MRF pace foundation goes down under

The MRF Pace Foundation, under the stewardship of former Australian fast bowling great Dennis Lillee, has been working hard to breed a crop of quality fast bowlers from the sub-continent. Their attempts have been met with mixed success so far. Although the Pace Foundation has helped many youngsters at different stages, it is yet to throw up anyone who is a quality quintessential Pace Foundation product. But there is little doubt that players from India and abroad have benefitted from the accumulated wisdom of Lillee and chief coach TA Sekhar, the former Indian fast bowler. Notable examples include Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Ravindra Pushpakumara (Sri Lanka) and Vivek Razdan, T Kumaran and Harvinder Singh Sodhi (India)

In what could be a major step, the Pace Foundation has now decided to extend its horizons by sponsoring the Australia Cricket Academy's pace bowling division. The programme called "Pace Australia" is targeted at grooming young fast bowlers with a view to the future. An agreement has also been reached to the effect that there would be a generous exchange of technologies, techniques and expertise on varied subjects ranging from physical fitness to specialised fast bowling techinques. There would also be room for coaches and trainers to travel between Australia and India on a reciprocal basis.

This move is a first of sorts in Indian cricket history. While Indian cricket has traditionally looked abroad for expertise in matters such as fielding and physical fitness, this is the first time that India is taking something to the global stage. If this venture is a success, it could herald a new era in Indian cricket.