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A special visitor to MRF Foundation

Special Correspondent

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

Stephen Smith.

CHENNAI: Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Smith, visited the MRF Pace Foundation here on Tuesday. He was impressed with the facilities provided to the pacemen at the Foundation.

K.M. Mammen, Chairman and Managing Director, MRF, presented Mr. Smith with a MRF bat autographed by Sachin Tendulkar to mark the occasion.

“It is wonderful that an important foreign dignitary has chosen to visit the Foundation. The MRF Pace Foundation has a MoU with Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence and the Griffith University.

“Smith was aware of these facts and wanted to strengthen the bond,” said Mr. Mammen.

In March 2006, the then Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, had visited the Foundation. Mr. Mammen said, “The Aussies are passionate about cricket. In fact, if I travel to Australia and have difficulty in finding a good room, I just have to mention the word ‘Lillee’ and all doors would be opened!”

Pace guru Dennis Lillee could not be present here due to commitments in Australia and Mr. Smith made keen enquiries about his mate from Western Australia.

Mr. Smith, who had a close look at the facilities, also faced a few deliveries from Foundation head coach M. Senthilnathan and then bowled at the former South Zone cricketer.

“He has played some club cricket in Australia. He played with a straight bat,” said Senthilnathan.

He added that Mr. Smith knew his cricket.

“He spoke to me about the importance of core stability for fast bowlers, not many know about this key aspect.”

Mr. Smith also spent some time interacting with the trainees. He expected them to break into the big league but said in a lighter vein, “I hope you guys do not perform against Australia.”

Great feeling

Mr. Mammen affirmed MRF’s commitment to the Foundation. “We have had it going for 20 years now. Not many Foundations survive that long. We have been patient.

“We had to wait for nearly eight years before our first product played for the country. Now there are so many of them. It’s a great feeling to contribute to the cause of Indian cricket,” he said.

Rahul Mammen, vice-president, Planning and Development, MRF, was optimistic about the Foundation’s future.

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