The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Warne charms all

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 02, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Warne charms all

MUMBAI, OCT. 1. Shane Warne attending a fast bowling talent hunt in India was strange. The event was the ESPN-Scorpio Speedster 2004 contest's Mumbai leg at the MIG Club, Bandra on Thursday, with two aspirants clocking 122 kmph to qualify for the final.

Warne, rested for Australia's tour opener against Mumbai, strode in accompanied by pacer Brett Lee and answered questions by the dozen. Both the Aussies, invited to inspire city amateurs taking part in the fast bowling hunt organised by IMG, were asked about their own cricketing idols. "When I started playing, Dennis Lillee was my inspiration to bowl fast. Later Allan Donald was a major influence," said Lee.

The Aussie leg-spinner said: "I didn't have spinners to look up to. The West Indies were dominating world cricket with their pace battery, so I tried to bowl like Malcolm Marshall and Dennis Lillee. Having realised that I could not bowl fast, I tried to do different things with the ball."

Warne, admiring the ability of speed merchants like team-mate Lee, spoke about ventures like the Scorpio Speedster contest in unearthing raw bowling talent. "Doesn't matter whether it is pace or spin, whether youngsters wish to become Brett Lee or Warne, ideas like these go a long way in giving Indians an opportunity to display their ability to bowl fast.

"Having seen the passion for the game in India, I am sure some of these youngsters assembled here will develop into international material, " he concluded, before walking off stage for an autograph-signing spree. — Our Special Correspondent