FAST bowling legend Dennis Lillee demanded speed from his young charges when he put on a coaching clinic at Moree this week.
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“When I was coach and I called in my players for a talk, they gathered within in three minutes or they didn’t play on Saturday,” Lillee said.
Not that the bowler with 355 test scalps to his name needed to fight for the attention of the few dozen school boys fortunate enough to attend Tuesday’s clinic.
For 90 minutes, the young quicks had their techniques picked apart by the man who mentored Mitchell Johnson.
“It’s way too early to have any idea if these boys will play for Australia, but there was half a dozen who had genuine talent for their age,” Lillee told the Champion afterwards.
“How far they go depends on the individual.” Among his advice, Lillee told the boys to keep their run-ups straight and uncomplicated, and to grip the ball loosely.
“If I had to give them one piece of advice I would tell them that bowling fast is not going to be easy, so prepare your body for it,” he said.
“That means lots of endurance and strength work, focused on core strength.
“Don’t worry about the biceps because that’s not going to help at all.”
Lillee’s own career almost ended prematurely due to stress fractures in his back in 1972-73, before he formed his legendary combination with tearaway quick Jeff Thompson.
“Also, perfect practise makes perfect,” Lillee said.
“Not just practise, you need to be doing everything to the best of your ability and never give up.”