Reid has session with Indian pacemen

With their confidence severely dented after the hammering from Queensland Academy of Sports in the second tour game, India's pace battery received "much needed help" with former Australia fast bowler Bruce Reid joining the squad.

The 40-year-old, who has been appointed bowling coach for the four-Test series against Australia, had a session with the pacemen before spending more time with left-arm seamers Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan.

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India coach John Wright looked particularly happy about his bowlers getting assistance from one of the best left arm seamers who had also helped Zimbabwe during their recent tour of Australia.

"Bruce was highly recommended to us. It was a good opportunity for us to use his vast experience," Wright said.

"Bruce has vast experience of bowling in Australia and he knows what is the correct length to bowl to.

"Our attack is young and most of them only have a couple of years under their belt. We hope he would help them out with advice which would be useful for the Test series," added Wright.

"But then there is one thing to explain and another to execute it well."

The Australians too regard the Indian team's move to appoint Reid as the bowling coach as an important one, with opener Justin Langer suggesting that the towering left-hander could help Indian bowlers to step up their performance on the current tour.

"We are happy he [Reid] is not bowling for India. India has got three left-arm medium-pacers and he is an excellent coach. I know young players respond well to him. I am sure he would be beneficial to the Indians," said Langer.

Former off-spinner and manager of the Indian team Shivlal Yadav also expressed happiness with Reid's first day in office.

"He certainly looks the man who knows his job. It's too early to say how useful he would turn out to be as he has only joined the team today and attended just one session. But we are hopeful his association would prove fruitful for us," said Yadav.

Reid, who gave nothing away through a nagging line during his playing days, took 113 wickets from 27 matches at an impressive average of 24.63.