Emergence of bowlers like Basil Thampi to help India in the long run: McGrath

AUSSIE LEGEND Glenn McGrath has reckoned that the emergence of bowlers like Basil Thampi is only going to help the Indian team in the long run. 

McGrath, who was speaking at a function to mark the silver jubilee of the association between MRF Pace Foundation and Cricket Australia, mentioned,

“The Indian attack has very good bowlers now and the emergence of names like Basil Thampi and a few others is only going to help the team in the long run.”

Thampi featured in 12 matches for the Gujarat Lions and picked 11 wickets in them at an economy rate of 9.5. He was adjudged as the 'Emerging player of the year' for this year's IPL.

The BCCI has picked bowlers like Thampi, Ankit Rajpoot and Aniket Choudhary in the India A squad that is set to tour South Africa. McGrath stated that Thampi delivered an impressive performance in IPL-10 and that he learnt a lot at the Pace Foundation’s Academy.

“He (Thampi) has come on very well. His performances in IPL this year won him the emerging player award and he has learnt a lot at the academy.”

Speaking about his own role as a director of the Pace Foundation, the 47-year-old said,

“It is delightful to know I made it to the foundation as a trainee in the first batch of the programme. Life has come full circle, where today I am still with the foundation, not as a trainee but as its director. It is a great feeling. Also, the Academy has been at the forefront of honing skills of young fast bowlers making them ready to play for India.”

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