Brisbane, July 20: Young Indian fast bowlers Abhishek Moond and Vasudev Prasad Singh have been given the opportunity to train alongside Australia’s Test squad as part of an ongoing high-performance exchange programme between the MRF Pace Foundation and Cricket Australia.
The duo is currently in Brisbane as members of a four-person MRF Pace Foundation delegation attending a two-week training camp at Cricket Australia’s National Cricket Centre (NCC), running from July 13 to 24.
Accompanying the two bowlers are former India pacer Tinu Yohannan and MRF Pace Foundation Programme Manager and Head Coach M. Senthilnathan.The initiative forms part of a long-standing collaboration between the MRF Pace Foundation and Cricket Australia that has been nurturing cricketing talent for more than three decades. Established in 1992, the partnership evolved from the close association with legendary Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee, who played an instrumental role in shaping the MRF Pace Foundation after its launch in Chennai in 1987.
The programme has enabled promising Indian cricketers to gain valuable exposure to Australian playing conditions and coaching methods, while Australian players have travelled to Chennai to prepare for the challenges of subcontinental cricket.Although initially centred on fast-bowling development, the exchange has expanded over the years into a comprehensive high-performance programme. Australian batters, spinners and wicketkeepers now regularly train at the MRF Pace Foundation to enhance their skills against spin and adapt to Indian conditions.
The collaboration has featured several prominent cricketers over the years. Australian pace greats Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson have all been associated with the Foundation, while India has produced a host of accomplished fast bowlers, including Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan, through its development system.
The exchange programme has also benefited Australia’s emerging talent, with recent participants including Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Cooper Connolly, Josh Philippe, Ollie Peake, Corey Rocchiccioli, Joel Davies and Jason Sangha. (Agencies)
