MRF Pace Foundation buzzing with activity

The MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai has been buzzing with activity over the past couple of days. And it will continue to hum with activity over the next week or so. Dennis Lillee, the moving spirit behind the ambitious programme, is back for one of his periodical visits to supervise the progress made by his wards. The big difference on this occasion is that in keeping with the international reputation of the Foundation, there are a host of young pace hopefuls from various countries who have converged in Chennai either to gain valuable tips from the former Australian fast bowling great or to have their technique fine tuned.

For example, Sri Lanka have sent Sajeewa de Silva, Nuwan Zoysa and Indiga Gallage to be at the Foundation for a few days to iron out some technical problems with their bowling. They have been accompanied by the Sri Lankan national coach Dav Whatmore and physio Alex Kontouri. In addition, talented young bowlers Dinusha Fernando and Dharshana Garnage have arrived to get specialised coaching from Lillee and TA Sekhar, the former Indian fast bowler who is the chief coach at the Foundation.

David Mutendra, the Zimbabwe fast bowler had already visited the Foundation for coaching. Obviously he has benefited from the stint and he has come over again to gain some more priceless knowledge from the pace `guru'. He has also brought along with him with a potential Zimbabwe bowler in Douglas Hondo.

Bangladesh is very keen on making waves on the international scene and as part of this endeavour have sent Yasir Obaid, one of their leading young pace bowlers to the Foundation to get specialised training. On his maiden visit to the Foundation, Obaid has been a veritable eager-beaver over the past couple of days.

The Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in the UK have been utilising the services of the Foundation from 1996 and have now deputed two of their young fast bowlers AJ Harris and Matthew Whiley. Harris had represented England A on the tour of Australia in 1997 and Whiley had played for the Under-19 team on the tour of New Zealand last year.

Besides these two, Nottinghamshire have, interestingly enough, sent a specialist opening batsman Usman Afzaal who has played for Derbyshire to get valuable batting practice of playing fast bowlers on various kinds of wickets, a facility available at the Foundation. According to Sekhar, while local batsmen sometimes come to the Foundation to tone up their skills, this is the first time a specialist batsman from abroad has come here specifically for this purpose.

Besides the foreign trainees, Lillee will also watch some 40 boys chosen from all over India to attend the camp at the Foundation.