Awesome foursome out to prove fast bowlers' worth

They are all fast and furious. And they have the license to kill. Something called 'containing the batsmen' is definitely not part of their game plan. Indeed, if the batsmen pledge to approach T20 cricket with a 'hit out or get out' mantra, the fast bowlers seem to believe that the best way of restricting the scoring is pretty simple - Get them out!
Cricket is a batsman's game and no other version seems to symbolise that other than T20.And, all along, the faster you bowl, the quicker the ball disappears to the boundary was an opinion that went against the fast bowlers. In fact, the slow bowlers were thought to be more handy as their guile made batsmen think and use their own power to get the ball beyond the boundary.
Of late, however, the likes of Dale Steyn, Lasith Malinga, Brett Lee and Shane Bond have shown that their craft earns them the respect they deserve even in T20 cricket. Of course, now that the IPL will once again be played on the slow Indian pitches, these men will have their task cut out. However, in the last series in India, Dale Steyn had underlined his destructive prowess.
"A 150 or 145 km yorker is absolutely no different whether you bowl it here in Nagpur or Chennai, Mumbai or Johannesburg. It's the skill and the planning behind that delivery that is more important," warned Steyn ahead of the first Test against India. And soon he put the wicket, and the conditions, out of the equation as he walked his talk with a memorable exhibition of high quality fast bowling which had both conventional and reverse swing. If the 26-year old Steyn can channelise all his venom and fire in his four overs, then Royal Challengers Bangalore will surely be proud of their pace ace.
As much can be said about Lasith Malinga, who plays for Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians. The fast bowler with a colourful persona has made his presence felt with his toe-breaking yorkers in the last T20 World Cup. For someone bowling with a distinctive round-arm action, his genuine pace has often left the batsmen clueless while picking the length and direction. Though this 26-year old Sri Lankan can be frustratingly erratic at times, when he is in the mood, he has what it takes to trouble the best batsmen in business.
Just in case one thought that Twenty20 cricket is a young man's game, spare a thought for the likes of Brett Lee and Shane Bond, both of whom have given up Test cricket but still fancy their place under the sun in the limited over version.
The 33-year old Lee who, over the years has served the cause of Australian cricket with distinction, has been plagued by injuries in the last two years. But having taken the big decision to give up Tests just last week, this Kings XI Punjab pacer is ready to turn on the heat in the IPL.
"To me this is my first opportunity after a long time to play cricket. I will be out there and I will be looking forward to it. Definitely, I love it," opined Lee whose pace and accuracy marked him out as a champion bowler.
"With the retirement, I have more time to chase other dreams and aspirations and still play cricket for Australia and still play on the big scene which is what I want to do," he explained. With the big stage of the IPL sure to set his competitive juices flowing, one can look forward to his customary jump of joy from this 'smiling assassin'.
And last, but not the least, all eyes will also be on Shane Bond, the New Zealand fast bowler, for whom the Kolkata Knight Riders happily put up a winning bid of $750,000. Like Lee, this 34-year old fast bowler has had his share of injuries. Besides, having played in the Indian Cricket League, Bond didn't do himself any favours. But now that he has returned to the big league his raw pace can make the batsmen dance to his tunes.
In this brand of cricket where captains have been known to change every bowler after just one over, lest the batsman is able to read any particular bowler, these fast bowlers have enough pace, skill and deception to make a mockery of the rival batting. So, while the batters can fine-tune their 'scoops' over the wicketkeeper or their 'switch-hits', these men from the fast lane have got what it takes to tame the best of batsmen. Their presence will only add more spice to the third edition of the Indian Premier League.