Next gen stretch bodies, minds

Australia’s next generation of elite cricketers have been forced to sweat it out while visiting the Glenn McGrath-directed MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai.

Under the expert tutelage of yoga master Gopee, young guns Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Simon Mackin, Sam Rainbird, Mark Steketee and Ashton Turner were put through their paces in an exhaustive session of stretching and strength exercises.

“Our yoga teacher we have over here, Gopee, is exceptional,” McGrath told cricket.com.au.

“He’s so flexible and some of the positions he gets into are really impressive.

“Talking to the boys they said they really enjoyed it.

“But it was pretty tough.”

Big Western Australian quick Mackin was particularly surprised by the intensity of the workout saying, “our plan of a relaxing hour of stretching was soon erased”.

It wasn’t all hard work for the upstart brigade however, with relaxation and meditation also playing a large role in the classes.

“The session enabled us to experience a side of yoga we’d never come across before,” Mackin said.

“And will continue to help us in developing the mindfulness and meditation skills we’ve been working on at the NCC in Brisbane.”

Co-founded by Dennis Lillee in 1987, the MRF Pace Foundation trains aspiring fast bowlers from India and abroad with an eye to building well-rounded international cricketers.