Glenn McGrath impressed with a young fast bowler from Kerala

Glenn McGrath had a smooth transition from a cricketer to a coach. The former Australian great has been involved with the MRF Pace Foundation for the last five years in the capacity of the director. He has recently worked with IPL sensation Basil Thampi and is seriously impressed with the Kerala fast bowler.

The Thampi show in the IPL

Thampi emerged onto the scene in this year’s IPL when he appeared for Gujarat Lions playing under Suresh Raina. Though his team couldn’t replicate the success of its initial year, Thampi showed great heart to bowl fast and accurate yorkers in the death overs. His wicket list includes big names – Chris Gayle, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Hashim Amla and Kieron Pollard. His performances helped him win the ‘Emerging Player of The Year’ award at the conclusion of the season. The 23-year old has been rewarded for his gutsy performances with a maiden berth in the India ‘A’ side which will travel to South Africa to play an ODI series.

Glenn McGrath spoke highly of Thampi, who will only improve with more experience. “The Indian attack has very good bowlers now and the emergence of names like Basil Thampi and a few others is only going to help the team in the long run,” he said at a function here to mark the silver jubilee of the association between MRF Pace Foundation and Cricket Australia.

Not just Thampi, but two others: Ankit Rajpoot and Aniket Choudhary have also trained under McGrath at the Academy. All three are picked to go to South Africa to play the two four-day games. But McGrath had a special mention for Thampi.

“He has come on very well. His performances in IPL this year won him the emerging player award and he has learnt a lot at the academy,” said McGrath.

Life has come full circle for McGrath

Reflecting back at his time at the MRF Pace Foundation, McGrath was delighted to be still associated with it having started as a trainee in the very first batch of the academy in 1987.

“It is delightful to know I made it to the foundation as a trainee in the first batch of the programme. Life has come full circle, where today I am still with the foundation, not as a trainee but as its director. It is a great feeling. Also, the academy has been at the forefront of honing skills of young fast bowlers making them ready to play for India,” he said.

“I am happy that I have been able to pass on some knowledge to the young fast bowlers. The past five years as coach has been a learning experience for me,” McGrath added.

‘Starc the best in the world’

Speaking about the current crop of fast bowlers in international cricket, the 47-year old rated Mitchell Starc as the best going in the business. He also praised the Australian bowling attack which boasts of a number of talented quick bowlers.

“His (Starc’s) ability to bowl attacking lengths with the new ball and reverse the older ball at over 150 kph makes him a difficult proposition for batsmen.

“Australia is lucky to be blessed with a formidable line-up of pacemen including Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson.”