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Warne keen to emulate Lillee

Special Correspondent

Jaipur: Shane Warne is keen to replicate Dennis Lillee’s achievement at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. Should an opportunity arise, Warne would like to work with young and talented Indian spinners. “In this country spinners have always come up. It’s too hot to run off 30 paces day in and day out.

“It’s something I am looking forward to down the track, set up a spin bowling programme, just like Lillee has done with the quick bowlers. I can come over to India and work with spin bowlers. That could be quite exciting as well,” said Warne at the launch of Rajasthan Royals and Emerging Media’s Cricket Development programme for youngsters.

Hard work

“It’s been pretty hard work for the spinners so far in the IPL. I had a good chat with Chawla (Piyush) when we played against the Kings XI here. He was disappointed he bowled only one over. I advised him to think about the game, more in Test and one-day cricket, how to think a batsman out and construct an over. I was very happy in the next game he bowled leg breaks and wrong ones and turned the game for his team as well. I was excited to see him.”

Darren Berry, director of coaching Rajasthan Royals, said, “The Royals is taking the initiative and lead to develop young cricketers of India. Five players who are not travelling with the Royals and five players of the Emerging Media’s Cricket Star programme will work under the leadership of Harish Joshi (assistant coach, RR).

“He is going to be based here for a month, working with the players and reporting back to Warne, myself and Jeremy Snape. If we have an injury we can call upon these players, but the programme is essentially for their development and for the future.

Good step forward

“It’s a very a good step forward, we can pass on the knowledge to them. There’s a lot of good young talent in the IPL and I have been taking notes. The facilities here are world class.”

England’s Snape who looks after the mental conditioning of the Royals said that majority of the Royals squad are Indian players. “We have been quite proactive in developing them. There are so many technical coaches around, but the biggest step up is the mental aspect and ability to handle the pressure. Warne can spend an hour with them in the nets and that hour is invaluable. We have made a commitment to the youth going forward.”

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