'Happy with progress'

Prasidh, Mathias to train in Australia with Thomson

Karnataka’s Prasidh Krishna and David Mathias have been picked along with Mumbai pacemen Minad Manjrekar and Tushar Deshpande to train at the Centre of Excellence, Brisbane, as part of the KSCA-IDBI Federal Life Insurance Bowling Foundation programme.

The foursome, who will train under Aussie great Jeff Thomson here at the Chinnaswamy stadium facilities, will fly out to Australia at the end of a three-week camp.

This is the second training season by the foundation here and it consists of eight quicks shortlisted from a two-week camp in Mumbai and a select group of bowlers from the Karnataka camp that commenced early this week.  

“This is a great facility,” Thomson said of the infrastructure here. “Mumbai is good, and I don’t want to be biased but the facilities here are slightly better. Anyways, that doesn’t matter. We started work in Karnataka in February and I can already see the difference, and that is only with one stint. With my guys from Mumbai, who have been in this programme for one year, I can see a huge difference.

“I am not David Copperfield (US illusionist). I don’t wave magic wand and I am not a magician. I show what is to be done, but it takes time. The boys are bowling better, and this is not just about making them bowl better in games but also help them use their head to think better when they are in the field,” he explained.

Elaborating on the difference among his trainees, Thomson said: “I had a look at 24 boys from here yesterday (Tuesday) and everyone has improved. They have made the necessary corrections. Some of them had a fair bit to do, and that has come down very quickly. They are getting perfect. Their action is helping them, not causing any problem and the results are there. They are stronger and bigger. They are keen. The coaches have told good things, and I go by what I am told. Give us a little bit more time here and you will see results. It’s not that easy. It’s up to the boys.”

KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel felt the foundation’s programme will enhance Karnataka’s bowling resources. “It’s going to be a great opportunity to train in Australia, and Jeff will introduce them to specialists. But, it is going to be hard work.  There is no gain without pain. You need to make the most of this opportunity as very few boys get this opportunity,” he noted.

Former Mumbai pacer and CEO of IDBI FLI Vighnesh Shahane explained the reason behind picking Mumbai and Karnataka. “We have seen that if cricket in Mumbai and Karnataka are in good state, then the health of Indian cricket too will be in better shape.”