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The strain of pace bowling
Last week in this column I enthused that schoolboys are enjoying their cricket right now. One disappointing factor though, is that there aren't sufficient pace bowlers in the making. Take the top twenty-five schools and there is less than a handful who seems to have the potential to progress beyond school level.

It is accepted that a strong, powerful physique is a necessity for fast bowler through a long career period. There are the medium built pacemen. They have to depend on possessing ample variations. Chaminda Vaas is a classic example. As a left arm pacie that is a variation in itself. He adds change of pace, swing, bounce, reverse swing and makes himself into a complete product. Look around at the rest and they are all big men. Of the regulars, Makhaya Ntini is one who is not in that league, but his whipping action and loads of stamina helps him to keep going. In the past 3 years, close to about a dozen bowlers have shared duties with Vaas for Sri Lanka.

Most have fallen by the wayside or succumbed to injury. Dilhara Fernando and Prabath Nissanka were the most promising. Both fell victim to injury. Fernando has come back, but is not at his lethal best. There is a big question mark on Nissanka. Sadly he may never make it back! Nuwan Zoysa has had a chequered career. Injury and poor form has plagued him too. So the performances and results are not big, simply adequate.

My belief is that pace bowlers must be nurtured like thoroughbred horses. There should be a pace bowling academy. It should all begin when the aspiring youngsters are between fourteen and sixteen. The different stages of progress must be monitored in each individual, until their career concludes. Good pace bowlers are a must to succeed in international cricket and taking good care of all those around is serious business. Just as much, the individual has to have plenty of drive, to sustain himself to the gruelling demands.

How is a player who has drive identified? He will challenge the toughest opponent, enjoy competition and get upset when he loses. The aggressive fast bowler will look for physical contact and does not fear injury or rough play. The determined player will be found among those who volunteer for extra work, never to quit and disappointed when games get called-off.

The capacity to handle the unexpected and take quick decisions, identifies the self-confident individual and never slow to express a belief in his own ability. The mentally tough player is never beaten; he bounces back after losses, looks forward to the tough games and situations and can accept criticism. The player who has the power to visualize will rehearse the skills and their important coaching points mentally, before translating them into physical practice. In a nutshell, the pace bowler who is mentally tough, will usually outdo a similarly gifted performer who lacks the inner attributes of drive, aggression, determination, self-confidence, emotional control and the ability to visualize.

Fast bowling is a strain, it is exhausting, but should you be able to succeed, the rewards are enormous.

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