Ajay Ratra, former India wicket-keeper tried to utilize this lockdown period by completing an introductory level coaching course with Cricket Australia. Ratra earlier worked with the Indian women’s team and also Assam Cricket.
He is a BCCI-certified Level 2 coach and is targeting to clear the next level. Meanwhile he cleared seven modules to obtain the certification from Cricket Australia.
Ratra told PTI, “In 2017, BCCI and Cricket Australia had jointly conducted a course and it was about to expire. That was to be renewed and alongside that I thought to go with this Cricket Australia course. It was an online course with seven modules (covering all aspects of the game).” He added, “When I cleared all of them, I received the certification on April 6. Now, I am eligible for Cricket Australia’s higher level courses. I plan to go for them but right now the priority is to clear Level 3 at BCCI.”
Ratra who played six Tests and 12 ODIs for India said that the main intention of doing the course in this tough time to use this phase productively to work on his skills and strengthen his knowledge. “The more we explore different cricketing cultures, the better it is for us as coaches. The BCCI has a very robust structure in place and that is why it keeps producing world-class players.
With Cricket Australia, what I found interesting in one of the modules was that they want the coaches to tell their players what to do but not how to do it. They want the players to figure out their own way and then coaches can help them further.”
Regarding his last domestic season with Assam he shared, “The stint with Assam was good. Don’t know what the future holds but I am very much open to working with international teams (be it a full member nation or associate member).”