If you were wondering what I am asking this question even though Australian cricket is at top form seen by last night’s performance against Bangladesh. This does discount Cricket Australia mindset for the future. A test traditionalist myself. I question cricket Australia idea of changing the Milio cricket program to Woolworth Cricket blast.
Well for starters the Milio cricket program taught you how to play cricket with the fundamentals such as learning how to bowl, bat and filed properly. What I am mean properly not the Steve Smith batting technique but more like Alan border, Ricky Pointing batsmen who instead of going back and across they move their front foot. In addition to this learn the art of defence. Furthermore taught kids the game in the manner that is key to a kid’s development in cricket. Instead of this T20 batting which has corrupted the game. With the Milio program being overall to the now the Woolworth cricket blast it name suggests of the T20 cricket. Such as the word blast it gives parent’s and kids idea that this program is centred around T20 cricket which is okay but when you have kids who have never played the game before. You think hang on it minute you not teaching the kids the fundamentals, for example, the rules for this Woolworth cricket blast follows shorter boundaries, shorter pitch which now makes easier for a kid to score runs but does give kids understanding of how to bowl on full-length pitch or know how to bat for a long time. In the Milio program, there were no matches it was basic skill development and very much key to the development of Australian cricket. An example of this is Michael Clarke former test captain for Australia who play Milo himself now is seen as a legend of the modern era.
The statistics show the bowling averages taking into account that one bowler takes more wickets than the other and concede more runs. For example, in the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association, the Under12 A grade in 2012/13 season the top bowling average was 9.88 with an economy of 3.17 which this person went through the Milo program. Now to the present era of the Under 12A grade the average is slightly lower at 7.64 but has an economy 3.45 which still very good not criticising the kid but went through the program is different to the one in 2012/13 season. In addition to this, the top batting average for Under 12 A was an impressive 72.20 which quite remarkable for an under 12 batsmen but in saying this the boy would have been taught in a cricket club which had the Milo cricket program so the kid would have been taught the right fundamentals. While in the present the batting average was far lower with 52.80 which is a huge difference and show’s in today the kids are more worry about hitting sixes and bowling fast then worry surviving their wicket and bowling line and length. Moreover, the rules changes to Junior cricket which was implemented last year are not healthy for the pathway of cricket and survival of test cricket. As kids only taught had one way that is swing not stand there and bat for 40 overs which is important as these kids understand how to bat long not fast and patient.
Yes, Cricket is a long game but has many benefits. For parents, they can learn the game and can give them engagement with people an example is me when I play parents watch every minute of it, help, umpire, score and made life long friends. I don’t know you but that is pretty good and yes you have to wake up early and it is cold but how much housework can you do, how much tv time can you do? For kids, the benefits are quite clear they can learn the fundamentals of the game instead of staring at their screens and keep physical. So by taking away the Milio cricket program it now make kids not learn about the basic’s of cricket . in addition to this parents are seem more worried about how long it takes then going to their kids sport which is a horrible mindset as kid’s sport is fundamental to family values and key to kids developing into a young adult. Moreover, the survival of test cricket is key as that is the purest form of cricket it has some greatest moment anyone can imagine and should be protected. So for Cricket Australia change the junior program will affect kids pathway into test cricket as do not understand the purest form of cricket but the bash and crash of T20 cricket and do not understand the art of cricket and will cause the slow death of cricket. I just put a hypothetical out there let’s just one kid from this Woolworth cricket program is lucky enough to play for Australia in a test match and has gone through the system where the competition follows the new cricket Australia rules. Do you think this kid who be able to bowl or bat on a proper length pitch or know how to bat sensibly I don’t think so?
In conclusion, I understand T20 cricket is key to how Cricket Australia gets money and how it can get new fans but is not key to the development of kids learning the game and nor for the parents.
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