Sri Lanka's Abu Fuard to study cricket academies (7 May 1998)

Thursday 07, May 1998

Abu Fuard off on a study tour soon

By Elmo Rodrigopulle

Abu Fuard that mesmerising off spinner of the sixties and seventies who is back as vice president of the Cricket Board has been picked to visit South Africa and Australia and study how their cricket academies are functioning.

Fuard will visit the MRF in Madras which trains fast bowlers and the Spin Clinic which is conducted by former Indian leg spinner V. V. Kumar.

He will also tour England and gain first hand knowledge on how they conduct their indoor nets.

Fuard has returned to the official scene after a long lapse and according to the knowledgeable he is the best thing to have happened to the game. He is now the Chairman of the Coaching Committee.

With Sri Lanka's cricket taking a dive somewhat after the South African tour, it is the consensus that Fuard with his tremendous experience could be of immense help in resurrecting our fortunes.

Australia and South Africa have well organised cricket academies. These have continued to provide cricketers of Test class. Rod Marsh the former wicket keeping great is in charge of the Australian Academy and Peter Kirsten does similarly in South Africa.

Sri Lanka too are looking to get an academy started and Fuard's visit could not have been better timed. The cricketing authorities must not delay, but make Fuard's visit an immediate reality.

Fuard who was one of the best 'offies' produced by Sri Lanka was also an elegant batsman and safe fielder. When Richie Benuad's Australians played at the Colombo Oval in the early sixties, Fuard teased and lured some of their leading batsmen to their demise that prompted Benaud after the game to say that he would have liked to have Fuard with him on their tour of England.

That was the great esteem in which Fuard was held as an off spinner.

The Cricket Board has done right in picking Fuard to go and study the workings of the academies in Australia, South Africa and the indoor nets in England.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)