Brett Lee says IPL 7 may end India's frustrating hunt for talented pacer

[sachin34357]

He might have gone unsold at the players' auction this year but retired Australian pacer Brett Lee on Wednesday, said he remains a huge fan of the Indian Premier League (IPL) and that the Twenty20 event could throw up the elusive fast-bowling talent that India desperately needs. Lee, who kept his base price at Rs 2 crore, was among the most high-profile players who went unsold at the players' auction but that has not affected his admiration for the event. "I am an immense fan of the IPL, it is improving cricket. Look, the West Indies discovered Curtly Ambrose while he was bowling in beach cricket so new talent can be found. That's where the IPL might can come in handy for the selectors. They can look at the bowlers who can bowl fast," Lee said at an event to launch travel packages for next year's World Cup slated in Australia and New Zealand. The veteran, who played for Kolkata Knight Riders last season, was candid enough to admit that at 37, he did not see himself as a player for whom the franchisees would engage in a bidding war. "I wanted to give it a crack and see how it goes but look, I am not getting any younger. At 37, I have had more comebacks than Rambo," he laughed when asked about his thoughts on going unsold. The affable pacer, however, made it clear that as a bowler he preferred ODIs over Twenty20. "I still like 50-over cricket a lot. Twenty20 and IPL can be touch and go but in 50-over cricket, you can fight back. But T20 has improved batsmen," he said. The Australian, who also unveiled the World Cup trophy here, also spoke at length about the Indian team's chances at the mega-event. The pacer felt, it would not be easy for the Indians if they don't put together a decent pace attack. "I think you have to look at the wicket you are playing at. Most teams which tour Australia want to have a strong pace attack. If India have good fast bowlers, they have a good chance of making the semifinals and finals," he said. On what the Indian team needs to do to get back in form, Lee said nothing succeeds like success. "It's funny, when you win, you breathe that confidence. It takes a lot of hard work, lot of sacrifices. It takes time. India need to get the winning habit. It can have a snowball effect. On being asked about his thoughts on India's pace attack, Lee said the primary reason for a lack of good express bowlers is the absence of supportive pitches besides the absence of role models, who can inspire youngsters. "A number of different things are there when you play in India. It is hard to run in full steam everytime over here. The conditions here are very different from the ones we play in. It is hard to bowl fast in the muggy conditions here. It hurts to bowl fast in India, it is hard. India have to prepare wickets where bowlers are encouraged to bowl fast," he explained. "India are looking for a youngster to put his hand up...Trends around the world also show that a role model is needed. When a Sachin Tendulkar started, everybody wanted to be a batsman like him. When Dennis Lillee was playing, everybody wanted to be like him," Lee said. "So, it is important to have role models, someone these youngsters can look upto, someone who can get the youngsters to run in and bowl fast," he added. On whether the Indians are playing too much cricket, Lee seemed to agree, "It's like England, they are also playing too much cricket. Over there, it's lot of county cricket. As a fast bowler, it is difficult to pull yourself back to bowl fast all the time in such a scenario."

http://sports.ndtv.com/indian-premier-league-2014/news/221614-brett-lee-says-ipl-7-may-end-indias-frustrating-hunt-for-talented-pacer

[Cricket_Hacker]

we already have bowlers who can bowl phaast

[rkt.india]

Aaron, Yadav, Shami, Shukla, Suyal, Kulkarni, Warrier, Nechim all can clock 140 plus. There is no dearth of talent but refining that talent is a big issue in India.

[G_B_]

lol rkt we get your point..... I think many pacers can clock 140 plus in t20s as the max spell people get is usually 2 overs which which they can go all out. Its maintaining that level for test cricket is where the problem is. Somebody like Kulkarni can bowl 24 140k balls in the T20s. However he will become a 135 bowler for the tests. As somebody who has played T20s at an amature level usually your pace does increase in the t20s. You try to conserve yourself in the ODIs and tests.

[G_B_]

ban rkt only joking.... or am I?

[Roshanrocks]

Aaron' date=' Yadav, Shami, Shukla, Suyal, Kulkarni, Warrier, Nechim all can clock 140 plus. There is no dearth of talent but refining that talent is a big issue in India.[/quote'] I just remembered... maybe i am confusing u with someone else.. werent u the one who claimed that u had a brilliant script for a bollywoood movie and had opened a thread for all to guess... :hmmm:

[King Tendulkar]

Sorry Breet you don't realise who our skipper is and his views on pace Vinnay and Unadkunt will spear head us for next few years

[Roshanrocks]

Sorry Breet you don't realise who our skipper is and his views on pace Vinnay and Unadkunt will spear head us for next few years

ooh I thot Ishant was the first choice

[mr.pti]

Its not about pace its about culture and mentality since India has few boys who can bowl quick but not doing well a good exmaple is Shami and others . I guess a bowler as captain can maybe help Indian team Bret Lee and others earing alot of money from India......

[sachin34357]

I just remembered... maybe i am confusing u with someone else.. werent u the one who claimed that u had a brilliant script for a bollywoood movie and had opened a thread for all to guess... :hmmm:

It has already been made in to a movie called Patiala House in which Akshay Kumar plays the role of a fast bowler.

[ThePhenomenal1]

Agreed with everything he said! The BCCI have to make the steps and inquire why the stupid captain and management dont get it. They never pick new talent in the xi unless needed. No encouragement of fast bowlers, at least kohli did some good things with them and backed them.

[yoda]

There are no talented pacers in India. They all suck.

[rkt.india]

lol rkt we get your point..... I think many pacers can clock 140 plus in t20s as the max spell people get is usually 2 overs which which they can go all out. Its maintaining that level for test cricket is where the problem is. Somebody like Kulkarni can bowl 24 140k balls in the T20s. However he will become a 135 bowler for the tests. As somebody who has played T20s at an amature level usually your pace does increase in the t20s. You try to conserve yourself in the ODIs and tests.

Agree to some extent but only who has the ability can stretch that pace even in T20. A PK won't start clocking 140 just because it is T20. If one has the ability, after that, it is all about fitness and gaining endurance to maintain the pace.

[rkt.india]

I just remembered... maybe i am confusing u with someone else.. werent u the one who claimed that u had a brilliant script for a bollywoood movie and had opened a thread for all to guess... :hmmm:

You got me. :hmmm:

[G_B_]

and i agree Lets say you add about 5% to your pace in km per hour in T20s from ODIs and Test. So somebody bowling at 135 can become a 140 plus bowler for the T20s. I have seen Dinda bowl 140 plus in T20 international for India.

[rkt.india]

and i agree Lets say you add about 5% to your pace in km per hour in T20s from ODIs and Test. So somebody bowling at 135 can become a 140 plus bowler for the T20s. I have seen Dinda bowl 140 plus in T20 international for India.

That is his optimum pace which he bowls at full effort and he lacks skills required to use that pace. 140 is not express but quick enough to trouble batsmen if you can use it with skills and that is where our bowlers struggle. They struggle to hit good areas regularly. They also try too much most times.

[I6MTW]

Indians cannot bowl. No Indian fast bowler is good enough to be world class. They all suck or will suck. Eg, Shami, BV. They cannot be economical or pick up wickets. And so called bowlers are our talent pool.

[JourneyMan]

lol rkt we get your point..... I think many pacers can clock 140 plus in t20s as the max spell people get is usually 2 overs which which they can go all out. Its maintaining that level for test cricket is where the problem is. Somebody like Kulkarni can bowl 24 140k balls in the T20s. However he will become a 135 bowler for the tests. As somebody who has played T20s at an amature level usually your pace does increase in the t20s. You try to conserve yourself in the ODIs and tests.

Exactly. People seem to focus too much on occasional speeds that may have been reached on the odd delivery. The question is, what pace can they bowl at if they have to bowl 20-30 overs on a hot day in Australia.

[IndianRenegade]

"I am an immense fan of the IPL, it is improving cricket. Look, the West Indies discovered Curtly Ambrose while he was bowling in beach cricket so new talent can be found. That's where the IPL might can come in handy for the selectors. They can look at the bowlers who can bowl fast," Lee said at an event to launch travel packages for next year's World Cup slated in Australia and New Zealand.

One everyone is not a Curly Ambrose. Also, I am not sure if IPL is the right place to scout for our bowling attack. there are pros and cons. Pros: 1. We have domestic bowlers who are fairly quick and are among the wicket, but the don't bowl to Quality batsman at domestic level. In IPL we can see hem in action against the best. 2. T20 is a pressure game and like bowling in the death from ball one, so we can get to see how bowlers react to he death bowling situations. Cons: 1. Batsman are trying to score runs all the time, even against good balls.. there are more chances hat they play a bad shot and get out. So the wickets column is not an indicator of how well someone has bowled. 2. You just bowl four overs, probably in two spells. In ODI or tests, the batsman will simply see off your initial overs and may go after you...

[vvvslaxman]

Is there an exchange mela going to happen in IPL 7? Exchange of fast bowlers between India and Australia. First exchange captains can come up with their own player and opposition player We exchange Umesh Yadav for Dan christian