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PHOTO: S.Thanthoni

Nurturing talent MRF-Gatorade selectors Aashish Kapoor (extreme left) and M. Senthilnathan (third from left) with pace hopefuls Vignesh M. Mohan and R. Sudheesh.

Yet, the emphasis at the MRF-Gatorade Pace hunt was not on speed alone. Apart from pace, the focus was on accuracy and bowling action.

The line of vehicles outside the MRF-Pace Foundation in Chennai reflected the enthusiasm of the parents who had arrived in numbers to see their wards bowl. The ground was abuzz and an air of tension among the budding pace bowlers was unmistakable.

This was their big day out – a chance to get noticed. Those selected would receive quality coaching from experts, free of cost.

T.A. Sekar, head coach, MRF Pace Foundation, oversaw the proceedings. “These kids seem to have the ability. It has to be harnessed,” he said.

To ensure against bias or favouritism, the participants were not called by name, but by numbers. “No. nine” boomed the person with the mike and a nameless lad – at least momentarily – thundered in.

In the land of spin, pace had caught people’s attention. The recurring theme here was ‘Catch them young.’ In several senses, the MRF-Gatorade search had reached home with the trials for the Tamil Nadu and Hyderabad bowlers being held at the Foundation.

Former South Zone cricketer M. Senthilnathan was among the judges. He smiled when the aspirants ran in hard and attempted to bowl with velocity and direction. Many of the emerging pacemen were hitting the stumps or moving the ball away from the right-hander on the lively tracks at the Foundation.

“I am astonished at the kind of talent the State has,” said Senthilnathan. He was in charge of the under-22 section that witnessed stiff competition. The top two bowlers in the category qualified for the All-India challenge.

Tamil Nadu’s R. Sudheesh clocked the fastest speed of the contest, bowling at just over 125 kmph. “He can be quicker,” pointed out Senthilnathan.

Former India cricketer Aashish Kapoor scrutinised the boys in the under-15 section. Importantly, as he revealed, boys with faulty action were omitted straightaway. Illegal bowling methods had to be nipped in the bud.

“I was happy with what I saw. Some of these kids were bowling close to 105 kmph which is not bad for youngsters. We do not want to make drastic changes. We want to fine-tune their technique while ensuring that they retain their natural ability,” said Aashish.

Indeed, a bowling technique that blended with their natural ability would prevent these bowlers from picking up injuries as they took their cricketing journey forward. The bowlers required to comprehend their body.

Aashish, who represented India as an off-spinner who could chip in with the willow, said. “As a bowler, you either have spin or you don’t. Similarly you have speed as a paceman or you don’t. The point is, if you have the basic speed, then the other aspects could be worked on. The boys stretched every sinew. They were not just looking to bowl line and length. But you need to work on them. They need to avoid break-downs.”

The right bowling action is essential for these all-action pacemen. The run-up and the load-up position are crucial too.

“We have to be patient. The results will come,” says Sekar.

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