Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and priceless lessons: Abhishek Moond and Vasudev Prasad Singh immerse themselves in Australia’s fast bowling culture | Cricket News
New Delhi: “Sir, yakeen nahi ho raha Cummins (Pat), hazlewood (Josh) aur Starc (Mitchell) ke saath run-up Mark Kiye Hain (I can’t believe I’ve done my run-up with Hazlewood and Starc),” Ashok Kumar recalled his first conversation with ward Vasudev Prasad Singh from Brisbane on July 14.Singh, 20, from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district and 18-year-old Abhishek Moond from Rajasthan’s Sikar district have been training with the Australian Test squad for two weeks as part of a long-term partnership between the MRF Pace Foundation and Cricket Australia.M. Senthilnathan, program manager and head coach of MRF Pace Foundation, said it was an absolute pleasure to watch the two youngsters in the first few days.“They were like kids in a sweet shop, pinching each other. They were overwhelmed for the first two days,” Senthilnathan told TOI in Brisbane.
Vasu hails from Bihar and Abhishek hails from Rajasthan. They come from small cities in our country. Training with Cummins, Stack and Hazlewood was something they could never have dreamed of.
M. Sensirnason
“Vasu is from Bihar and Abhishek is from Rajasthan. They are from small cities in our country. Training with Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood is something they could not have imagined even in their wildest dreams. But having said that, it is a great experience for them It’s been a good learning curve. They’ve gone up against two of the best players in the world and they’ve seen how they train, how they bowl in the nets and most importantly, how they understand and manage their bodies, which is very important for every fast bowler,” he added.From July 13 to 24, the two trained at Cricket Australia’s National Cricket Center (NCC) in Brisbane. They also took part in a training session with the Australian men’s Test team at Allen Border Stadium.“Getting the opportunity to train with the Australian senior team has been an incredible experience,” Mulder told this website.“The whole environment is different. The batsmen are of the highest quality, so you have to be consistent and keep bowling in the right areas. I learned that I need to bowl the ball a little bit wider than usual at the back.“The bounce and movement are great and it’s a great experience. Training with players of this caliber is a huge confidence booster. At my age, it’s very special to have the opportunity to practice with cricketers I’ve watched since I was a kid. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from them. “
Bihar’s Vasudev Prasad Singh in the net at the Allan Border Stadium in Brisbane. (Cricket Australia)
Like Mulder, Vasudev Prasad Singh believes the experience goes far beyond sharing the nets with Australia’s Test stars. For him, the opportunity was to learn the ins and outs of fast bowling under conditions that reward pace and discipline.“The best thing about this tour is the opportunity to train with the Australian senior team and we learned a lot from them. The environment here is very good and the conditions are perfect for fast bowling,” said Vasudev Prasad Singh.
For a man who spent much of his formative years playing on pad wickets, it was an experience he will never forget.
Ashok Kumar | Coach Vasudev Prasad Singh
“We are able to bowl long spells, which helps us improve our skills. Such exposure is extremely important for a cricketer. Bowling to world-class batsmen in favorable conditions teaches you where to bowl, how to plan your delivery and how to set the field.”Former Bihar cricketer Ashok Kumar, who has worked with the likes of Sakib Hussain and Mohammad Izhar, two other promising pacers from the state, shared an interesting story about his ward.
Abhishek Moond (centre) takes part in training with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc at Allan Border Stadium in Brisbane. (Cricket Australia)
“For someone who has played most of his time on the wicket, it was an experience he will never forget. Vasu has represented Bihar at the Under-19 and Under-23 levels and has all the attributes to play for India. He has a really good outswing. He is still raw but will be a finished product in a few years,” said Ashok.Senthilnathan agrees with Kumar.“They’re good kids. Their work ethic is really good. They train hard. They’re still raw, but they’re only going to get better from here,” he said.
Emerging pacers Abhishek Moond and Vasudev Prasad Singh visited Australia for a two-week high-performance program along with former India fast bowler Tinu Yohannan and MRF Pace Foundation program manager and head coach M. Senthilnathan. (Cricket Australia)
The visit is part of a high-level exchange program that has linked Indian and Australian cricket for more than three decades, making it one of the sport’s longest-standing international development partnerships.The MRF Pace Foundation and Cricket Australia have been working together since 1992, building on Australian Pace legend Dennis Lillee’s partnership with the Foundation following its establishment in 1987 in Chennai.
Vasudev Prasad Singh (centre) with Australian pacers Josh Hazlewood (left) and Mitchell Starc (right). (Cricket Australia)
The program exposes young Indian cricketers to Australian conditions and training methods, while Australian players improve their skills in subcontinental conditions. The partnership helped shape several leading fast bowlers. Australian superstars Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee have all been associated with the foundation, while Indian stars Jawaharlal Srinath and Zaheer Khan are among those who have also benefited from its path.Looking ahead, Senthilnathan believes this experience in Brisbane will be a defining chapter in the development of the youngster.
Vasudev Prasad Singh and Abhishek Moond spent two weeks training with the Australian Test squad as part of a long-term partnership between the MRF Pace Foundation and Cricket Australia. (Cricket Australia)
“We have a long association with Cricket Australia and have helped a lot of Indian pacers over the years. We have seen what Prafull Hinje and Sakib Hussain have done since coming here. Prafull trained in Brisbane for three weeks and came back with a different bowler. Experience like that accelerates growth. Vasu and Abhishek are still very green but they have the attitude and work ethic to go a long way. You will see them making an impact in the years to come,” he said.
Post Comment