Brett Lee and Umran Malik. (Reuters) Former Australia speedster Brett Lee has called for the inclusion of tearaway pacer Umran Malik in the playing XI of India vs. Australia 3rd ODI match.
Stating that raw pace is a rare skill and difficult to ‘harness,’ Lee praised Malik and added that he should also be given a chance in Test cricket.
“I like him. Get him in. Why not? (Inclusion in Test cricket). I said he should have played the World Cup last year in Australia.”
“Didn’t take him initially, but he should have been there. He would have been the first pick in my team because the raw pace is tough to harness.”
“You got to look after them, but you’ve also got to throw him in the deep end at some time. Get him out there, allow him to play, and let him scare a few batters around the world,” Brett Lee said on Sports Tak.
Earlier, Australian pacer Mitchell Starc ripped through India’s lineup with five wickets to lay the platform for a crushing 10-wicket win in the second one-day international in Visakhapatnam on Sunday that levelled their three-match series at 1-1.
Chasing 118 to win after Starc claimed 5-53 for his ninth five-wicket haul in ODIs in a fiery spell earlier in the day, Australia romped home in only 11 overs to set up a thrilling finale in Chennai on Wednesday.
A ferocious Mitchell Marsh cracked an unbeaten 66 in 36 balls — a knock that included six sixes — while Travis Head made 51 not out to get the tourists over the finish line.
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