Mitchell says that it is an honour to talk to McGrath during a spell while Watson can’t forget how he was asked to change length when the West Indian openers were going for big hits even as Stuart Clark mentions about the highly informative bowling meeting and the training sessions.

For the other two teams in the tournament, expert advice to young pacers is lacking as they struggle to land in the right areas. Brian Lara says, “The likes of Taylor, Edwards and even Bradshaw need to get the ball at the right areas. And that’s what we’ve been practising at the nets. The most important area is that we have been very inconsistent in the match.’’

Dravid too has stressed how at times they are not able to execute their plans since the pacers have lacked the consistency to pitch in the right area. Ask vice-captain Ramnaresh Sarwan the reason behind the success of Aussies pacers as compared to the struggle of those from India and the West Indies. “Australia have been playing a lot of first class cricket. They are definitely well trained than pacers from India and the West Indies,’’ he says.

One gets to know about this “better trained’’ aspect as Johnson gives out the secret behind his swing the other evening. “Working with bowling coach Troy Cooley has really helped. My fingers are now more behind the ball and the swing is prominent,’’ he says.

The bowlers from India and the West Indies don’t have the luxury of a bowling coach or a stalwart around them. And that’s the reason Munaf needs to get “distance education” from McGrath while just a few days ago young Jamaican pacers Jermaine Lawson and Andrew Richardson travelled to Chennai to train under Dennis Lillee.