Hope Jeff Thomson will help improve Mumbai pacers: Dilip Vengsarkar

Mumbai: Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) vice president Dilip Vengsarkar believes inclusion of legendary fast bowler Jeff Thomson as coach at its bowling academy will help improve the current group of young fast bowlers in the city.

Thomson is here for a month-long stint at MCA's bowling academy where young pacers from around the city will be trained by the Australian legend.

He will put in a month-long stint at the academy in May next year.

"Mumbai need some good bowlers to win matches. Mumbai over the years have produced excellent batsmen, with exceptional talent. But I believe fast bowlers help win matches. I think Jeff will definitely help our young fast bowlers with proper guidance," Vengsarkar said at the MCA-IDBI Federal Life Insurance Bowling Foundation here on Monday.

"Not only at international level but at state level too the quality of pacers should improve. I hope the inclusion of Thomson in the bowling academy as coach will b a great success," he said.

The 59-year-old former India batsman rated Thomson as the fastest pace bowler he faced in his 16-year long career.

"We have got excellent talent here in Mumbai but what we need is guidance and that’s what we hope to get from Jeff Thomson, who has been one of the greatest fast bowlers the world has seen. I played against him in my first tour of Australia in 1978. I can say he was the fastest bowler I have seen in my career,” Vengsarkar added.

MCA have selected a maximum of 30 pacers in the 19 and above age group to be part of the foundation.

The training for the young Mumbai bowlers will be held throughout the year at the Sharad Pawar Indoor Stadium, formerly known as the MCA Club at the Bandra-Kurla Complex.