T20 king to mentor Aussie spinners

West Indian legspinner Samuel Badree, the world's No.1 ranked T20 bowler, will mentor Australia's best young spinners at a camp in Brisbane next month.

Badree, 34, will join an elite group of coaches and consultants at the camp, which will be led by Bupa Support Team Spin Bowling Coach John Davison.

Former Test players Ashley Mallett, Ray Bright and Tom Hogan will also work with Australia's young spinners at the camp at the Bupa National Cricket Centre from May 11-15.

Twenty-four of the best young slow bowlers in Australia, including Queensland's Cameron Boyce and Tasmania's Clive Rose, have been selected for the camp by Davison and Bupa NCC Head Coach Troy Cooley in consultation with National Selector Rod Marsh and state officials.

Cricket Australia's decision to enlist the services of Badree comes after they used legendary spinners Shane Warne and Muthiah Muralidaran as Spin Bowling Consultants last year.

"The knowledge and experience that Sammy Badree can share with our young spinners will be a quality extension to previous programs," said CA’s Executive General Manager of Team Performance Pat Howard.

"The spin camp looks to extend the work being done in States and to challenge players on different ways to assess the game and grow personally.  

"We’re delighted to have Sammy join John Davison and some of the country’s best young spinners for the week, and to build on the expertise Shane Warne and Muthiah Muralidaran have brought to our spin program in the last two seasons."

Davison led a spin camp at the Bupa NCC last year, which included Nathan Lyon, Ashton Agar, James Muirhead, Adam Zampa, Boyce and Rose.

Evergreen spinner Brad Hogg was enlisted as a consultant, while former Test opener Matthew Hayden also mentored the young bowlers. 

Badree, who has taken 31 wickets in 22 T20s for the West Indies, is a late bloomer to top-level cricket having made his first-class debut in 2001-02.

Image Id: ~/media/1B3887DBC00842C4AEA6F5C266E9DB62

Badree in action for the West Indies // Getty

He has vast experience in both the Indian Premier League and Caribbean Premier League, and was set to join Brisbane Heat for the KFC T20 Big Bash League last summer before he was ruled out with a shoulder problem.

The injury has prevented him from playing since October.

"I am looking forward to being involved in this program to share my experiences and philosophies with the young spinners of Australia and hopefully impart something to them that would make them better players," Badree said.

"It's my first visit to Australia as well and I look forward to the experience.

"My greatest success has been in the shorter versions of the game so I hope to impart knowledge based on that, the importance of control when bowling, adapting to different conditions and taking wickets through guile is crucial.

"I look forward to being part of the spin week and sharing reasons for success, the pressures of the international game, various T20 leagues and being the Number 1 T20 bowler in the world."

Following the spin camp, Badree will spend an additional week at the Bupa NCC with the National Performance Squad.

Spin Bowling Camp, May 11-15

Bowlers
Riley Ayre (ACT/NSW Country), William Bosito (WA), Cameron Boyce (QLD), Michael Cormack (SA), Daniel Fallins (NSW), Jason Floros (QLD), Kyle Gardiner (WA), Sam Grimwade (VIC), Brandon King (NT), Matthew Kuhnemann (QLD), Joel Logan (SA), Alex Melville (NSW), Dylan Mullen (NT), Arjun Nair (NSW), Liam O'Connor (WA), Blake Parsons (VIC), Akash Patel (SA), Jonte Pattison (ACT/NSW Country), Clive Rose (TAS), Matthew Short (VIC), Mitchell Swepson (QLD), Ben Taylor (ACT/NSW Country), Beau Webster (TAS), Mac Wright (ACT/NSW Country)

Coaches
John Davison (Head Coach), Ashley Mallett (Consultant coach), Samuel Badree, Ray Bright, Tom Hogan, Rob Cassell, Anthony Clark, Phil Lovell, Richard Allanby