BANGALORE: The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team and continue the world famous tradition of ball handling wizardry, artistry and family entertainment that thrills fans of all ages around the world.
They are, however, not into serious competition. Though their players have been signed by big teams in the National Basketball Association, they don’t play as a team in championships. Their pronounced aim is to spread love for the game and introduce new players to the sport.
On a far limited scale, the Hutt Hawks cricket team from Wellington, New Zealand, is doing much the same. Unlike their basketball counterparts, they don’t parade stars but produce stars of the future.
Formed in 2002, the venture is helmed by a former Bangalorean named Ravi Krishnamurthy. He is an IT professional who has been living in the Kiwi country for the last 18 years and is also a level three coach in the New Zealand Cricket Board.
“This is our sixth visit to Bangalore. We have toured the South extensively, having played in Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore. We have been doing so for many years and want to continue to do so,” said Ravi in a chat with the Express.
“It is important that boys get exposed to playing in different environments from an early age. They should get used to playing on different surfaces, temperatures and against all kinds of opponents. So by the time they grow up, they will have a psychological edge over the others as nothing will worry them,” added Ravi.
“The team has produced many good cricketers over the years. We are in a small place and so we monitor their progress on a regular basis. That makes it easy for us to give them feedback,” he added.
“If you talk of spin, you must come to India. I hope the tour provides enough chance for the boys to improve,” said James Proteous, whose son Charlie is a promising leg spinner. “We are also in touch with coaches of the board at all levels who provide inputs about the players. Troy Johnson, a good bat, is here and has led the Under-19 side. Rachin Ravindra, Zac Ringrose, Tim Campbell, Charlie and Nick Greenwood are some of the very talented boys, though it might seem unfair to others as they too are right up there. Even if we can unearth one or two players during such tours, it will be of great help to New Zealand cricket,” said Ravi.
“We do not enter a competition as a registered league side but we host teams on a regular basis. So, we keep ourselves occupied all through the year. We intend to keep going as long as we can,” Ravi concluded.