Date:01/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/01/stories/2008070160922200.htm

Sport - Cricket

India is developing depth in pace bowling dept.: Cooley

Special Correspondent

Chennai: Australian bowling coach Troy Cooley believes India is developing depth in the pace bowling department. “When everyone is fit, it is a pretty formidable attack. India now has good replacements as well. I think the MRF Pace Foundation has played a role here,” the Aussie said here on Saturday.

Cooley has travelled to the MRF Pace Foundation with a bunch of promising Aussie pacemen including the lanky Grant Sullivan.

The famous coach, who guided the Aussie team in the West Indies during the recent Test series, said, “I am happy with the attack. Like good wine, Brett Lee has matured with age. Stuart Clark may not be quick but is a very crafty bowler. And he bowls well in combination with Lee, Mitchell Johnson or the spinners.”

Disappointing tour

Cooley disagreed with the view that left-armer Johnson had a rather disappointing tour of the Caribbean.

“He is young and bowls at around 90 miles an hour. There will be times when he’s not on target. He’s a great long-term investment. We also have other pacemen like Noffke and Bollinger who will be pushing the incumbents.”

He is excited about injury-prone all-rounder Shane Watson’s displays in the IPL. “He has a semi-open action which is fine for him. He has understood his body better.”

Cooley said he found the IPL and the Twenty20 concept very exciting and added he would like to play a role in the competition. “I am available for the IPL,” Cooley said.

On the question of spin legend Shane Warne returning to international cricket, he said, “If he has the fitness levels and the passion, I have no objection.”

When queried about the switch-hit, he replied, “I think we will have to maintain the balance between the bat and the ball. If the bowler wanted to bowl with the other arm or switch to over or round the wicket, he has to inform the umpire.”

Workload issues, wrong technique and the body not being strong enough were the common causes for injuries to pacemen, he said.

“Before he turns 24, a paceman’s bone structure will have to be managed well,” Cooley added.