The Australian legend said that the youngster should just focus on bowling fast.
The admirers of the 22-year-old Umran Malik seem to grow with every match that he plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The former Australian speedster Brett Lee is the newest addition to the list of admirers, admitting that he enjoys the youngster's raw pace, while stating that all he wants is for Malik to bowl as fast as he can.
Lee, who was one of the quickest bowlers of his generation, noted that the 22-year-old's ability to produce such an express pace demonstrates his innate talent.
"That is real quick, trust me. I know what it is like to bowl over 150kph. It hurts. This guy is a gun. He has pushed that speed gun's needle right up to the 160kph mark," Brett said on his YouTube channel.
"For me, it is all about the approach. When you look at an aeroplane takeoff, what do you see first and foremost. It is the approach, the build-up of speed and then it takes off. That is what makes a good fast bowler. The approach, you see him about 35m away from the batter. He gets going, pumps the arms and legs, runs in like a sprinter, and then delivers that ball at a fearful pace. That is what I love about him," he said.
The young pacer recently produced a match-winning spell for his IPL franchise against Mumbai Indians (MI), taking 3 wickets while giving away just 23 in 3 overs. He has 21 wickets in 13 matches thus far and in this process broke Jasprit Bumrah's record to become the youngest Indian to take 20 IPL wickets in a season. The 45-year-old said that the SRH pacer should just run in and bowl as fast as he can.
"Yes, he has been expensive in a few matches but he is only 22 years of age. So I am not worried about that. My advice to Umran right now is to just run in and bowl as fast as you can. Yes, the action is perfect, I wouldn't change it. I think he has got some more speed up his sleeve. One thing you cannot take away from this young fellow is his raw pace. People die to bowl over 140kph, this guy does it easily. If I were to meet Umran, what would I tell him? I would just tell him to keep doing what he does. Enjoy bowling fast. You can see the look on his face, the passion, and the raw love he has for bowling fast.” the cricketer turned commentator added.
"The reason why it is so exciting is that it is so hard to do. It is such a natural talent. I have not met this guy yet but I promise you that at school, he was a fast runner," Brett said.
With the win over MI, the Sunrisers have kept their hopes alive of reaching the playoffs. They will next take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Sunday (May 22) in their last league encounter at the Wankhede Stadium.
(HT INPUTS)