IPL 2024: Brett Lee believes new two-bouncer rule gives fast-bowlers an advantage in setting up batters

Australia fast-bowling legend Brett Lee has expressed his endorsement for the two-bouncer rule in the IPL 2024 season, believing it benefits the pacers in setting up the batters effectively. The rule, previously seen in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, has allowed fast bowlers to showcase their skills by bowling more short balls.

According to Lee, the two-bouncer rule provides an advantage to the bowlers, giving them the opportunity to strategically use short deliveries to keep the batsmen under pressure. In a virtual media interaction, he highlighted the significance of this rule change in balancing the game for both bowlers and batsmen.

In the ongoing IPL 2024 season, statistics show that pacers have been dominating the wickets tally with 119 dismissals compared to spinners who have taken 39 wickets. Slower deliveries have played a significant role in the tournament, with batters scoring runs off them but also getting dismissed, showcasing the effectiveness of variation in bowling.

While the wickets in the tournament may not be conducive to fast bowling, bowlers like Mustafizur Rahman, Harshal Patel, and others have excelled by using their repertoire of slower balls and cutters. Young paceman Mayank Yadav impressed with his pace and variation, and Brett Lee is eager to see how his career progresses in the future.

Mumbai Indians, the only winless team in the competition, have faced challenges in utilizing their key bowler Jasprit Bumrah effectively. Lee believes that Bumrah should open the bowling with the new ball to maximize his impact on the matches. Despite their slow start, Lee remains confident in Mumbai Indians’ ability to bounce back, considering their past successes in the tournament.