• Home
  • Cricket News
  • Id Pencil Him In For That Test Match Against England In July Kevin Pietersen On Umran Malik

'I’d pencil him in for that Test match against England in July' - Kevin Pietersen on Umran Malik

Onecricket

Former England cricketer-turned pundit Kevin Pietersen, has urged the Indian selectors to pick young tear away pacer Umran Malik for the 5th and final Test against England.


Malik has turned heads with his searing pace in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Sunrisers Hyderabad speedster recently bowled the second fastest ball in the history of IPL (157 kmph).


The right-arm pacer from Jammu is consistently clocking in excess of 150 kmph and regularly clattering batters' stumps. In 10 games, Malik has claimed 15 wickets at an average of 22 and an economy rate of 8.92, including a five-wicket haul against the Gujarat Titans, the table toppers.


The young pacer has attracted glowing praise from the likes of Dale Steyn, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bishop, and many other former cricketers. So much so that people have been calling for his inclusion in the Indian Test team.


In his column for Betway, KP heaped high praise on Umran besides urging the Indian selectors to "let him rip" in Test cricket. The former cricketer thinks India should use Umran much like Australia used Mitchel Johnson.


"There are so many exciting young Indian pace bowlers in the IPL at the moment. Of the overseas players, only Lockie Ferguson and Alzarri Joseph are matching them for pace. Kartik Tyagi and Mohsin Khan are both rapid, but the one that's most exciting is Umran Malik. He bowled a 157kph delivery against Delhi on Thursday, which is serious pace," Pietersen wrote.


"You could use him like Australia used to use Mitchell Johnson, in short three or four-over spells so that he can just let rip. If I was an India selector, I'd pencil him in for that Test match against England in July,"


He also took a subtle dig at county cricket when he wrote that Malik's pace could take England batters by surprise as they'd be fresh off facing medium pacers in the championship.


"The England batters are currently facing 70mph seamers in county cricket, so they certainly won't want to be facing 90-95mph bowling all of a sudden," he stated.


India will take on England in the final Test of the Pataudi Trophy at Edgbaston from July 01-05. The series currently stands 2-1 in favour of the visitors.

Discover more

Top Stories
news

'It's too soon to talk about a Test comeback': Mohammad Amir remarks

After a long absence from the game, former Pakistan international Mohammad Amir returned to the field, taking three wickets in his second game for Gloucestershire in the ongoing season of County Championship. On Thursday, Amir picked up his first wicket of the season after signing up with Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in England as a replacement for Naseem Shah. With Amir, still only 30, playing white-ball cricket worldwide, the inevitable question arises - Is it worth thinking if he would consider coming out of retirement? Amir told the ECB Reporters Network in Southampton that he was enjoying his game for Gloucestershire. "It is too early to talk about a Test return. You never know and things can be changed but for now, I'm enjoying playing for Gloucestershire," he said. "I am playing after three years and so it is not easy as a fast bowler. I didn't play any first-class cricket in the last four years but I am getting better after the first game and just trying to help the boys and do well for them. As a bowler, it is my duty to bowl well and lead from the front, so that is what I'm trying to do," Amir continued. In his prime, Amir was a thrilling exponent of swing bowling, renowned for his ability to bring the ball back into right-handers. Even after the novelty wore off, opponents were wary of his potential to surprise with the amount of movement generated. After the spot-fixing scandal, Amir was out of the game for five years, and when he returned, Amir was a completely different bowler. One who acted as a holder, focusing on line and length. After announcing his retirement from international cricket in 2021, Amir is currently focussing on T20 leagues all over the world. The hero from Pakistan's Champions Trophy final win in 2017 has 259 international wickets to his name, across all formats. "After recovering from the side strain in the PSL, I was training and feeling so good and thought why not give a chance to red-ball cricket. I think I am getting better and on the right path now. I am enjoying red-ball cricket. For now, I'm only here for three games and afterwards, I'm planning on going to the CPL," Amir concluded by talking about his recovery.