Aaqib Javed: “If you look at him in ODIs, in his first spell, he bowls around 150 kph, but by the 7th or 8th over, the speed drops to 138 kph”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former Pakistan pace bowler Aaqib Javed said India seamer Umran Malik isn’t able to maintain his bowling speed in ODIs as it starts off at 150 kph and drops to 138 kph in the seventh or eighth over.
He noted that this is what separates the pace sensation from Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf, who is one of Pakistan’s quickest bowlers right now.
“If you look at him in ODIs, in his first spell, he bowls around 150 kph, but by the 7th or 8th over, the speed drops to 138 kph,” the Lahore Qalandars head coach was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan.
Malik has played in eight ODIs so far and taken 13 wickets at an average of 27.30.
The 23-year-old has also featured in eight T20Is and picked up 11 wickets at an average of 22.09.
Of course Aaqib is one of the best fast bowling coaches, his opinion matters the most. In my humble opinion as a sports Physiology person, Umran’s technique is improving every day. His speed might stabilize at around 142 km/hour average. He is putting extra effort, however his energy stores at the moment are not enough for longer spells or back to back matches. He must be advised to workout under proper trainers and avoid injury. Pushing him to give results will expose him to injuries like Shaheen Shah Afridi.