Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath lamented how the availability of easy money with T20 leagues cropping up all over the globe has led to a decline in the standard of fast bowling with the younger generation seemingly contempt after achieving certain success and not doing the extra bit to maintain their consistency.
McGrath said the young fast bowlers stop working hard once they achieve little fame and that was the primary reason behind many of them fading away from the scene after a few years.
"Biggest issue which I find, probably not just in India, probably around the world is how hard they are prepared to work. And if they do get a little bit of success playing in IPL or Big Bash in Australia is that they get to that level and they think they have made it and they stop working hard and they stop training as much," McGrath said after a coaching clinic here for Under-23 pacers at PCA stadium in Mohali.
"Young bowlers have to be prepared to work hard and then work even harder to stay there, there are no easy options or shortcuts,” the Australian legend advised the upcoming fast bowlers. "To be a fast bowler is the toughest part of the game. You've got to be prepared to work harder than anyone else, you got to be prepared to go through more pain than anyone else."
Sharing his thoughts on the pink ball, which is currently being employed for the Duleep Trophy tournament which commenced yesterday ahead of BCCI’s plans to hold a Day-Night Test in India pretty soon, McGrath said that he was in support of the move as it will help sustain the stature of Test cricket as the most important format of the game.
“Pink ball adds a new dimension to the game, I don't mind it. With T20 really taking the world by storm, Test cricket to me is really important. We got to hold it in high regard," McGrath said.
"Obviously, the pink ball does a little bit more, you got a little bit grass on the wicket. It loses colour very quickly and the ball doesn't hold up like the older, especially the Test ball. It's a little bit more in bowler's favour, it's going to swing around, it's going to nip around a little bit more.
“I think bowlers will enjoy bowling with the pink ball, but at the end of the day they still they have to get the ball in the right area," he added.
As for the upcoming young Indian fast bowlers who has impressed him, McGrath singled out Bengal’s 24-year-old paceman Veer Pratap Singh as the best young paceman he has seen.
“A couple of guys stands out. Veer Pratap Singh is probably the best that I have seen. He is bowling exceptionally well, he has got good pace and he swings the ball. Aniket Chaudhary, Ankit Rajput and Nathu Singh are also good young upcoming bowlers.
“To be a good fast bowler, you have to bowl well in your own conditions, to be a great fast bowler, you have to be able to adjust and adapt to all different conditions throughout the world, quick wickets, bouncy wickets, slow, dry wickets," the 46-year-old said.
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