Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee has a few pieces of advice for young Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has had a breakout year in international cricket.
From not being even a fringe player of the Indian team at the start of the year to leading India’s pace at the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia and carrying the hopes of a billion fans in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh’s career has shot up like a rocket this year.
Arshdeep took 10 wickets in 6 T20 WC matches at a brilliant economy of 7.8, and overall he has snapped 33 wickets in 21 T20Is.
Lee’s first advice to the 23-year-old is to not bulk up in the gym and become “strong in the mind”.
“I have got a couple of little things that I believe can help Arshdeep with his action and take more wicket. My first advice to Arshdeep would be that people often say that a fast bowler should get to the gym, and bulk. We hear they want him to bulk up, be strong. Now strong can be strong in the mind. I would say do not over-gym. Lightweight, high repetitions, don’t worry about the beach muscles… if you want to do that, it won’t help you bowl fast,” Brett Lee said in his YouTube video.
You have to understand that you should turn off notifications: Brett Leee
The second piece of advice, and also a very crucial one, from the legendary Aussie speedster to the 23-year-old Arshdeep is regarding social media; Lee reckons any youngster with a social media presence should just mute the notifications and not pay heed to what anyone is saying about them.
“Number 2 will be to build a mental filter to social media comments because we know that the guys and girls playing are all on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you’re going to play a sport and have a social media presence, you have to understand that you should turn off notifications. Don’t read what’s written. Have the brains and commonsense to separate that. If you don’t like it, get off social media and focus on your cricket,” the 46-year-old commentator added.
Brett Lee believes it is also the duty of the Indian captain and coach to “shield” Arshdeep Singh from the outside clatter.
“Very often teams don’t know what to do with these young and breakout stars. We have seen it before when young players get involved and advices from players, TV, and commentators, at the hotel. Every man means well but very often, too much advice can be counter-productive. So, I think Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma have the responsibility to shield Arshdeep Singh from this overdose of advice,” said Lee.
