Quote:
Originally Posted by Aurelius  Now, while this description certainly applies to the ODIs, where he's been a force, does it really apply to the Tests as well? Granting that he's the best new-ball bowler in the world, it just seems a bit funny to hear him described as a Test great |
I've nothing against Lee as a character, as a no 8 batsman and as a fielder... but the odd series aside... it's only since McGrath retired that he's been anything more than ordinary with the ball - and even looking at his much more impressive recent performances... he's not put daylight between himself and the likes of Clark, Hoggard, Asif and (if reports are to be believed) Steyn.
Lee's played 10 Tests in England and aside from getting carted at 4.22 / over his wickets have been hugely expensive - his average is 45.44! He's never even faced India or Pakistan on the subcontinent... but he did play Pakistan twice in the UAE and manage 3 wickets at an average of 40.66 - in the same matches, Bichel took 8 wickets at 13.25!
Unfortunately for Lee... he actually did far better against Pakistan in the UAE than he did in his one Test in Sri Lanka (2 wickets at 56) or in his 2 Tests in Bangladesh (2 wickets at 93).
Lee's 2001 tour of South Africa was no better: 10 wickets at 41.6 whilst being carted at 4.36 / over.
Playing outside of Australia... Lee has taken 98 wickets... but he's only ever had 2 good series... and they were years apart: 1999/00 in NZ and 2005/06 in SA. These account for a third of those wickets. That leaves 63 wickets he's taken at - wait for it - 41.98.
Though the less impressive days may be behind him... there's no way of avoiding the huge period of his career (roughly 1/1/2001-1/1/2006) in which he was at best ordinary.
Code:
(6 ball overs) Mat O R W BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 5 10
filtered 41 1417.1 5313 146 5/30 8/181 36.39 3.74 58.2 3 0
filtered 21 798.3 2854 85 5/30 8/181 33.57 3.57 56.3 3 0
First is all matches, second is "home" matches. Stacks of "failed" bowlers could match a record like that - even Mullally's wickets came at 31.24 and without getting carted - econ 2.40, aided by occasional spells where the batsmen might have needed steps to reach every other ball
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ps. If Brett Lee is a bowling "great" then so was Gillespie: quite aside from the evidence, over many years when they bowled together, that Gillespie was more accomplished... Gillespie also averaged 26.12 where Lee has managed 29.97, managed a strike rate of 54.9 to Lee's 51.5 and went at a respectable 2.85 / over rather than a disgraceful 3.48!