Speedster Umran Malik should play in Test cricket as well rather than only appearing in white-ball matches, according to cricketer-turned-broadcaster Sanjay Manjrekar. Notably, the West Indies will play India in a multi-format series that will include two Test matches, three ODIs, and five T20Is, starting on Wednesday, July 12.
With this, a group of India’s peripheral players will try to make significant contributions with the bat and the ball, and Umran Malik is one of them. The bowler will be out to make a statement on the upcoming tour of the West Indies because he has been denied too many chances to play for his country. Unsurprisingly, Umran was left out of the red-ball lineup but was selected for the ODI and T20I teams for the tour.
Umran Malik should be playing in the longest format instead, according to former cricketer Manjrekar, who also expressed his opinion on the matter. Manjrekar also mentioned the comeback of England quick Mark Wood and his contribution to the third Ashes Test.
“If you have to choose Umran (Malik), I think you should give him a chance in Test cricket because, as we saw when Mark Wood played the most recent Ashes Test, his specialty is that the tail-enders don’t stay against him for long,” Manjrekar said to News24 Sports.
In particular, Mark Wood distinguished himself for the English team by repeatedly hitting the ground at speeds exceeding 90 mph and accumulating a match total of seven wickets against the Australians in the Headingley Test.
He’ll add an extra element to our bowling. Mr. Sanjay Manjrekar
The 23-year-old J&K pacer has played in eight T20Is and as many ODIs, taking 11 and 13 wickets in both contests, respectively. Manjrekar emphasized once more that Umran Malik should be tested in a test series with less pressure so that the results can be seen.
Give Umran Malik an opportunity to bowl three to four overs during a low-profile Test series if you must watch him instead of white-ball cricket. Therefore, he will offer an edge to our bowling, he said.
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