ugc_banner

Tougher for bowlers to regain full pace post lockdown: Brett Lee

WION Web Team
New Delhi, IndiaUpdated: May 27, 2020, 02:51 PM IST
main img
Photograph:(AFP)

Story highlights

Former Australia pacer Brett Lee is of the view that it will be tougher for bowlers to regain the lost rhythm after cricket resumes post lockdown while adding they will need at least eight weeks to get back to optimum fitness for any format of the gentlemen’s game.

Former Australia pacer Brett Lee is of the view that it will be tougher for bowlers to regain the lost rhythm after cricket resumes post lockdown while adding they will need at least eight weeks to get back to optimum fitness for any format of the gentlemen’s game.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has recommended a minimum preparation period off eight to 12 weeks for Test bowlers, six weeks for ODIs and five weeks for T20s as cricket gears up to come back to life.

When asked on ‘Cricket Connected’ about the preparation phase for players after the lockdown, Lee, who has played 76 Tests and 221 ODIs for Australia, said that bowlers require six to eight weeks to regain the full pace again after a prolonged break.

"I think it's hard on both batsmen and bowlers."

"Probably takes a bit longer for a bowler to try to find that form, because its normally a six to eight-week period where you get upto full pace again," Lee said.

"Playing one-day cricket or Test cricket, a good eight weeks of leading and bowling at full pace to get into that match fitness. So, it will be a bit tougher for the bowlers," added the pacer.

Earlier on May 21, England’s Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes were among the first ones to have resumed individual training. Whereas, West Indies have also returned to training in a bid to regain their fitness for the three-match Test series against England. 

In India, Shardul Thakur was the first BCCI contracted player to resume training on Saturday following a two-month break due to strict lockdown measures in India to curb the spread of COVID-19.