McGrath to coach Indian pacers at MRF academy

NEW DELHI (AP) — Former Australia test paceman great Glenn McGrath will have a hand in coaching India's promising fast bowlers after the Indian cricket board signed an agreement with his Chennai-based bowling academy.

"It has been a wonderful couple of years for me at the MRF Pace Foundation," McGrath said in a statement. "I now eagerly look forward to working with India's best at the foundation."

The 44-year-old McGrath, who took over as director of the academy from fellow-Australian bowling great Dennis Lillee in 2012, holds three two-week camps each year in which he coaches young pace bowlers from around the country.

He will now also oversee the progress of several fringe and upcoming pace bowlers for India's national team including Varun Aaron and Ashok Dinda.

"Our facilities compare favorably with the best in the world and I am eagerly looking forward to this challenge," McGrath said.

McGrath, who retired in 2007 after taking 563 wickets in 124 tests and 381 in 250 ODIs, said Indian pace bowlers could do better if they were provided with lively wickets in domestic games.

"If you keep bowling on docile pitches here, you cannot expect your fast bowlers to adapt straightaway to the tracks abroad," he was quoted as saying by The Hindu newspaper on Wednesday.

India is scheduled to tour Australia for a four-test series later this year. It will also play a tri-series there involving England before it starts its defense of the World Cup in February-March next year.