Australian Univ offers Phd scholarship to discover Lees

Sydney, Apr 15 (UNI) Although defending champions is perhaps the last cricket-playing nation of all to need such an initiative, an Australian university is offering a PhD research scholarship in fast bowling to help discover the next Lees and McGraths.

The university -- Queensland University of Technology will offer 100,000 dollars to the successful applicant to study what makes a great fast bowler.

While applications came pouring in from India, Pakistan, Britain, New Zealand, Ireland, the Netherlands, and even the US, but not a single application came from Australia, according to Prof Keith Davids, head of QUT's human movement studies.

''We're looking at expert fast bowlers now, and also talking to them about how they came through the pathways to reach that elite level,'' Prof Davids said.

''We want to see if there are any lessons that can be learnt which would benefit the developing players who will be Australia's fast bowlers of the future,''he added.

QUT's PhD scholarship in Cricket Fast Bowling Expertise is being offered by the university, Cricket Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport.

UNI