Kaspa v Lee

[Beny]

We know that the battle is on to see who will take the third fast bowling spot. Kaspa's form in tests warrants his continued selection however it is a bit of a worry that he is getting carted in the ODI scene. Lee on the other hand looks certinly better than when he was dropped from the test side and I wouldent be worried if he was called up. Who do you think Australia should go with for the Ashes?

[Seamer]

The poll is flawed so i coul'nt vote Beny.
We have been over this at least twice before so here we go again. Kasprowicz has been out-bowling Gillespie for the last 12 months. Kasprowicz is an old ball specialist, Gillespie is not. Kasprowicz can reverse swing the old ball, Gillespie can not. If you bring in Lee for Kasprowcz, you have 3 specialist openers, if you bring in Lee for Gillespie, you have two specialist openers and a specialist change bowler -better for team balance. Has Gillespie had even close to the experience in England than what Kaspa has had - no.
What can Gillespie do? Can he swing the ball - no. Is he very fast - no. Can he reverse swing the old ball - no. Can he cut the ball of the pitch by rolling the fingers - no. Kaspa on the other hand, while bowling at the same speed, has much more scope than the one-dimentional Gillespie.
Turn on the telly and have a look at Gillespie! He is currently medium pace pie chucker and should be dropped because the English will cart him. I would even take Lee ahead of Gillespie.
Secondly, you have not taken into account that McGill might come into the frame.

If you want a definate opinion, you will have to change your poll to take into account all factors and all opinions
It should be along the lines of "Which two bowlers should partner McGrath and Warne at Lords" or something along those lines.

[Rachael]

Aussie commentators on the radio have been saying much the same: Gillespie vs Lee is the decision to be made... but as Gilespie has finally started finding some form... and Lee has just been hit out of a ODI attack by Bangladesh after conceding 2 sixes (and was it 20 runs?) in one over... that might be a fairly straightforward decision!

[Beny]

Gillespie got smacked again today... I wouldent drop him though for the same reason I wouldent have droped Matryn or Hayden when they were having a bad trot. Gillespie is still a fantastic bowler and at his best he is better than both Kaspa or Lee.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Beny

Gillespie is still a fantastic bowler and at his best he is better than both Kaspa or Lee.

The same could be said for Lillie, Beny. Gillespie has been struggling for a long time now and i suspect he is past his best. He still looks mean and has an intimidating run up, but it is what comes out of his hand that counts.
And there is no way that he is a better bowler than Kasprowicz with the old ball. He is one-dimensional and relies on hitting the seam to get movement off the wicket. The problem is that once the ball is old, there is no seam to hit.

[Leafy Seadragon]

Originally Posted by Seamer

Kasprowicz has been out-bowling Gillespie for the last 12 months

On what basis? Over the past 12 months, Gillespie has bowled more overs per match, more economically and taken more wickets (49 V 43) at an almost identical average (26.4 V 26.3). Gillespie didn't have the greatest of summers, but really only had three poor innings. Kaspa had three poor efforts of his own over the same summer. From what I saw, admittedly including little of the NZ tour (when neither set the world on fire), Gillespie did struggle to find rythmn in a couple of sessions, but other than McGrath, most quicks have an off day. Yes Gillespie has slowed in pace a little with a shortening of his run, but this has seen his ability to bowl long spells improve markedly, without a reduction in his performance. So what am I missing?

Despite disagreeing on the above point, I do agree that the debate is between Gillespie and Lee. Kaspa provides the 3rd bowler role for Australia, which neither Lee or Gillespie are suited to, although Gillespie with the shorter run and slightly reduced pace may be able to pick up the overs. I still don't think the Aussies will do anything other than McGrath, Gillespie & Kaspa

[greg]

I think you all know my feelings about Kasprowicz,but from an Englishman's point of view i'd go with McGrath,Gillespie and Lee for the simple reason that Kasp has been over here playing county cricket in recent years and the likes of Strauss and Bell will know what to expect whereas they won't have faced much of Lee or Gillespie.

[Zainub]

I think Aus should recall Lillee. That would be good for England considering his present fitness state

[Beny]

I think you all know my feelings about Kasprowicz,

Do tell...

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by Leafy Seadragon

On what basis? Over the past 12 months, Gillespie has bowled more overs per match, more economically and taken more wickets

Please excuse the lateness of my reply Leafy.
Raw statistics often don't tell the full story so i had to delve a little deeper to get to the truth.
I have tallied the two bowlers wickets into two catigories, batsmen (1-6) and tailenders (7-11). This is the results since the tour to India
Kaprowicz:
Batsmen(1-6) 25
Bowlers (7-11) 8
Gillespie:
Batsmen (1-6) 23
Bowlers (7-11) 15
While Gillespies stats are better in this regard than i expected, it must be said that Kasprowicz has had to do "the hard yards" - over 75% of his wickets have been batsmen. There are other factors that are too much work to put down here such as breaking of partnerships and the "Big Wickets". Kaspa has featured here in a big way compared to Gillespie. All this without the benefiet of the use of the new ball. This is how i justify my claim that Kaspa has outbowled Gillespie.