In Test, England players prepare for ‘real test’

n By Paritosh Pramanik

ON A pleasant Tuesday morning when England captain Max Holden and George Bartlett were piling up runs against India Under-19 at Jamtha Stadium, Tom Banton was busy turning pages of a thick book, and in between browsing internet on his lap top.
Banton was not seeking any cricketing tips. He just had to complete his two hours of studies. Had he been included in the playing XI Banton, too, would have got a four-day break from studies. 
The visiting English team’s college students are doubling up as cricketers on this India tour. Around seven of them are school-going cricketers who are missing six or seven weeks of their studies. But the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has made it mandatory for age group teams to have studies on long tours.
Louis Shaw, Tom Banton, Henry Brookes, Euan Woods, to name a few, are cricketers who have to study for two hours daily when not playing matches. And they are being monitored by team manager Mo Bobat, a former PE teacher in England.
“The boys are in education there. Here are seven players and this tour is of four or five weeks and they miss that part of their school. So, it’s our responsibility to try and help them to continue working on their education.” Bobat told ‘The Hitavada’, after the second 
day’s play.
“Normally on practice days, non-match days, they do two hours of study every day. But not on match days. Normally on match days, they don’t have to study because it’s a Test match of four days. But some of the guys who aren’t selected have to do their studies little bit. Today, those players did their studies just before lunch,” Bobat said.
ECB believes in developing cricketer as well developing people, Bobat said. “It’s the policy of ECB. For us, we believe in developing international cricketers but also we do believe in developing people, not just a cricketer.
“It’s important that they understand themselves and they understand that there is a world outside cricket and cricket can be a short career. So it’s not just the education, it’s their personal development. We try to develop a player in different aspects...it can be full-time education, it can be coaching qualification, it can be part time degrees. But it has to be under their interest,” Bobat explained.
The ECB has a personal development welfare coach who looks after the studies of these cricketers. But as he is not travelling with the team on this tour, Bobat has been handed the added responsibility looking at his teaching profession.
“I used to be a teacher but not any more. I was an A level teacher, mainly in Physical Education. I don’t try to teach these guys. I just try to support them. I am just helping them. We have a personal development welfare coach but he is
not on this tour so I am just helping them in his absence,” Bobat said.
The players are from different schools and are studying different subjects.
“Most of these guys are doing sports-related subjects, like A level course, a BTech sports which is bit more practical. Couple of guys are also doing engineering course, somebody is doing an A level geography... it’s a good mix of subjects.”
The manager said that Banton will have to appear for an examination in the coming days. “Banton has to do a practice exam in next few days as he is not playing in this Test. So we will try to facilitate that in next few days. Rest of them will give their exams when they return 
to England.”
The ECB is very serious with the studies of the cricketers and it tries to organise tours in such a way that the students do not miss on their studies.
“These boys miss their schools so we try to organise these trips which coincide with their holidays. Like this week there is nobody in school there so we plan our tour in line with holidays. We plan their study time when there is no match. It would be too taxing on them if we ask them to study during match days,” Bobat furthers said.
The players, too, know the importance of studies. Some are more than eager to study 
on tours but some need 
motivation.
“Some of them are very self-motivated but some need a little bit more encouragement. I just try to remind that how important studies are for them. In travelling the world you see people. They have seen lot of people here in India and have learned something different. In subject like cricket they are good learners but mathematics...they find it a bit difficult,” Bobat chuckled.