In the fast lane, this has been an enduring love story; a rather extraordinary partnership in a land famed for spin bowling. And now it has completed 25 years. The association between the MRF Pace Foundation and Cricket Australia has only grown stronger with time.
The collaboration has been guided by vision and foresight. It has produced results too. From Javagal Srinath to Zaheer Khan and now Varun Aaron, the Pace Foundation has produced men with pace and venom who went on to represent the country.
Along the way, several emerging pacemen from Australia got valuable lessons in the sub-continental conditions here; the list includes Glenn McGrath and Mitchell Johnson.
Every year, two stand-out bowlers from the Pace Foundation travel to Australia to train at the pace academy there. And a bunch of next generation players from Australia come here to hone their skills in testing conditions.
There was an air of fulfilment when the silver jubilee of this journey was celebrated here on Monday. To make the occasion more special, this was also the 30th year of the Pace Foundation.
In an interesting twist, legendary scalp-hunter McGrath now finds himself guiding the aspirants at a centre where he learnt the tricks of the trade from pace guru Dennis Lillee.
“What MRF has done is incredible. I am proud to be a part of the Foundation,” McGrath said. “To bowl fast in India is as tough as it gets. The odds are against you,” he said.
The man, who operated with laser-guided precision, stressed control. “If you don’t have that you are just running in and just hoping,” he noted.
Coaching, McGrath observed, had evolved from the days of average video recordings to high resolution computer-driven images that breaks down a paceman’s technique. When in mood, Mitchell Starc was the finest pacemen in contemporary cricket, he opined. “Given the attacking length that he bowls and his swing, Starc takes the nature of the wicket out of the equation.”
Perils of a paceman
Talking about pace-bowling and injuries, he said, “It’s the nature of the beast.
“The right technique not only makes you have fewer injuries, but also makes your action more effective and efficient.”
McGrath thanked his support staff at the MRF including head coach M. Senthilnathan. “They have made it possible. Senthil is as good as any pace bowling coach,” he said.
Former Australia paceman and now a National Cricket Centre coach in Brisbane, Ryan Harris said, “My job now is to pass my experience to the players, have a healthy relationship with them. As a coach, the trust you have on a player is very important.”
Harris summed up Australian skipper Steve Smith’s temperament for the top job by saying, “He seems to love the extra pressure.”
He singled out Pat Cummins in the Aussie pace attack — “It’s so easy for him to bowl fast, he has a great work ethic.”
Respected pace bowling coach from down under, Troy Cooley, read out an emotional letter from the iconic Lillee, who spent several years shaping pacemen’s careers at the Foundation.
Rahul Mammen, Managing Director, MRF, said the relationship between the Pace Foundation and Cricket Australia was one of mutual respect.
McGrath said, “We hope to see you here after another 25 years!” It’s indeed been one heck of a ride. And the future beckons.