MRF-Pace Foundation

MRF Pace Foundation is a coaching clinic for training fast bowlers from all over the world. Based in Chennai, it was founded in 1987 by MRF Limited, with the help of former Australian pace spearhead Dennis Lillee. Through this program, young aspiring fast bowlers are trained in a facility located at the campus of Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School.

The MRF Pace Foundation conducted its first selection camp in 1987, in which aspirants from all over the country turned up for selections. One of the aspirants to attend this selection camp was Sachin Tendulkar.

Fast bowlers who have trained with the MRF Pace Foundation and gone on to represent India include Vivek Razdan, Javagal Srinath, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Venkatesh Prasad, RP Singh, Zaheer Khan and Shanthakumaran Sreesanth. Besides Indian players, foreign players like Chaminda Vaas, Henry Olonga, Heath Streak and Australian fast bowlers Glenn McGrath, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee have also trained at the Foundation.

Sachin Tendulkar in his school days trained in the MRF Pace Foundation to become a fast bowler. Glenn McGrath was appointed director of the Foundation on September 2, 2012, replacing Dennis Lillee, who has held the post since its inception in 1987. The MRF Pace Foundation sponsored a blimp which was flown over every match, during the 2010 Indian Premier League (IPL).