Lee emphasizes the importance of mastering this crucial delivery, especially in the current cricketing landscape where high scores are becoming increasingly common.
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“On a general rule, other than Bumrah, we haven’t seen enough fast bowlers nailing their yorkers recently.I want to see fast bowlers bowl more yorkers. I still don’t reckon they execute enough yorkers at the death,” Lee said at the launch of the Legends Intercontinental T20 league recently.
Lee points out that yorkers have consistently proven to be economical in the IPL, with an average strike rate of less than 100. However, he acknowledges the challenges posed by innovative batsmen who can scoop the ball over the head.
“I’m all for batters smoking the ball all over, but there has got to be something for the bowlers too. I’m not asking for a green top, where teams bowled out for 110, because that’s not good for cricket either,” added the former Australia international.
“You want a good total, I think. Anywhere around that 185 mark to 230 is a good score. We’ve seen scores now of 265, 270, 277. It’s really hard because most bowlers now are going for 45 to 50 off their four overs,” he added.
Regarding Australia’s T20 World Cup squad, Lee believes that David Warner has earned the right to retire on his own terms.
“David Warner has earned that right to go out on his own terms. And if things don’t happen for whatever reason, then he’s (McGurk) definitely there to take part,” Lee said.
Despite the impressive performance of young batter Jake Fraser-McGurk in the IPL, the selectors have opted for the experienced Warner, Travis Head, and Mitchell Marsh in the top order. McGurk, however, has been named as a traveling reserve.
Lee advised McGurk, who is only 22 years old, to be patient and not rush his career, saying, “I think if you go over there as a reserve batsman, you definitely have a chance to get an opportunity. That happened this year with the Delhi Capitals, he wasn’t even picked in the squad. Ricky Ponting rang him up late night and said come in and had a few injuries. So right time, right place. But the advice to him, and he articulated it beautifully to say that he’s only 22 years of age (araam se araam se). He’s got time. There’s no point rushing it.”
(Inputs from PTI)
