Brett Lee

[Zainub]

Ok, time to find out where Brett Lee's career is heading. In recent times he's been doing most of the drinks carrying buissness and Andy Bichel's infamous record of most appearances as 12th man for Australia now might be under threat. I'm not sure exactly what led to his dramatic form slump in the home test series against India but what ever has happened is now the past, and must be kept behind, if you're a Brett Lee fan anyway. What must he now do to get his place in the Aussies XI back - personally I think his best chance will come through an injury to either Dizzy, Pigeon or Casper, I really can't see how he can convince the Aussie selectors to change an successful combination other wise. What do you think?

Is Brett Lee finished, are his days over? If not, why?

[Milo]

In two series against England he has always been ropey. He's always gone at 5 an over and rarely taken more than 1 wicket in any innings. He started his test career with a bang but got injured and missed the infamous tour of India in 2001. He has never really impressed since and his reputation is based solely on his 'ability' to bowl fast and take wickets at ODI level (where his pace is an asset in the first 15 overs as batsmen try to smack every ball instead of waiting for the loose ones).

He won't have a test career now - everytime he has been asked to shoulder the burden in the time of injuries he has been absent.

[Maranello]

His pace is definitely not an asset in the first 15 overs of an ODI. Even miniscule edges go all the way to the boundary at his pace, and with all the people up in the circle, hitting the ropes becomes very easy. This is why he is often used as first or second change even when he is selected for ODIs.

Not dissimilar to the likes of Pakistan's Mohammad Sami in one-dayers - with the field restrictions of the first 15 overs, and at their pace, anything even marginally short or wide or on the legs ends up on the ropes against quality batsmen.

[Milo]

Cant agree with you there Marinello. In Australia (last year's VB finals and 2002 VB) and the World Cup in South Arrica he opened the bowling.

In the second final against England I remember him ripping through the england opening order as they tried to score too quick and lost their wickets. Yes a few edges went for four but they eventually got carried away. He did exactly the same thing in the first final with Tres and Knight trying to score off good quick balls. Same goes with last year's finals when he bowled Tenulkar very early on if I remember rightly.

Do you remember the world cup? He opened in the final and got Ganguly, in the semi he took the first three SL wickets with the new ball and opened in all the games and was (I believe) the leading wicket taker in the tourament. On th fast tracks he is for the reason I mentioned an asset in ODIs (when teams are trying to score too quickly).

Anyway, I think he's rubbish, so I don't really want to be standing his corner.

[Maranello]

Milo, I stand corrected! I don't dispute the facts you quote, and agree with a part of your conclusion - Lee has done very well quite often with the new ball on fast paced wickets.

However if both McGrath and Gillespie are playing, Lee still would not be given the new ball in a one-dayer, as happened in the ICCCT match v England. In general, many really fast bowlers are better used as first change in one-dayers, Pakistan used to do this very successfully with Waqar in his prime, with Wasim and Aqib Javed opening the bowling. SA also employed this tactic with Donald, and most recently Pakistan are doing this when needed with Shoaib.

I do agree with the general thrust of your argument that Lee is, quite frankly, rubbish!

[Zainub]

Hmm... so what you guys are saying here basically means Lee's test career is over, I'd be interested in knowing if Aussie fans agree/disagree.

Continuing on Milo's argument that he can be handy in ODIs, I've just had a look, he has some very impressive stats still and I can recall that even despite a horrific test series against India he bowled quite respectably in the ODIs, and if my memory is serving me right he might have even picked up a MoM award against India.

[Ernest]

The one thing that proves to me that Bret Lee is finished, he can never get a regular place in the Australia team, maybe if they had kept the faith, he may have improved,but I would say it is now to late.

Ern

[haseebbutt007]

I think Brett Lee can still be a dangerous Bowler . All that he needs is confidence and a good chance which will be a turning point of his career

[freddie_flintoff]

Originally Posted by haseebbutt007

I think Brett Lee can still be a dangerous Bowler . All that he needs is confidence and a good chance which will be a turning point of his career

He also needs to remain injury free

[imaginarydiva]

It isnt that Brett isnt good.Hes awesome;but its just that at the present moment;Gillespie and Mc Grath are a notch above him.But maybe if they are victims of one of those inexplicable form slumps;Brett will get a chance.Its still hard to say that its all over for him.And;all though im a huuuuuuuuuge brett lee fanatic;as a cricket fan;i personally feel;that he should use all that time ;that he wastes on commercials;into something more productive like working harder on his crikceting skills;that is if his crikceting career is more important than his heartthrob image.