Glenn McGrath believes bowling in India is the ultimate test for fast bowlers.
Subcontinent conditions pose significant difficulties for pace bowlers. Other than reverse swing, which is growing out of effectiveness in modern cricket, pace bowlers can’t expect much assistance from the typically barren 22-yards in India.
The absence of pace and bounce, along with the relentless heat, makes it an uphill battle for pacers to create an impact, often leaving the spinners to shoulder the bulk of the bowling responsibilities.
What did Glenn McGrath say about fast bowling in India?
“India is probably the toughest place to be a fast bowler. Pitches are not that juicy here. But now young (seam) bowlers are coming from India, whom probably we haven't seen before. It’s because fast bowling here wasn’t as focused as it is now. If you succeed here, you can succeed anywhere in the world as a fast bowler,” the ICC Hall of Famer said.
McGrath, who currently heads the coaching division at the MRF Pace Foundation in India, therefore, finds it particularly impressive that India has managed to overcome these obstacles to nurture a formidable battery of pace bowlers in recent times.
The three-time World Cup winner has played a pivotal role in nurturing the pace bowling scene in India.
He has been associated with the MRF Pace Foundation in India since 2012 and has had direct involvement with numerous Indian fast bowlers during his tenure.
Glenn McGrath congratulated Chetan Sakariya and Sandeep Warrier for making their T20i debut and said he's proud of them. Both were trained under McGrath at MRF Pace Foundation.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 31, 2021
The impact of McGrath's and the foundation's efforts on Indian cricket is evident in the current scenario.
Players like Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrier, Avesh Khan, and Chetan Sakariya have successfully made the transition from the MRF Pace Foundation to the national team in recent times.
The number of MRF Pace Foundation graduates earning spots in the national team continues to grow each year.
