"Better late than never" may be an age-old cliché, but it is an adage that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) seems to swear by. Traditionally, Indian cricket administrators have always been slow to react to changing trends, and that is one reason why the game in this country is a step or two behind the international level. But if the decisions taken at the working committee meeting of the Board in New Delhi last month are any indication, the tradition-bound officials have at least woken up to the fact that a few important changes have to be put into effect for the betterment of the players and the game in this country.

In addition, the BCCI also decided to appoint zonal medical commissions who will report to a single medical committee, which will then look into the physical fitness of players coming back from injury. According to Dalmiya, players currently returning from injury do furnish fitness certificates from their own doctors.

Indian cricket, over the years, has had certain inherent weaknesses. The inability of the batsmen to face up to fast bowling, poor ground fielding and catching, the lack of pace bowlers, and physical fitness problems are some that come to mind immediately. In the past two or three decades, there have been improvements in aspects such as facing up to fast bowling and grooming pace bowlers. But sub-standard fielding and poor physical fitness are problems that have defied solution till date.

The appointment of a foreign coach, it was thought, would go a long way in tackling these problems. But while John Wright has contributed a good deal to various aspects concerning the Indian team over the 15 months he has been associated with it as coach, fielding and physical fitness continue to be problem areas. The number of players suffering from various injuries is evidence enough that they are not able to measure up to the hectic international schedules that are part and parcel of the modern game. Even the appointment of another foreigner in the team in physiotherapist Andrew Leipus did not seem to help matters in this regard. In fact, most of Leipus' time was devoted to treating injuries rather than preventing them.

Given this background, it is heartening to know that the BCCI, in a bid to improve the overall fitness of the players, has decided to appoint a full-time physical trainer in South African Adrian Le Roux. In fact, the working committee, which took the decision to go in for a fitness coach, did so after Leipus informed Board members that the players were in need of a more systematic training regimen. Board chief Jagmohan Dalmiya was apparently convinced by Leipus' argument. Indeed, the BCCI went one better and decided to have separate physical trainers for all the Ranji Trophy teams, besides one specialist in the field at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.

Le Roux's first assignment will be on the tour of the West Indies next month. The chief objective is for the team to achieve peak fitness levels in time for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa. It is a laudable aim, and once the person is identified, it is hoped that team members will respond positively. For there is no doubt that, in today's game, matches can be won and lost on this important aspect alone.

In addition, the BCCI also decided to appoint zonal medical commissions who will report to a single medical committee, which will then look into the physical fitness of players coming back from injury. According to Dalmiya, players currently returning from injury do furnish fitness certificates from their own doctors. "But once they are on the field, we find they are still not fully fit and the selectors are blamed. We want to stop this," said Dalmiya. A step in the right direction, belatedly perhaps, but at least that step has been taken.

One more problematic area to which Board officials have woken up is the nature of pitches in this country. For years, it has been acknowledged by everyone even remotely associated with Indian cricket that the chief reason for the team's sub-standard showing abroad is the fact that the wickets are so very different from those prevalent at home. Playing on slow surfaces or spin- oriented tracks is hardly any kind of preparation for performing on faster and bouncer wickets abroad. Little wonder then that there is so much disparity between the Indian team's record at home and playing away.

Finally coming to terms with this long-standing problem, the BCCI has decided to select 10 centres to prepare fast and bouncy tracks. The Board wishes to tackle the problem right down the line by going in for faster wickets even in domestic cricket. According to Dalmiya, harder pitches will be prepared from the 2002-2003 domestic season. He was of course quick to add, "Don't expect wickets like Perth in Australia, but these will definitely have more bounce. For a start, we have identified the wickets in the 10 Test-playing centres." He added that two pitches in each of the five zones would be selected, and the services of experts from foreign countries would be utilised.

A couple of other decisions taken at the meeting are bound to have far-reaching effects. For example, it was decided to implement a rotation policy for international players to give them the required rest before the World Cup. According to the BCCI chief, owing to the busy schedule of the Indian team before next year's World Cup, the Board had decided to give some players the required rest at their own behest. He added that when he met some senior players during the Bangalore Test against England in December, they said that they would like to have such a system.

At least the views of the players are not only being sought but also being put into effect, and that is surely an encouraging sign for Indian cricket.

© CricInfo