Cricket: Indian stints considered for Kiwis

Auckland opener Jeet Raval is one of those who might benefit from a taste of Indian club cricket. Photo / Dean Purcell

New Zealand Cricket is exploring the idea of sending promising players for a stint of Indian domestic cricket.

New Zealand have often sent A or Emerging Players teams of about 15 to tournaments in India, such as the Buchi Babu event in Chennai, which usually sits handily as a run-in to the domestic season.

However, some players get little game time on those excursions and NZC believes there could be greater benefit accrued by thinking individual rather than team.

The backdrop is the planning for the World Cup, being hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in February-March next year, which was discussed in broad detail at NZC board level this week.

New Zealand have visits to all three countries between July and December this year, which should prove an ideal buildup to the World Cup.

But the notion of up-and-coming players doing a stint in Indian club cricket is intriguing.

Batsmen such as well-regarded young openers Auckland's Jeet Raval and Josh Brodie, of Wellington, would certainly benefit from the experience.

"An emerging youngster spending a couple of months playing club cricket in India might be a better use of resources than just sending a team," NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said yesterday.

"We're trying to be quite selective and individualised in the way of preparing players and in some instances that may need to break the traditional mould of having teams touring."

Irons are in the fire with India, although discussions are at an early stage. But there could be moves later this year.

"[The benefits of] sending players to the subcontinent for a period would be considerable," Vaughan added. Another thought on enhancing World Cup preparation might take the form of sending expanded squads on this year's subcontinent tours to ensure a larger number of players get as much experience of the conditions as possible.

"I don't think it's any great secret that we have struggled in the past to play spin well in the subcontinent," Vaughan said.

"To succeed in the World Cup we are going to have to do well against Harbhajan Singh, or Muttiah Muralitharan, or Saeed Ajmal. There is more we can do to try and give players a wider group experience."