MRF pace foundation: Glenn McGrath to replace Dennis Lillee?

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The MRF Pace Foundation is likely to rope in three-time World Cup Champion and one of Test cricket’s fast bowling greats, Glenn McGrath, as their coaching director.

McGrath will take over from fellow Australian Dennis Lillee who has been heading the pace school since its inception in 1987.

Lillee is scheduled to arrive in Chennai on June 24 and will hold a short camp and will return in August to oversee the annual camp that will culminate in September, which will also mark the silver jubilee of the institution.

It is learnt that Lillee will be back in 2013 to help his successor acclimatise and also ensure the transition is seamless.

The name of former South African fast bowler, Allan Donald, had done the rounds. Donald is currently the bowling coach of South Africa and Pune Warriors India in IPL.

McGrath, on the other hand, has no other coaching commitments, which could have been the clinching factor. It is also learnt that Lillee was paid $200,000 per year (for 40 days a year) and McGrath will also be paid approximately the same amount. However, the tenure of contract is not known yet.

Donald has been in charge of three national teams in the last five years while McGrath has not taken up any high-profile coaching assignment post his retirement from competitive cricket in 2009.

The simple methods of McGrath should work well for the trainees at the academy that has proved to be a fantastic finishing school for pacemen all over the world.

Lillee forged a successful partnership with TA Sekar for 20 years, a phase in which MRF shaped some of India’s best new ball bowlers.

“Lillee proved to us what dedication can bring about. Indian cricket will be indebted to him for guiding the fortunes of many bowlers. Personally, I learnt a lot from him as well,” said Sekar who is currently the director of Delhi Daredevils.

The pace school was conceptualized by the late Ravi Mammen and taken forward by company director SR Rathnam.

From Javagal Srinath to Zaheer Khan, many benefited from the infrastructure made available by MRF. Lillee’s vast knowledge played a key role and it will be difficult for any coach to replace the legend.

“MRF is the only business association of mine where I have worked without a contract. It has been a wonderful relationship built on trust and one that grew stronger with time,” Lillee had said early this year.