Goa colts lack exposure in longer format: coach

PANAJI
Goa U-16s almost made an improbable result a likelihood but eventually averted a total collapse and an ignominy of a defeat in the ongoing Vijay Merchant South Zonals played at Hyderabad.
With Goa Colts reeling at 15/4, Anand Tendulkar and Udit Yadav staged a herculean recovery, with Tendulkar playing the Batman role to perfection while Yadav fitted in as his side-kick Robin perfectly to forge a rollicking unbroken 102-wicket stand to guide the side to safety. With 30-runs ahead and six wickets still in end, a truce was declared with 10 mandatory overs left.
Speaking to The Goan, Goa U-16 Coach C Ashok acknowledged that his lads have a lot to learn from the nuances of a multi-day game. "Our boys are not exposed to three-day matches. Our first two games against Karnataka and Hyderabad were like practice matches. They are now gradually learning to apply themselves, play longer at the wicket if the first innings (against Tamil Nadu) was any indication," he divulged.
Goa U-16 started by securing a point from their first game against Karnataka while in a close tie next up against Hyderabad they lost. In their more recent game against Tamil Nadu, they managed their second draw. "Every match we are improving. Unfortunately, there are no three-day cricket tournaments held in Goa. In other places like Karnataka, they have district level three-day matches for the U-16s. While in Goa, it is only 45-overs matches played at the school level," lamented Ashok.
Perhaps things are set to improve, with Geno Pharmaceuticals recently organizing a first-of-its-kind two-day U-16 tournament for the 12 talukas of the State split across four groups. Goa U-16 with two points from three games, are placed fifth in a six-team table with Kerala also on two points but with an inferior Net Run Rate. After Round III in South Zone U-16, Andhra are atop the pile with 11 points, with Hyderabad at second (11), Kerala are third (7) and Tamil Nadu fourth (7).
They next face Kerala from December 14-16 and in their last engagement face Andhra from December 19.