Never played with a leather ball? No issues, MCA looks for pacers who're tennis ball experts

Indian cricket history is littered with examples of players who graduated from playing on the streets of India to stadiums like Eden Gardens and the Wankhede — and the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is set to continue the tradition of finding raw talent from the gallis. The MCA held trials for bowlers who were good with the tennis ball and the prize? An entry into their academy in BKC. [caption id=“attachment_2240430” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  It’s okay if you’re not good with the leather ball. MCA is looking for bowlers good with tennis balls too. BCCI[/caption] “They (tennis ball bowlers) are mentally strong and are adept at bowling on the dot, a tight line and length. Apart from that, they have to put extra effort from shoulders to propel a ball much lighter than cricket ball at higher speed,” selector Bhimesh Shah told DNA. And the MCA is actually making headway: “Sometimes, you find amazing talent in street cricket. It is an open chance for those who have speed. There are three-four tennis ball players who looked genuinely good and fast. Talent is everywhere, but to hunt them down and pick them is very important,” another selector Shridhar Mandale told Mumbai Mirror. The same report quotes another selector as saying that bowling coaches shouldn’t be so worried about bowlers’ approach and delivery whereas they should be only looking at the speed at which they bowl. MCA’s trials are into the third round now — and those who impress the selectors have been given the red ball too. With so much talent to choose from, there will certainly be some disappointments — like teenager Osama Khan from Goregaon - who didn’t make it to the third round of selection. But at least his father is now convinced that his son is a good player — and told DNA that he would enrol him in a cricket academy. Click here to read the full DNA report and here to read the full Mumbai Mirror report.