As India look to bounce back in the third ODI against Australia, former Aussie pacer Brett Lee has suggested a change in the playing eleven for the hosts.
The Men in Blue will be desperate to get back to winning ways after suffering a humiliating ten-wicket loss against Australia in the second ODI in Visakhapatnam. Everything went wrong for Rohit Sharma and Co. as Australia registered a thumping series-levelling win.
Asked to bat, India were bowled out for a paltry total of 117, their lowest ODI total against Australia at home. Mitchell Starc starred with the ball for the visitors with a 5-wicket haul. India’s bowler could not do much either as Australia chased down the total in just 11 overs without losing any wicket.
Brett Lee’s suggestion:
With India looking to bounce back from the heavy defeat, Brett Lee has called for the inclusion of fast-bowler Umran Malik in the playing XI. India pacers did well in the first ODI where Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami picked up 3 wickets each to help the hosts bowl out Australia for just 188.
In the second ODI, however, they could not pick up any wicket although there were not too many runs for them to defend or put pressure on the tourists. And while Shami and Siraj are likely to retain their place in the team, Brett Lee believes Malik should be given a chance.
“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 at the start but he should have been there,” Brett Lee said on Sports Tak.
“He would have been the first pick in my team because raw pace is very hard 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,” Lee added.
