‘We Aren’t Fighting To Bowl The Fastest Ball’-Anrich Nortje Talks About His Comparison With Umran Malik
In the Indian Premier League 2022, the 22-year-old Indian pacer Umran Malik created news by sustaining a bowling speed of more than 150 kilometres per hour. When questioned about who he thinks would bowl the fastest delivery in the fourth Twenty20 International between India and South Africa, South African bowler Anrich Nortje, who is himself one of the quickest pacers in the world, offered his views in response to the question.
His blazing deliveries against Rajasthan Royals in the year 2020 earned Nortje himself a place in the limelight. In the same over, he delivered a ball that was travelling at 156.20 kilometres per hour and another that was travelling at 155.21 kilometres per hour. The latter ball was the one that bowled Jos Buttler, making it the third-fastest ball in IPL history. When Umran delivered a delivery of 157.0 kilometres per hour to Rovman Powell, he broke his own record for the second-fastest delivery in the history of the Indian Premier League. Umran then went on to bowl the fourth-fastest ball in the same over this season.
I’m not very concerned about who holds the record for quickest speed: Nortje
Malik secured a spot in the Indian team for the upcoming five-match Twenty20 International series against South Africa at home after taking 22 wickets in the Indian Premier League 2022. The young player from India has not yet made his debut, even though the visitors now have a 2-1 advantage in the series. However, there has been a lot of speculation regarding his participation in the two matches that are yet to come, and many people will be watching to see how fast he bowls. In the meantime, the Proteas pacer is not concerned with determining which of the other bowlers has the quickest speed.
“Yeah, at this point, I could care less about who the quickest bowler is. It doesn’t matter much to me who is the quickest or what the speed gun shows. What matters most is the contribution I can make to the team. When I am not playing, I focus my attention on training, and when I am doing so, I naturally think about how I may improve my speed via the various activities I engage in. In the back of my mind, it would be something I would carry on trying for, but it is not something I think about,” Nortje said.
“Umran Malik is a really talented bowler and he bowls quite quickly. He has shown the abilities he has. If he can improve his speed, it is wonderful news. If I become faster, excellent for me. I don’t believe we are at the point where we are fighting to bowl the fastest ball. It is about winning games and trying to contribute,” he added.
