Indian cricket’s tryst with history in Australia didn’t happen overnight. Sriram Veera on all that went into the making of this Winning XI — from talent -spotters turning up at nets to coaches and selectors exchanging notes, parents and mentors to self-motivated players, some dreams, and a lot of foresight… If need be, I will call Rahul. He will tell me what I need to know about these two.” Ravi Shastri was sitting on the long, wooden beer-soaked bench of an 800-year-old pub carved into the rocks of Nottingham Castle, pondering over a selection dilemma. It was in the middle of the 2018 series in England, and Shastri wanted to know whether to pick Hanuma Vihari or Prithvi Shaw, two untested batsmen drafted into the Test squad. Dravid was then head coach of the India A and U-19 teams and had seen the two players up close and personal. Fresh out of the India A series in England, the two had been picked for the national team. A final call on their skill and temperament, based on Dravid’s word, was eventually taken and Vihari would go on to make a gritty debut in the fourth Test. Two years later, it’s no coincidence that Vihari batted through a torn hamstring to help India save the Sydney Test and lay the foundation of what is being called India’s greatest comeback series win in Australia. That aura- acquiring trump didn’t happen overnight, Neither did its secret sauce – the jaw-dropping bench strength that kept replacing the broken bodies stretchered out. Every X-ray scan of broken bones and disappointment was seamlessly replaced by ambitious fresh faces, ready for their spine-tingling tryst with history. The blueprint for the feeder system was drawn up over the years. Talent scouts in state associations, national and junior selectors, coaches of ‘A’ and U-19 teams, the national team’s think tank, domestic cricket, and the confidence - boosting IPL – together they made up Indian cricket’s new ecosystem. The BCCI’s structure, which is democratised, professionalised, and even if occasionally compromised, came together to feed the national team with talented players who were mentally, physically and skillfully ready to take on the world. The Junior Teams India A: This is a team of players on the threshold of the national team. Since 2015, out of the 99 players who have played for India A, 53have been elevated to the senior team. In the last three years, India A has played six tours at home and seven abroad. Since ‘A’ teams of other countries are strong, Indian players have faced the very best before they go on to represent India. Shubman Gill hasn’t yet played a Test against South Africa, but he has already faced their pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje. Under 19: Since 2016. Six Under-19 players have gone on to p;ay for the senior side. Besides, close to 100 players have played first-class. The System For most young cricketers the journey starts at a local academy under a coach, who is mostly a club or a first-class player. They next play at clubs/district tournaments, where state association selectors turn up to pick state teams. Every year. State associations conduct Under-14, Under-16, Under-19, Under-23 and Ranji Trophy selection trials before the annual Board tournament. Junior national selectors keep a watch on inter-state tournaments to pick players for zonal camps. At this stage, the NCA representatives enter the system. They train cricketers at these camps and share their assessments with the selection committees that pick Junior, India A and senior teams. The Decision Makers Rahul Dravid as head coach, National Cricket Academy (NCA), the Under-19 and India A team coaches reported to Dravid. Till a few months ago, he also had 11 NCA coaches working under him. Dravid’s role is to mentor and monitor India’s talent pool. NCA also ensures that young players who get injured stay in the system. National Selection Committee: The five-member team, all former Test players, pick the squad. At the start of the season, they compile a list of 50 potential players for the national team and travel around the country to follow their progress. Ravi Shastri: Senior team coach, he is assisted by the bowling, batting and fielding coaches. Along with captain, he takes a final call on the playing XI. Work in progress: The reason this Australian triumph is being hailed as the greatest Test series win ever was because India pulled it off with a stand-in captain in charge and a bunch of fringe players. The hype around them notwithstanding, this young unit is still a work in progress. In the last couple of years, a full-strength India has lost Test series in South Africa, England and New Zealand. They haven’t won the big ICC tournaments either. With this tour throwing up several match winners., the system, while dealing with the problem of plenty, will have to work towards making the team more consistent.