‘Pacer’s psychology is like The Rock’

You  walk into Len Pascoe’s plush beach-side house in Sydney’s Oyster Bay and the first thing he does is show you a video of him knocking down Sandeep Patil with a bouncer at the SCG. He’s in his home office, and surrounded by a number of laptops. No place for a former fast bowler who in his time was considered an avenging angel with ball in hand. Though he played only 14 Tests, Pascoe was considered the meanest of the triumvirate that also starred Dennis Lilllee and Jeff Thomson. Since retiring, the 64-year-old has turned into an entertainment magnate, running his own website which offers performers and celebrities including magicians, musicians, cover bands, hypnotists and former cricketers.  The list also includes an upcoming soprano, who was mentored by Pascoe, the same man who coached Glenn McGrath in his early days. Here he speaks about growing up with Thommo, a fast bowlers’ trauma of hitting a batsman, his unique take on sledging and the importance of familial background in the making of a fast bowler. Excerpts:

Didn’t just want batsman to be scared, also those in dressing room

All the coaches and everybody they miss the point. The psychology of a fast bowler is like World Championship Wrestling. Like The Rock. He’s my hero. You see, a fast bowler what he’s got to do is to create an image to the batsman but he’s got to stay focused on his plan.

Try and convince him that you’re something that you’re not and then you can be who you want to be. It’s a mask. So you come in roaring, “I am going to bowl bouncers. I’m going to be in his face, growl and snarl.” It’s all just WWE. But all the time, you’re thinking “On the seam, on off-stump. Little bit here, little bit there.” As soon as you got comfortable, in comes the wrestler again.

I couldn’t see myself in an office 9-5. I was too free-spirited. I said, I wanted a house. I wanted a weekender., I wanted to get married. How was I going to get there? And the only way I could get it was by being a fast bowler. And the person stopping me was the guy 22 yards away. But I didn’t hate him. But the more I got rid of them, the closer I got to everything I wanted out of life.

You look at the base of off-stump. Your main man’s at mid-off or mid-on, helping you play with the batsman’s footwork. I don’t want him comfortable in any one position.

I smelt fear. I just didn’t want that bloke to be scared. I wanted the guys in the dressing-room to be scared. If you got him scared that’s it. Often when I took wickets, I would get them in batches. You are young and your ego gets the better of you. The bravado. You run around in fast cars. You are getting girlfriends. Your testosterone is running high.

As subtle as a sledgehammer

A sledge is no more than continued…

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