CHENNAI, NOV 2: Tamil Nadu cricket could not have had it better in recent times. There was not much surprise in Sadagopan Ramesh finding a slot in the Indian team to tour Down Under announced today. But not many would have expected the TN youngster T Kumaran to get the nod, possibly the 16th place in the team.The one vital factor which may have helped Kumaran's cause is that he is already in Australia, Adelaide to be precise, where he is undergoing coaching under Rodney Marsh at the Australian Cricket Academy (ACA). This arrangement, a tie-up between the MRF Pace Foundation and the ACA, has come a shot in the arm for the talented youngster.Former Indian star and his club captain Woorkeri Raman said it was a just reward for the youngster and the break could not have come a day soon. His attitude, hard work and the hunger for success were the three factors which went in his favour, said Raman.Kumaran has come the hard way, one must say, to flog an oft-used cliche. He had played at all levels in the domestic circuit. When he made his Ranji Trophy debut against Baroda in the fag end of the season two years ago, there was little inkling of the strides he would make. Last season he was on a roll with as many as 45 wickets in the crowded Ranji schedule.He sealed his berth in the Indian team with a 10-wicket haul against the Ranji champions Karnataka in the Irani Trophy at Bangalore recently. Sort of bearding the lion in its own den, for that was the sway Karnataka had held over the other teams in recent times.Kapil Dev's presence as a coach may well have been something to do with Kumaran's selection. After all, who could understand the feelings of a medium-pacer better than Kapil, who toiled manfully on lifeless Indian wickets?From the Tamil Nadu angle, the one who had it in him but could not make much headway before Kumaran, was none other than T A Sekhar, currently the South Zone representative on the national selection panel.On the pacy Australian wickets, especially at Perth, Kumaran may well have a ball. He has to be given his due before an opinion is formed on him. He must not meet the fate of the Vivek Razdans and Yograj Singhs of Indian cricket.
