Pace legend Dennis Lillee today said Indian fast bowlers "have to
mature" and become more "safe and stable" if they are to match
the Australians.
Drawing comparison with the Aussies and the English bowlers, Lillee said Indians
were lacking in maturity.
"The Australian and English fast bowlers are pretty safe,
stable and more established in their sides," Lillee said during his visit
to the MRF Pace Foundation here.
"Maybe they are lot matured being older in age compared to the present
Indian lot. The Indians are competing against each other for their positions
too. They are quite young when compared to other teams," he explained.
Citing the example of Brett Lee, Lillee said the Aussie
pacer showed tremendous grit to overcome poor form and nagging injuries to become
the spearhead of the attack.
"It took some time for him to be regular in the team.
He was 12th man for a lot of time and injury problems also kept him out. The
Indian attack, apart from Zaheer (Khan), is very young. It takes time to mature
as well," Lillee said.
Lillee said selectors have every right to drop players who
do not perform.
"I guess it is because of lack of performance. If they
are not performing well both in wicket-taking abilities or economy, the selectors
are within their right to drop them." Irfan Pathan and Munaf Patel
are presently training under Lillee at the academy and the former
pacer said the former still had it in him to become an all-rounder for the team.
Lillee also cautioned S Sreesanth against trying too many things
and should focus on line and length.
"We do not want him to be trying too much," Lillee
said.
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