Can't have 1.3 billion people and not one who can't bowl 150: Brett Lee

Speak about pace, the name of the former Australian fast bowling great, Brett Lee will rush in every cricket fan’s mind. The Indian team has never had the luxuries of an express pacer and Lee blames it on the Indian pitches as one of the reasons why India lack quality fast bowlers.

He feels that the bowlers need to be encouraged to run in and bowl quick. He also lashed out the Australian wickets, which are benign nowadays.

“The other reason could be the wickets… you got to encourage fast bowlers to run in and bowl quick. I want to find India’s next fast bowler and I believe that the youngsters here can bowl 150 kph. You can’t have 1.3 billion people and not a bowler who can’t bowl 150 km,” Lee said during an interaction.

“I am disappointed that Australian wickets are benign nowadays, look at WACA. Reverse swing will be the key undoubtedly in the upcoming season,” he added.

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Lee feels that the bowlers are not training correctly as a lot of emphasis and there is too much importance only on guys lifting heavy weights, whereas more focus should be on the intent. “I just think that we have to keep promoting wickets where bowlers can bowl quick. I don’t think bowlers are training correctly, there is a lot of emphasis and too much importance only on guys lifting heavy weights. Gym work is good only if it’s done correctly, it has to be high on intensity and low on weights,” he felt.

Lee also doesn’t believe in resting fast bowlers for long as he said that the bowlers need to keep on bowling. “I don’t see guys doing the right kind of training, finding the right people. It’s a lot of hard work and it takes a lot on the body and mind. I don’t support resting fast bowlers for long. To be a good fast bowler, one has to keep bowling and not rest.”

Virat Kohli is a great leader:

The 39-year old praised the Indian seamers considering the kind of surfaces they bowl on. “Ishant has been incredible considering that he bowls a lot on these conditions. Look at the great Kapil Dev who has picked 434 wickets. (Mohammad) Shami has been bowling well, Bumrah has got a different action and if he is allowed to bowl the way he wants he will be good, and Bhuvneshwar can get it to reverse.”

Also read – Ishant should get to bowl substantial number of overs, feels Harbhajan Singh

India is heading towards a long Test season and Lee praised the Indian skipper terming Virat as a great leader. “It will be an amazing contest. It will be a test of character and strength to play 13 Tests for Indian cricketers. India can achieve greatness, Virat Kohli will change the structure of the team, he will rub off his qualities on his colleagues. It’s a well-balanced team. Kohli is a great leader, the team respects him.” He concluded.