Mumbai, Nov 1: In south India, speed is the catchword. The Britannia Roger Binny Academy (BRBA) for pace bowlers is set to become the second national training centre for quickies. Started this July, and presently restricted to young students from Bangalore, the academy will expand next year to tap promising juniors from all parts of the country.The curriculum will be on the lines of the Britannia Amritraj Tennis (BAT) Academy in Chennai, which offers education-cum-sports contracts to budding tennis players. Revealing this on Sunday during his visit to Mumbai, the academy's chief coach Roger Binny said plans were yet at a premature stage.Currently, BRBA offers coaching on weekends to thirty u-14 and u-16 boys, bowlers and all-rounders, at the St Joseph's School grounds. During two three-hour sessions on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning, the boys are put through the grind on the specially-laid concrete wicket.Binny, hero of India's World Cup triumph in 1983 and that tournament's highestwicket-taker, told Indian Express, ``I scouted for the boys during the age group tournaments in Bangalore. The talent is there but it needs grooming. I have nine-year-olds who can bowl perfect out-swingers. But their action could do with some improvement to ensure the pressure on their back and legs are reduced. I show them video clippings of their action to get the point across.''Binny, however, admitted the most scientific techniques cannot prevent pace bowlers from burning out. He blamed one-day cricket for this. ``During the one-day games, muscles are over-used. The pace is hectic, and then there are the flat and quick throw-ins while fielding. In comparison, players are more relaxed during a three-day game. Their muscles get time to heal.''Young boys are good learners, says Binny. They do not mind bowling all day at the nets. ``That is why I chose to train young bowlers instead of picking older players.''Among immediate plans at the academy is a clinic for fast bowlers in December, where Binnywill rope in his contemporary Madan Lal. ``The kids like it when someone like (Javagal) Srinath drops in and gives them tips. Someone like Govindraj (the former Hyderabad fast bowler who went on the tour of West Indies and England in 1971) does not have the same impact,'' Binny said.
