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[m]

http://www.cricketnext.com/news/exclusiveprasad-pipped-own-guru/24574-13.html

Venkatesh Prasad's selection as India's bowling coach has come at the expense of his 'guru' T.A. Sekar, but the MRF coach is not bothered at being sidelined for the important job created after the team's World Cup debacle.

"I do not consider it a loss and take pride in the appointment of Venkatesh, who I can say with pride is 'my boy' since I trained him at the MRF Pace Academy between 1990 and 1992 and have seen him grow as one of the vital cogs in our pace attack," says Sekar, who represented Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket.

Cricketnext.com has learnt how the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) put the brakes on the chances of an astute fast bowling coach imparting knowledge to the Indian team.

Going by the suggestions of former Indian captains, the Working Committee of the BCCI decided to rope in the services of fast bowling and fielding coaches but the choice of Sunil Gavaskar was not accepted by the Board, cricket Board sources told Cricketnext.com.

Gavaskar and other former captains suggested three names --- Sekar, Javagal Srinath and Prasad (in that order). Sekar was the most favoured choice and Gavaskar had also explained the necessity to rope in Sekar since he was most comfortable with the latest methods of coaching fast and medium pace bowlers.

Sekar had played only two Tests and four One-Day Internationals, but his credentials, as a coach are incomparable. Day in and Day out for over 20 years, Sekar has been sweating it out training youngsters, both Indians and overseas aspirants, at the renowned MRF Pace Academy.

Of course, the former Aussie speedster, Dennis Lillee, nicknamed ‘pace guru’ has been a consultant coach at the academy since its birth in 1987 and Sekar has been the Academy Chief Coach.

According to the sources, Sekar was not selected because he is presently with an academy and that his name does not gel well with the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) office bearers. The members of the Working Committee felt that Srinath need not be disturbed from his present status as a member of the National Grid of Officials of the International Cricket Council.

Sekar, who holds highest certification as a coach by the world famous Australian Cricket Academy, has coached several other top Indian pacemen including Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Irfan Pathan, R.P. Singh, Munaf Patel, S. Sreesanth, V.R.V. Singh and Debashish Mohanty.

Aussie stars Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Shane Watson too have had short stints with Sekar at the academy

[RicePlateReddy]

Aussie stars Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Shane Watson too have had short stints with Sekar at the academy

Without Sekhar's tips and guidance, McGrath and Lee would be bowling like Pathan. Not even Irfan, but Yousuf Pathan.

Seriously, since when did TNCA wield so much clout with the national selectors? Sekhar looks like he has spent way more time that anyone and the new breed of fast bowlers emerging did periods of training with the pace institute, so he seems a natural choice, plus he was nominated as first choice according to this report.

It is clear that the entire BCCI needs to be fired. Oh, for an honest man (or woman)!

[fineleg]

m,
Good post. Yes, TAS deserved a look in for the work that he has already put in.

[Poochandi]

have seen him grow as one of the vital cogs in our pace attack,"

This is disgusting. He is at best competing against Kumble for pace.

[schumi]

have seen him grow as one of the vital cogs in our pace attack,"

This is disgusting. He is at best competing against Kumble for pace.

Poochandi, dont insult Kumble. His flippers are faster than our fast bowlers' yorkers.

[sudzz]

This is really disgusting if TAS missed out due to politics, even in his short career there were vicious rumors that he lost out because of politics.

Venky Prasad may or maynot be good but if TAS is that good then we have lost the opportunity to have the best available locally.

[dhruvdeepak]

CLR James is not a big fan of our friend TA Sekhar 

[sudzz]

CLR James is not a big fan of our friend TA Sekhar 

DD that not withstanding...TAS has done Indian fast bowling a lot of good by running this school of his...

CLRJ why this dislike for this guy?