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Meet the young USA coach popularizing cricket in the American heartland

Photo courtesy: Dreamcricket.com by Peter Della Penna

BY MAHADEV DESAI

While cricket has become the most popular sport 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 Indian/Pakistani/West Indies origin, cricket is slowly gaining ground and getting popular among mainstream 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).

39-year-old Anand was born in Vuyyuru, Andhra Pradesh, India. His family moved to Delhi in 1981-82. His father, who worked for the Indian Government was an avid cricket fan.  One day he took Anand to watch a Wills Trophy match between Mumbai and the Rest of India at the Ferozshah Kotla Grounds 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, where he 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.

After being in and out of the Delhi team, Anand began looking for greener pastures. In 2005, he decided to go to England for further studies and to play cricket there. He got into a 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.

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.

Photo courtesy: USAcricket.com - USA Men's Team - Champion WCL Division 4 in LA in 2016

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.

Anand 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.

Anand receiving the 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.”

Anand Coaching PE teachers in Fulton County Schools.

Commenting on the 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

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