West Indies' batting legend Brian Lara has a critical piece of advice for the young sensation Umran Malik. He believes relying solely on tearaway pace won't suffice at the highest echelons of the sport. Drawing from the evolution of the world's greatest pacers, Lara emphasizes the importance of adopting a multi-dimensional approach to bowling.
Having mentored Umran at SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) for two seasons, Lara has witnessed his growth in the Indian Premier League first-hand. Making his IPL debut in 2021, Umran's 2022 performance for SRH stood out as he claimed 22 wickets in 14 matches, using his raw pace to overwhelm the opposition.
However, Malik's journey in ODIs has been rocky, marked by inconsistent performances. While he shined against teams like Sri Lanka, his recent showing against the West Indies left cricket aficionados worried about his form in one-day internationals.
Speaking on the YouTube show 'Wake Up With Sorabh', Lara said, "He will be a sensation, but very quickly he will have to learn that fast bowling really does not trouble the best players in the world. You have to have the ability to do something with the ball, be sensible, and maybe understand times when you have to trickle back or understand the times when you have to up the tempo. He is very young and has got a lot of years ahead of him."
T20 Performance and the Steyn Influence
In the T20 format, while Malik has managed to secure 11 wickets in eight matches, his economy rate of 10.48 rings alarm bells.
Yet, Malik remains optimistic, particularly due to the mentorship of another cricket great, Dale Steyn, SRH's bowling coach. Malik often attributes his success to Steyn's invaluable insights. Their bond is evident, with Steyn frequently seen cheering for Malik from the sidelines.
Highlighting the historical precedent, Lara stated, "We have had so many different examples. Wasim Akram was raw pace, Malcolm Marshall had destructive pace, and Michael Holding. But they all know that at some point in time, they have had to come up with a lot more tricks than just being able to bowl fast. If he (Umran Malik) works with Dale Steyn, he could definitely be one of the best India could produce."
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