Yorkshire fast bowler Steven Kirby and Worcestershire paceman Kabir Ali have been selected to spend two weeks training at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai where they will receive tuition from, amongst others, former Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee. They leave tomorrow (Wednesday 11 February).

The initiative marks the start of the ECB’s new Fast Bowling Talent Identification Programme, which will help with the development of elite squad fast bowlers.
In order to implement the programme, an Elite Fast Bowling Coaching and Research Group (EFBG) will be set up and co-ordinated by the ECB National Academy fast bowling coach, Troy Cooley. The group of seven specialists will include fast bowling coaches, a sports scientist, the ECB Chief Medical Officer and a physiologist. Appointments will be made by the start of the 2004 season.
This group will be responsible for the research into world’s best practice in the delivery of fast bowling and its subsequent education to all ECB representative bowlers. As such, it will have significant input into the development of all current England and National Academy fast bowlers, as well as input into England age-group and young County Academy bowlers. Equally important will be the development and training of all fast bowling coaches.
The EFBG will organise training camps at home, send players and coaches abroad for attendance at international training camps where appropriate, organise research in areas such as performance enhancement and action safety, review the ECB fast bowling ‘directives’, set up and maintain a national database for all elite squad bowlers, and co-ordinate with the counties to ensure these bowlers are appropriately monitored.

Troy Cooley explained, “This is about a co-ordinated and structured approach to the development of our best quick bowlers. We are looking to coach and monitor our fast bowlers to help them perform more successfully and reduce the high injury rates. The aim will be to identify the important ‘non negotiable’ characteristics and come up individual development plans; there are some interesting findings starting to be uncovered but how we implement them to the individual will be the key in helping fast-track their progress.

“Equally important will be ensuring our coaches are kept abreast with the current information and coaching techniques. The aim is to continue raising the standard of fast bowling and fast bowling coaching in England and Wales and provide a group of fast bowlers who are able to perform consistently well on the international stage.”