LION CUBS NEED EXPOSURE:

When a teen aged Indian guy survived bouncers against the likes of Waquar Younis and Wasim Akram that too in a high profile game in his debut test match, many of the cricket admirers could have sensed that he might become a legend oneday! That guy turned out to be the game's finest batsman named Sachin Tendulkar. When another teen aged guy from pakistan toyed   with the Sri Lankan bowling to notch up fastest century in the history of  ODI cricket, most pakistanis should have guessed that this guy would make it really big. He turned out to be one of the best allrounder named Shahid Afridi. Majority of successful cricketers started their journey as an U-19 cricketer and slowly transformed into a successful professional cricketer. But to be successful at the highest level, they need support and some right selection decisions. Here we are going to see two next generation cricketers Kusal Perera from Sri Lanka and Quinton De Kock from South Africa who both are currently facing problems in their transition from an U-19 cricketer to a professional cricketer

Kusal Perera, a wicket keeper attacking batsman from Sri Lanka debuted for SL against Australia. He showed good signs of being a batsman and wicket keeper. His fiery half century against India in CT2013 warmups, showed his ability of lofting the ball and to play attacking strokes in the powerplay overs which lead the Star Cricket commentators to call him 'Junior Jayasuriya' through out the tournament whenever he comes out to bat. But he does'nt come up with another good knock to his name. He followed the same routine of walking into bat trying to loft some balls and then going down with a rash shot. Selectors had faith in him and selected him for t20's against South Africa. He played as a top order batsman in all three games but he repeated the same old story of trying to loft some and going down to a rash shot. He never seemed to correct his mistakes.

While his domestic and U-19 stats says about his abilities, he needs to understand that it requires a strong mindset and much calm and composed approach. He has to learn this from Adam Gilchrist who was also a top order left handed attacking batsman and a wicketkeeper. He has many and many years of cricket left in him. So, his only aim should be to develop his batting skills without losing his primary ability to disturb the bowler's rythm.
while talking about Quinton, I get reminded with the oldest steam engine train in India which is being operated at the Nilgiris hill station down South India. Passengers would always feel a kind of discomfort in this train and when it comes to hair pin bends, the train will struggle like hell. This is what exactly happening when Quinton walks into bat. He always play with a kind of discomfort against pacemen but when it comes to spinners, he always struggles like a Nilgris steam engine train on the hair pin bends. Basically from South Africa, he might not have faced some quality spin bowling in his back yard. But the main thing to worry here is, he is also struggling against pace men. His domestic and U-19 stats are as impressive as Kusal Perera. But he is facing the same problem of transforming into an International cricketer.
There is no doubt with the quality of these players, their problem lies in their transition from a junior level cricketer to senior level. They need some exposure and some games with their international A sides would definitely help them and improve their stability. Hope these two attacking batsmen can learn from their mistakes and will be back with a bang soon.