da roleta： One of the key reasons for the success of the MRF Pace Foundation inrecent years is the manner in which the foundation follows up on itswards
Staff Reporter29-Jun-2001One of the key reasons for the success of the MRF Pace Foundation inrecent years is the manner in which the foundation follows up on itswards. Unlike many other academies, the MRF Pace Foundation tracks thecricketing growth of their trainees right from the beginning onwards.Even after Dennis Lillee finishes his stint in Chennai and heads backto Australia, he is in constant touch with TA Sekhar, head coach atthe Foundation. The latest stint at the academy began on the June 20and concluded on June 28. There were several new aspects to this camp,and several advancements from the last time around.The first major difference was the use of a software known as ‘SiliconCoach.’ The high tech aid helps caches dissect a bowler’s action rightdown to the basics. “This software determines injury mechanisms,creates split screen presentations, calculates distances, speeds andangles and provides rapid feedback for trainees and coaches,”described Lillee. The former Aussie quick went on to add, “Thesoftware compares techniques of elite and novice performers andprovides qualitative and quantitative comparison before and afterintervention.”But there was more to the camp than just the introduction of a new bitof technology. Troy Cooley, fitness expert and assistant coach at theAustralian Cricket Academy, was in Chennai for the second year insuccession. The former Tasmanian fast bowler performed some standardphysical tests on the trainees. The test he performed was the same oneused back home in Australia. It was good news for the lads at theFoundation as the results showed that the gap in fitness levelsbetween trainees in India and Australia was narrowing fast.When Lillee came to Chennai last in February, he selected 15 wards totrain at the Pace Foundation. Although encouraged by the results,Lillee was firm in his belief that these youngsters would have totrain much harder in order to achieve higher honours. The list of 15has been pruned to 12 and the training programme continues in rightearnest.The list of 12 trainees hand picked by Lillee to continue at the MRFPace Foundation are: Ishan Malhotra (Punjab), Tinu Yohannen (Kerala),Sujoy Parul (Bengal), G Chaita (Karnataka), Prashanth Chandran(Kerala), Chandrasekhar Atram (Vidarbha), Baburao Yadav (Vidarbha),Abhishek Choudhury (Delhi), Harish Puri (Punjab), Irfan Pathan(Vadodara), KS Veeranan (Tamil Nadu) and Avishkar Salvi (Mumbai).