Mark Footitt and Adam Harrison, two of England's most promising fast bowling prospects, are being sent to India by the England and Wales Cricket Board later this month for expert coaching under the eye of former Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee.

The 16-year-old pair, who both played for England Under 15s last season, will travel to the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai for two weeks' tuition. They will be accompanied by ECB National Coach and former Nottinghamshire fast bowler Andy Pick. They leave on Wednesday, 23rd January and return home on Sunday 9th February.

Footitt, from Nottinghamshire, is a quick left-arm bowler. He attended his first training sessions at Trent Bridge at the age of eight and has played in Nottinghamshire representative teams from the Under 11s onwards. He bats right-handed.

Adam Harrison, from Glamorgan, was awarded the 2001 Test Match Special Young Cricketer of the Year Award, having opened the bowling for England Under 15 against Denmark Under 17 and Ireland Under 17 last summer. A right-arm medium fast bowler and middle-order right-handed batsman, his brother, David, is on the staff at Glamorgan CCC.

Andy Pick, who oversees the development of England's young fast bowlers in his capacity as one of seven ECB National Coaches, said, "This is a wonderful opportunity for these two youngsters. They both have genuine fast bowling talent and they are bound to benefit from someone of Dennis Lillee's calibre. At the ECB, we try to identify the most promising young players as early as possible and give them the best coaching available in order to help them realise their potential. And these two bowlers undoubtedly have great potential."

This is the second time that the ECB has taken young fast bowlers to the MRF Pace Academy. Last year Gary Ramsden from Yorkshire and David Harrison, Adam's brother, from Glamorgan were chosen.

© CricInfo