Meet the Young USA Coach
Popularizing Cricket in the American Heartland
By Mahadev Desai
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| Courtesy: Dreamcricket.com by Peter Della Penna |
While the British origin game of cricket has become the most popular game in
India and other British Commonwealth countries, it is still in its infancy
in America. Over the last one decade cricket has made some inroads amongst
the American school and college going students. Though most young players
are of the Indian/Pakistani/West Indies origin, cricket is slowly gaining
ground and getting popular among the main stream American students. In 2017,
over 200,000 people play cricket in 6,000 teams. As per the ICC &
International Olympic Committee (IOC), there is a very good chance of
Cricket being re-introduced in the 2024 Paris or 2028 LA Olympics. Among the
cricketers and coaches responsible for creating awareness and spreading
popularity of cricket in America is Anand Tummala (also known as T. Anand).
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| Courtesy: espncricinfo profile Pic |
39 year old Anand was born in Vuyyuru, Andhra Pradesh, India. His family
moved to Delhi in 1981-82. His father, who worked for Indian Government was
an avid cricket fan. One day he took Anand to watch a Wills Trophy match
between Mumbai and Rest of India at the Ferozshah Kotla Ground where he saw
Ravi Shastri in action and that ignited his interest in cricket. In 1987,
Anand’s family moved to a house opposite to Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium in
Delhi and Anand began attending regular cricket sessions at the Stadium from
1991-92 onwards. Anand completed his schooling from Sardar Patel Vidyala and
went to St. Stephen’s College in Delhi where he got his Bachelor’s Degree.
During his school and college years, Anand, a top /middle order batsman and
a medium pace bowler gradually gained recognition and played for Delhi U-19s
during 1996-98, Delhi University and North Zone Universities 1999-2000 and
also Ranji Trophy for Delhi in 2001-2002.
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| Courtesy: U.S. Embassy Trinidad and Tobago - Deputy Consular
Chief Kevin Ogley, this afternoon, welcomed U.S. Women’s National
cricket team to the historic Queen’s Park Oval and wished them good
luck on their ICC Americas series of games in Trinidad. |
After being in and out of the Delhi Team, Anand began looking for greener
pastures. In 2005, he decided to go for further studies in England and also
play cricket there. He got into full-time M.B.A. Program in the then
University of Wales, Newport (now University of South Wales). He played
Premier league cricket in South Wales, U.K. Anand also got attracted to
coaching. He got a scholarship and acquired his Level 1 and Level 2 Cricket
Coaching Certifications from the England and Wales Cricket Board; and was
appointed Coach and Captain for the University of Wales, Newport Cricket
Team. He was also appointed as a Senior Coach and player for Croesyceiliog
Cricket Club in South Wales Premier League, Glamorgan, U.K. Anand earned his
M.B.A. from University of Wales in 2007, and moved to Atlanta.
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| Courtesy: USA Cricket.com - USA Men's Team - Champion WCL
Division 4 in LA in 2016 |
Anand got married in 2008 in Hyderabad. In Atlanta, he played for North
Atlanta Cricket Club in the Atlanta Georgia Cricket Conference (AGCC). He
has coached young cricket players and several teams at the national level
since 2007. In Atlanta he contributes to the Atlanta Cricket Academy(ACA).
He was selected to represent the US National Men’s Cricket team as an
all-rounder in 2011, in the Etihad T20 Cricket Tournament hosted by Cricket
Canada in King City, Ontario, against arch rivals Canada. Anand’s overall
performance was rated as the best in the team on this tour with both Bat &
Ball.
Anand acquired his Level Three Coaching Accreditation (highest in cricket)
from the prestigious Cricket Australia in 2014.
Anand is a calm and astute coach. He commands respect because of his
enthusiasm, gentle demeanor, discipline,focus and positive encouragement.
Anand has been working with International Cricket Council (ICC) since
2013-2014 on the USA National Coach Education Program and has contributed
immensely towards the development of Coach Development programs by
introducing his unique and innovative ‘Constrained Led’ cricket coaching
techniques.
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| Anand Coaching PE Teachers in Fulton County Schools |
In August 2016, Anand was named the Head Coach for the USA Women's Cricket
Development Squad & USA Women's Cricket Team against the touring Marylebone
Cricket Club (MCC) Women's team. USA Women’s Cricket Team also participated
in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Scotland, UK and performed
extremely well considering the short period of time it was constituted. He
is also working with the US Olympic Committee as part of the National
Governing Body (NGB) Coach Education Program.
Anand was also named Assistant Coach for USA Men's Cricket Team in October
2016 in the ICC World Cricket League Division 4 Championship held in Los
Angeles, with Pubudu Dassanayake as the Head Coach.
Anand’s ‘Constraint Led’ coaching methods are being implemented across the
nation and have provided a unique and distinct way of grooming natural
talents across youth and national team cricketers and coaches in USA.
Explaining ‘Constraint led’ coaching approach/methods in Cricket, Anand said
“A player is challenged and channeled to find his or her own solution to
attain a set goal. Each player is different in physique; emotional/mental
state, skill levels, etc. Environment, socio-cultural factors, and task
constraints also impact the end result. Cricket is a game of Natural
Instincts and every individual has different ability and Instincts. Everyone
(cricketer or a cricket coach) have their own way of executing their
respective Cricketing talent. Everyone has their own way of handling
pressure. We cannot have a prescribed way of playing cricket. As coaches, we
must be able to develop a player by setting the outcomes we are after, and
let the player come up with his/her own way of reaching that outcome. This
way we not only let the player enjoy and have fun while playing cricket,
but, we also are letting the player develop his/her own technique or way of
dealing with pressure and achieving the desired results. I am a firm
believer that we all play sport to have fun and enjoy it. As we become more
intense and desire to play higher level in Cricket, the competition level
goes up, however, the fun factor must never go away. As I work with the
National teams as well as the grass root level Cricketers and Coaches in the
U.S.A., I feel the need to develop our Cricketers mentally, who are aware of
mindfulness. The 'Constraints led' coaching techniques/methods have proven
to help and develop a player's natural ability and has given the opportunity
for players to discover themselves under pressure and excel. Ultimately, a
player has to perform and find ways to overcome pressure/nerves/situations
on his/her own in a game and that is what we want to train for at all levels
of Cricket.
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| Personal pics Batting & Bowling |
When asked about coaching certification, Anand said, “Level 1 Cricket
Coaching Certification is the beginners level for Cricket Coaches. Level 2
Cricket Coaching Certification is the advanced level and Level 3 Cricket
Coaching Accreditation is for High Performance elite cricket coaching. Level
3 also needs proven track record in Coaching and proven Research. I am
fortunate to be the Coach Education Course Facilitator and Examiner for
Level 1 & Level 2 Courses across the USA. These Coaching Certifications are
held across the Country, we have done these in California, Texas, North
Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, St. Louis, and New York since 2013. These Tests
are published by USA Cricket or ICC Americas as and when planned. Tests are
both in Theory and Practical sessions conducted as part of these courses.
Anand is long associated with India’s iconic Cricket Captain and Legendary
Spin Bowler, Mr. Bishen Singh Bedi’s cricket coaching Trust. “I have been
fortunate to be associated with Bishen Sir since 2001. Bishen Bedi Cricket
Coaching Trust (BBCCT) will be celebrating it's 25 years next year with Mr.
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi being the Chief Patron. Players such as Yuvraj
Singh, Rahul Sanghvi, Sunil Joshi, Murali Karthik and hundreds of First
Class Cricketers have benefited from BBCCT. Every year, BBCCT conducts
cricket camps for Youngsters across the country and selects a team to go for
an over-seas tour (England or Australia). Several cricketers are given free
facilities and are even sponsored for overseas tours with BBCCT taking care
of all their expenses. I regularly attended BBCCT Camps from 2001 to 2004. I
have been part of BBCCT Cricket Tours to England in 2001, 2005 & 2006 and
tour of Australia in 2007.
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| Anand receiving TAMA Award for contributions in Sports |
Next, Anand shared that more people are taking up cricket coaching including
Women. “Cricket has great history in the U.S.A. In fact, the first ever
international game in any sport was in Cricket, between U.S.A & Canada
dating back to 1844, the Auty Cup. USA Cricket is working with the United
States Olympic Committee (USOC) and other National Governing Bodies (NGBs)
of Olympic Sports in developing Coach Education Program. I am fortunate to
be involved in this and was at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado
Springs in September this year for the first ever such meeting where Cricket
was part of this NGB meeting. There is a lot of interest in the PE Teachers
for Cricket Coaching across the country. Women Coaches have also been on the
rise in the recent past in the USA. Cricket Australia and West Indies
Cricket Board have also been of great support in developing Cricket Coaching
programs in USA.”
When asked about his views on digital platform impacting coaching, Anand
said, “there are Pros and Cons of the Digital coaching. We are living in a
Global village and the Digitalization of Cricket has certainly brought the
Cricketing countries more closer and has opened up opportunities for Cricket
Coaches. Digital coaching should be combined with interaction between a
coach and players. Use the technology to improve/develop on a player’s
natural ability & instincts.
When asked, “Are you optimistic about popularity of cricket in U.S.?” Anand
said,” Yes, Cricket is the second largest growing sport in the world and it
is certainly on the rise in the U.S.A. USA Men's National cricket team
recently won the Auty Cup and regained it after 26 years. USA National
Women's cricket team recently competed in the ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers
for Europe & Americas, after a gap of almost 6 years. There are more
competitions coming up for both USA Men's & Women's Cricket Teams. The USA
under 19 Team also is being rebuilt.”
Commenting on T20 format, Anand said, “T20 has been a great way to spread
cricket across the World. However, it should not take over the Test Matches
or One Day Internationals.”
When Anand was asked whether cricket coaching can be a well-rewarded
full-time career, he replied, “in the Cricket power houses such as India,
England, Australia, South Africa Cricket Coaches are taken care off very
well. But in the U.S. cricket has lot of catching up to do. However, with
the kind of strides USA Cricket is making in partnership with the
International Cricket Council (ICC), Cricket Australia, West Indies Cricket
Board & the USOC, the day is not far when there will be good pay structure
for the Cricket Coaches here.”
Currently, Anand is the Head Coach of USA Women’s National Team which
participated in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Scotland, UK and
performed extremely well considering the short period of time it was
constituted. He is also working with the US Olympic Committee as part of the
National Governing Body (NGB) Coach Education Program.
If young readers are interested to know more about Anand, please see the
following links:
Please find some Links for references on Anand:
https://www.icc-cricket.com/video/453173
https://www.icc-cricket.com/video/452273
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGEi36USuRE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOqTa_T1iBs