MRF Academy picks Munaf, Rao for training in Australia

Speedsters Munaf Patel of Mumbai and Raghavendra Rao of Karnataka have been chosen for a short training stint in Australia by the MRF Pace Academy.

The two, who were among six pacers from the National Cricket Academy honing their skills at the Pace Academy in Chennai, would fly to Canberra for a three-day training programme.

Patel and Rao, the two most promising NCA wards would undergo training and various other advanced tests which would help them graduate to higher levels within a year, legendary Australian speedster Dennis Lillee and Academy Director T A Shekar told reporters in Chennai.

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David John, renowned bio-mechanic expert, who assessed the trainees and also Indian pacer Zaheer Khan at the academy, described Patel as the most-promising pacer bowling at a speed of 140 kmph.

He said they had made some suggestions to Patel which would help him clock 150 kmph in another year.

"This prediction is based on physical condition and his present fitness levels," John said.

"It will be exciting to see him come through to be classified as one of the quickest bowlers in the world. He has to synchronise his natural talent and flexibility by taking his front arm up till he feels the pain on the ribs and then the proof will be in the pudding to see him bowl even much faster than 150 kmph," he said.

As for Rao, the experts felt he was the tallest bowler on view and equally talented like Patel.

John, who identified the 'mixed-action' as the real cause of injuries to pace bowlers, certified that 90 per cent of the wards presently at the academy had the "perfect and correct" action.