 or 28 overs.We needed to take wickets to win the game since it was a low total. Ashwin came on to bowl and he literally gave away only 1 to 2 runs every over. At the other end, we were alternating with myself and Kedar bowling. Whenever he gave away less than 3 runs in his over, he would come running to us and tell us that the since there were less runs scored in the previous over, we can try for a wicket in the next over and in the process even if we gave away 5 or 6 runs it was alright.He used to bowl tight overs in one end and let us take wickets from the other end.Eventually we went on to win that game by 2 runs. But his thought process at such a young age was so different from the others and his ability to think in pressure situations is what makes him an unique individual.
Wish him a very happy birthday and may he reach greater heights.

Subash Chandran-Coach at Gennext Cricket Institute

Ash's personal qualities are something which are very remarkable & that’s the reason he stands out as a cult cricketer. He treats his family and close friends as his highest priority & never allows others opinion invade his strong beliefs & goals. He is extremely analytical & knows his strength & weakness clearly. We have seen cricketers doing typical conventional styles but many were afraid to take risks & try new things. He has huge guts to experiment and innovate. For that you need to work hard and prove yourself. While many criticized his experimentation, when he succeeds the world appreciates his qualities and style for instance his carom ball, leg breaks etc. Each a masterpiece of his own making . I will call him as cricket Einstein or Steve Jobs of cricket. His basket always has plenty of ideas to be picked & all captains including Kohli have acknowledged the same till date. I remember in one of the practice matches long time back, he started bowling like Sunil Narain & he bowled one ball in his action in an international match. Another one is his high sense of humour. He is huge prankster & loves having fun. He will not spare anyone close to him including lovely dogs as well.

Kedar-Coach at Gennext Cricket Institute 

It was an under 16 state game versus Hyderabad at ACA-VDCA stadium.Back then R.Ashwin was an opening batsman who also bowled off spin, incidentally he scored a double hundred this game and went on to play for India under-16 later that year.They were 90 for 7 at one stage and one of their 7 down batsman Baljeet Singh i think that was his name,went on to score a hundred for them.The 8th wicket partnership was a big one for Hyderabad and they batted for a lot of overs.To break the partnership we tried all different things but unfortunately nothing worked. Ashwin bowled few overs - over the wickets CUTTING DIAGONAL like how a left arm spinner bowls around the wicket cutting diagonal.At that point of time we sort of laughed it off but looking back at it now that sort of thinking is unheard of 15 years ago.I think thats what differentiated Ashwin from the rest – his ability to see things differently and come up with different solutions for a problem.It was not just trying different solutions, it was the confidence with which he went about it made the difference.  Happy Birthday Ash...                      

Anand Narasimhan-Coach at Gennext Cricket Institute

First time I saw Ash when he was sitting on the road side shop and having soup (I guess it was 2011 or 12 if i am correct, sitting on the median and having that soup) That's the first sign of Ash to me!! And till now he hasn't changed a bit. The way he comes to ground whenever he has time and talking to the players and giving them advice, is something that is unique to him.The good thing about him is that he makes sure that, the particular person understands what is required from him,explained in such a way that he stands to deliver!! Thats the beauty about him!! Wish him all the success in future not only in cricket in life as well with family and his friends 

Shekar-Operations Manager at Gennext Cricket Institute

Year 2010 at Sathyam Cinemas. Occasion: CSK merchandise unveiling. Ashwin, one of the three chief guests for the event, kindly obliged a 24-year old boy with an autograph. 7 years later, after a gazillion laurels and distinctions, Ashwin has helped the autograph-seeking boy in making a career out of cricket. The boy in question is ME. Ash, I am indebted to you for what you have done to me in this short period of time. Wish you a rocking birthday. May you remain an ageless warrior continuing to inspire people to enjoy whatever they do. Wish you an amazing year full of laurels.

Kumar-Facilities Manager at Gennext Cricket Institute

Ashwin anna means a lot to me in my life. He keeps encouraging me both on and off the field. He insists that I should be proficient as far as my English and Computer skills are concerned. He constantly wants me to up my skills and better myself as an individual. Anna is a very simple person and loving at heart. Once his personal driver had to leave the ground on some urgent work. So Anna asked me drop him home on my two wheeler. I quickly went to a shop bought a hankerchief. He covered his face, with the hankerchief,wore a cap and I drove him back home on my bike. I can never forget this incident. Happy Birthday Ashwin Anna.

Rama-Coach at Gennext Cricket Institute

Happy birthday Ashwin anna. Street Cricket it was the first time we met and guess there was no looking back from there on.. Ice Boys, Rain Cricket and much more fun that we had together... May God shower his blessings on you and I wish you have a wonderful year ahead... 

Kaushik- Coaching Intern at Gennext Cricket Institute

I have been a  fan of Ashwin from 2011 when I started following him.. but never thought that 7 years later would be working under his guidance. The first time I met him he said "don't work for success, but do justice to the role assigned and other things will follow ". It seriously inspired me!! During the initial days I used to call him Ashwin sir at times but as days passed he had me into a comfort level and nowadays its more like speaking to my brother. I have seen him from close for days and learnt a lot from him including his hunger to perform and succeed. I admire the way he sweats it out during the training sessions to get himself up for the upcoming tours. Every time he comes to the ground in session times, he never misses an opportunity to spend some time with the boys, giving them sound advice what they need as a upcoming cricketer!  I have finally found a place myself to  express my passion and under the guidance of Ashwin. Wish you many more happy happy returns Ash Anna !! God bless you for a brilliant successful cricket career !! My Advances wishes for the Cricket record of fastest to 300 Test Wickets !!

Guha Kartikeyan-Coaching Intern at Gennext Cricket Institute

                                                                      

















Happy Birthday Ashwin Anna. Every cricket fanatic's dream would be meet an international cricketer and my craziness and love towards the game has not only made me to meet you but also provided me an opportunity to be a Gen-Nexter... You got to know me through my works, especially the "200th different batsman" one... One thing I like in you is the way you constantly update yourself-courtesy the ever-improving analysis methods. Incidents that I fondly remember are when you made Vijay Mallya pay back for his laugh during the 2011 IPL auctions by picking up his big fish Gayle in the 4th ball of the final. During the spells when you get a good rhythm going, one of my friends with whom I spend watching most of India's matches compares the rhythm of yours to a drummer mesermarizing his audience with the sticks. I pray to the Lord Almighty to bless you with good health and fitness to achieve more for the nation through your illustrious career. Now, How do I sign off??... My special way... with a stat... You have taken 494 international wickets... 6 away from 500... only 29 players have achieved the milestone of 500 international. wickets in their career... Hope you round off to become the 30th soon and provide me more stat-aches...

Srinivasan Venkatachalam-Coaching Intern at Gennext Cricket Institute

It is a dream for every cricket fan to take a picture with a international cricketer. glad that I can share my thoughts some with India's legendary Spinner, each time he visits the institute.. It was my first day of Summer camp at Gen Next as a student. I was really excited and was bowling in the nets Sudarshan the COO of Gennext Cricket Institute asked me "Hi Srini, How is the Program" I replied "Super Anna I am enjoying it." Then came the moment perhaps I had always dreamt about. Ash was running around the ground and after he finished his drills he came across to the nets where I was bowling . He just had a look at one ball that I bowled. He immediately asked me "Are u a Dale Steyn fan??" I was shell shocked that after watching just one ball he knew that my bowling action resembled that of Dale Steyn. After that he called me as Dale for several times. It was nice to hear an international player call me by name with tag it along with my idol's name. I am just 4 months old at Gennext Cricket Institute. I am a coaching intern for the junior boys. Thanks to that legend for giving me space in his wonderful institute to work with some wonderful human beings.Wishing Ashwin Anna a Very Happy Birthday. Hope he spins out many more batsman in the future and creates more history in the cricketing arena...

Uvashree-Coaching Intern at Gennext Cricket Institute

Wishing you a very happy and joyful birthday Ashwin anna. It's a privilege to work in your academy and I consider this as a golden opportunity to kick start my career. May God shower his bountiful blessings on you (with success and peace to you and your family). May this year bring you many more 5-fers and Centuries...