Brett Lee ruled out of world cup

[Seamer]

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/aust...ry/281294.html

Lee is to be replaced by Ashes leading wicket taker, Stuart Clark.

Will the Aussies be stronger with Clark replacing Lee or not?

[Seamer]

While i feel for Brett Lee, i can't help but think Australia will be better served by playing Clark.

Firstly, we already have a right arm strike bowler in Tait, team balance would have been upset by playing both Lee and Tait.

Secondly, Lee leaks a lot of runs and tends to fall apart under pressure. Clarke is accurate, can bowl to a plan and is harder to smack around compared to Lee. And the guy is very fit and unlikely to break down.

Thirdly, I can't help but get the feeling that a freshened up Clark, aggrieved at being left out of the original sqaud, will take a strong hold of the lifeline offered him and set about to prove why he should have been in the original squad.

Forthly, Clarke is a proven performer under pressure, and has enjoyed success in the big stage as he did by being the leading wicket taker in last years Ashes campaign.

Lastly, Clark is unscarred from the 5 consecutive defeats Australia has just been dealt and can come in with a clean slate.

I won't be surprised if Clark becomes one of the leading bowlers in the WC tournament

[Quagmire]

It is bad news for Australia he probally our second best ODI bowler after Bracken. His is the third highest wicket taker in Australian cricket for ODI's. 267 wickets at 22.65 with an economy rate of 4.69 and a strike rate of 28.94, with six ODI five wicket hauls.

His 2006 one day seasons was brilliant.

Leading wicket takers in ODI's in 2006

Name				Mat	O	  M	 R   W	Ave  Best  4w 5w	SR  Econ Team

Mashrafe Mortaza	 27  237.4   26  1003   49  20.46  6-26   1  1  29.1  4.22 BDESH
NW Bracken		   23  194.4   19   866   46  18.82  5-67   1  1  25.3  4.44 AUS
Abdur Razzak		 26  231	 19   808   45  17.95  5-33   2  1  30.8  3.49 BDESH
B Lee				26  231.4   15  1095   44  24.88  5-22   3  2  31.5  4.72 AUS

[Nostromo]

I know that people might disagree, but this enforced Clark for Lee change might turn out to be a blessing in disguise. I like Brett Lee a lot, but on some of the smaller Caribbean grounds, he might have gone for too many additional runs with his pace unless he was very accurate. I know that Clark did not bowl particularly well in the recent CB matches, but that experience (and the initial omission from the squad) might have served as a learning experience for him. Stuart Clark is undoubtedly a very good bowler and unlike the post-Ashes rush, now has a couple of weeks to work on honing his skills to suit ODIs. I think he'll be all right and will get chosen ahead of Mitchell Johnson for the final XI for most matches.

[acker]

It is a blessing in disguise, now if someone could only conjure up an injury to Brad Hogg and select one of the 50 or so domestic players more talented than him; that would be another blessing. As currently he is costing us about 6 runs per over when he is bowling and some where between 1 and 12 when he is feilding or should I say watching the ball go past him.

[greg]

I think Lee is an important cog in the Aussie one day side.If it was for tests then Clark would be the obvious better option but Lee can bowl a devastating spell or swing the bat late on,i think they may miss Lee more than they think they will.

[Seamer]

Originally Posted by greg

I think Lee is an important cog in the Aussie one day side.If it was for tests then Clark would be the obvious better option but Lee can bowl a devastating spell or swing the bat late on,i think they may miss Lee more than they think they will.

He will be missed for his batting i admit. Swapping him for Clark does extend our tail somewhat. But the guy as as erratic as he is fast and setting a field for him is difficult at the best of times. On those tiny WI field, setting a field for him would have proven impossible

[pie_chucker]

I can see your point Seamer but Lee does have a good record in one day stuff. Clark on the other hand is not thought to be a one day bowler. With the smaller grounds some batsman might just hit the the line and cart him into the stands.

[Nostromo]

Clark is basically a good bowler. Now that he has got into the WC side through the back door, he will train and try his utmost to prove a point. It might just come off.

[pie_chucker]

I agree that Clark is a good bowler, but his ODI record isnt good and even his own team mates dont think of him as a good ODI bowler.