The Chettinad Vidyashram school campus in R. A. Puram saw an unusual buzz of activity for a day during the summer holidays. It was on May 3, 2012.
If one thought it was probably the X and XII graders attending special classes or the teachers doing their exam corrections, then guess again! It was an occasion for the launch of the Cricket Education Programme (CEP) by none other than ‘Namba Aussie-Chennite’, Mike Hussey.
Dressed in a casual sportswear, with no airs of the star he is, Mike along with Martin Gleeson, CEO, Sports Education Development India Limited (SEDIL) and Vignesh Balasubramaniam, Founder, InsideEDGE, kick started the programme in Chennai.
Making an entry into a roaring crowd, the Australian middle order star, also called as the ‘Role Model’ for CEP, shook hands with some budding champs at Cricket India Academy’s summer camp where they were trained by Cricket Australia’s accredited coaches. He displayed much enthusiasm in playing some fine shots and taking up all the bowling and fielding practices that the students were taught by the coaches. He relentlessly shared some of the secrets of his stellar career to the student champs at the camp.
‘What Is This CEP Program All About? How differently does it train young Cricketers?’
I wondered.
To remove all doubts regarding this question, Martin Gleeson briefed the audience about the programme. “CEP is first of its kind. We are indeed delighted to have Inside Edge Sportainment (P) Ltd. as our first partner in Chennai. It is a structural coaching system, exclusively written by Cricket Australia, for school children. It is a comprehensive six-year sequential development program for boys and girls of 9 to 14 years of age which has spread to about 17 centers in the country. Through CEPs competency-based training format, participants will engage in cricket development activities”, said Mr. Martin expressing optimism about the future of CEP in Chennai.
After the briefing session, Vignesh Balasubramaniam, Founder, InsideEDGE, welcomed the dignitaries on the dais. Soon, pens were opened, notebooks were out and recorders were switched on. There was an immediate silence that set in. Yes, Hussey was getting ready to answer all our questions.
Ask him how it feels to be recognized as Mr. Cricket. He says that with fame comes responsibility too. So he had no choice but to be consistent and fair in all his matches .When quizzed him about his strategy of coping pressure, he replies with a smile that the best way to tackle pressure, is to enjoy the game, overhear the voices of the crowd and to play the game for the sake of it.
Despite playing for CSK, he admitted, he has hardly gone out and explored the city, something which he plans to rectify in the near future. Quiz him about his favorite Indian Cricketer, he laughs and followed by a long pause, he says his favorite would be the Wall, Rahul Dravid. According to him, Dravid is a very humble, calm and respected cricketer who is a bundle of talent.
When asked if he supported his brother David’s Kings XI Punjab or for CSK, he says both are equally good teams but supports CSK and smartly avoids further comments; though when it came to choosing between Australia and CSK, he unequivocally sided with his country and said that his heart always rested in his hometown.
Highlighting the progress made by Australian women in cricket, Mr. Cricket expressed hopes that Indian girls too would take up professional cricket with the same zeal and enthusiasm.
Soon, the clock ticked three and it was time for the official launch of CEP and Mike Hussey and Martin Gleeson handed over the CEP Certificate to Mr. Vignesh Balasubramaniam, who received it with great joy.
Finally, it was the most awaited moment for students. Indeed, it was time for autographs and photographs and the students assembled promptly queued up to be clicked with their favorite cricketing icon!
good one 🙂
Nicely written article