For the past few years, the Chennai-based MRF Pace Foundation has acted as a finishing school for many bowlers, including those from the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and several from abroad. The links with the NCA have existed so far on an individual, ad-hoc basis and without official partner status from the BCCI.Not for much longer, though: an official partnership arrangement between the two has been worked out and is likely to be made public in the next few days.The decision could be a huge step in improving the fast bowlers of the country besides creating a strong bench strength. For the bowlers, it will be similar to picking up a basic degree from one place and superspecialised qualifications at another.Add to that the National Cricket Academy’s proposal to select 15 bowlers who will travel with the Indian team within the country, bowling to them at the nets, and it seems that the BCCI is finally serious about improving the bowling standards on the domestic circuit.Col K R Nair, administrative manager of the NCA, accepts that the coordination happens on a one-off basis and admits that it needs to go further. ‘‘Sometimes they call for the boys and we recommend the respective state association to send their boys. But we function on an independent basis and have no official connection with each other.’’‘‘We share a good rapport with the NCA people and request them to send their best guys for further training with us’’, says MRF’s chief coach TA Sekar. The current exchange scheme, he adds, would be better if carried out for longer periods. ‘‘Normally these boys undergo 5-6 weeks training there and then go back. If they can stay another six weeks with us it will benefit them.’’‘‘We give them more specialised training and they get to work with Dennis Lillee too. We put up a presentation to the Board but there’s been nothing official about it so far. We would love to contribute to Indian cricket in whatever way we can’’, he says.Though BCCI secretary SK Nair, when contacted, said there’d been ‘‘no decision to that extent as of now’’, he accepted it would be beneficial to the Board and the NDA. ‘‘If it comes before the BCCI for discussion, we will definitely consider it’’, he told The Indian Express.MRF: INDIA’S PACE FACE• Established in 1987 and the Academy opened doors for foreigners — mainly Asians — in 1992• It’s USP has been the presence of legendary Aussie pacer Dennis Lillee as the director. Former Test player TA Sekar is the resident coach who is helped by a team of qualified sports medicine experts.• Facilities include an Olympic size swimming pool, state-of-art gymnasium and four pitches of varied nature.• The Academy has produced the entire who’s who of Indian pace department. Among them Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan, L Balaji, Irfan Pathan, Ajit Agarkar stand out• The foreigners who have benefitted from a stint here include Chaminda Vaas, Brett Lee, Dilharo Fernando, Henry Olonga, Ryan Sidebottom and Rikki Clarke — GSV
