Rod Marsh's praise for Ratra, Dasgupta

Former Australian wicket-keeping great Rodney Marsh said today in Kolkata that both Deep Dasgupta and Ajay Ratra had the potential to play for India. Marsh, who was in the city to watch the trainees at the Eastern Wing of the National Cricket Academy run by the BCCI told reporters that he had been impressed with both at the NCA in Bangalore. "However, I told them that wicket-keeping should be their first priority. They can think about their batting only after they have sharpened their keeping skills."

The burly Australian spent close to two hours with the boys of the Academy. He told them, "You have got to learn to dream as dreaming will make you more ambitious and propel you to greater heights. At the same time, you will also will have to work hard." He offered himself as an example. "I was called iron gloves at the beginning of my career. That made me all the more determined to succeed. So I dreamt of success and worked hard and was rewarded for it."

Marsh also expressed his satisfaction at the way the camp was being run. He also had a detailed discussion with the chief coach Arun Lal and the assistant coaches, Barun Burman, Randhir Singh and Jimut Mohanty as to how the camp should be conducted. "I just gave them suggestions. Now they will decide what is better for the boys," said Marsh. "However, I have asked them to monitor the off-season programme chart that has been provided to the cricketers."

Marsh, who had developed a notable partnership with the great Dennis Lillee said that there was plenty of talent in India. "Give them a chance to come up," he said. When asked as to why India was not producing another Kapil Dev, Marsh snapped back, "Has Australia produced another Dennis Lillee? They are genius who come once in a while. India now has Sachin Tendulkar. Now after his retirement, if somebody asks why isn't another Tendulkar being produced, it will be a difficult question to answer."

Later, talking to the aspiring talents, Marsh said, "Always see to it that the basics are right. Without that, nobody can succeed." When Bengal's under-19 wicket-keeper Ritesh Jaiswal asked Marsh as to how one should concentrate between overs, the latter said, "Between overs take off the gloves and flex your fingers continuously. That will keep your hands from getting tired." He also corrected the bowling and batting techniques of a few others. Overall, it was a two-hour session that the students of the Academy will cherish for a long time.