The elephant in the room

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By Scott 2 years ago, at the end of November Leave a comment on this post

I’ve just been watching Inside Cricket, an Australian television cricket show where former Test players Brenden Julian, Mark Waugh, Allan Border, and Damien Fleming, have been discussing the First Test, with an English contribution from Graham Thorpe.

They all failed to mention the really big story that came out of the First Test and that is that England were beaten by three bowlers.

Brett Lee is the elephant that none dare mention; his contribution, especially in England’s second dig, could politely be called ‘crap’. He got a wicket because Kevin Pieterson gifted him one in the first over this morning, but really, he was a very fierce bad rabbit; his bad record against England just got worse.

And the pundits on television did not mention his name once. After all, the less said the better.

I’m a huge fan of Lee in one day cricket- in that form of the game, he keeps on performing, and while he keeps on taking wickets, he should be taking the new ball. But his Test performances, especially against England, continue to be ordinary.

Someone on the radio said at some point that ‘you can’t argue with 200 Test wickets’. Well actually you can. Just ask Jason Gillespie. Lee’s inability to take wickets has been glossed over in the hype of a big victory, but I do wonder if he is a luxury that Australia can afford over the course of a five Test series.

Tags: allan-border, ashes, australia, brett-lee, dud, jason-gillespie, kevin-pietersen, kevin-pieterson |

Comments to “The elephant in the room” Matt Thornton (Six and Out) wrote:
November 27th, 2006 at 11.14 am

Agreed- much has been said of Harmison’s poor showing, but Lee didn’t look all that threatening. Not to mention McGrath possibly having an injured heel, and Warnie taking 4 for over a hundred, and all of a sudden the Aussie bowling attack isn’t looking all that scary.

Vernon wrote:
November 27th, 2006 at 11.59 am

I agree that Lee could be dropped. Now that Stuart Clark is a genuine option for a regular spot, Lee’s situation is different than it was. Add to that the emergence of Tait and Johnson, and Lee’s spot is in serious doubt.

I watched him bowl to Ian Bell on the third morning and I thought he started well. He bowled a good line and length (perhaps he could have been been 2 inches closer to off stump) for three overs I think and was building pressure. Then KP gets on strike and he starts bowling his usual thoughtful mixture of half volleys, no balls and long hops which continued for the rest of the match. I just don’t think he has what it takes to bowl long spells working on a batsman.

Cheers
Vernon

The Collective wrote:
November 27th, 2006 at 2.33 pm

All well and good. But no one was saying the austrlian attack is as strong today as it was maybe two years ago. The real problem still lies with England’s batting line-up (and tail) to take advantage of this.

banh wrote:
November 27th, 2006 at 7.39 pm

I don’t want Lee to be dropped, mostly because it gets boring watching 3 bowlers all send down deliveries at 130kmph. But at the same time I don’t want a repeat of last Ashes with the selectors retaining Jason Gillespie and him bowling like… well, you know. Also, at the risk of sounding like a Duncan Fletcher supporter, Lee’s credentials also lie in his batting and it is important especially with the number 6 spot still to be finalised and Adam Gilchrist struggling to find a little form.

Stu wrote:
November 27th, 2006 at 10.22 pm

I can’t believe an attack that just bowled a side out for 157 is in question.

I did hear a discussion of this on the ABC and the tail end of an interview (could’ve even been Ponting) who said, that pitch was far more suitable to Clark and McGrath’s style of bowling (being taller) than Brett Lee’s raw pace. They are expecting conditions at other venues to suit Lee better.

Scott, would you make any changes for Adelaide?

Scott wrote:
November 27th, 2006 at 10.35 pm

No, but I would make clear to Bing that he’s drinking at the last chance saloon.

SpryCorpse wrote:
November 27th, 2006 at 10.46 pm

Interesting thoughts from all.
Certainly Lee would want to become more effective - he seems to lack a certain amount of nouse at times.
But there’s no way I’d be dropping him just yet. Half the English top order probably shit themselves when facing him.
And he only got two wickets - but they were Flintoff and Pieterson.
I’m intensely curious to see how Mitchell Johnson would go - but I’d just hold off for the moment.
Also, I think the Australian attack is stronger than last time. If McGrath can manage his heel problem he has to be more effective than 2005. Warne may or may not be able to reproduce last year’s heroics - time will tell and hopefully he won’t have to. Lee I think will do better than last time despite this mediocre beginnnig (better than Harmison anyway!) And Stuart Clark has been wonderfully consistent and threatening - far better than a fading Gillespie and raw Tait in 2005.
But certainly Lee bears monitoring.

Luke wrote:
November 28th, 2006 at 2.43 am

I’ve never thought that lee was worth any of the hype he has been given. Which has led to my friends and I only refering to him as Shane’s brother. It seems that reason that he keeps on popping up in the line up is because he wears the magic colour blue that makes any new south welshman an instant Australian test member. Look at some of the brilliant bowlers from the other states that have gone un-noticed or have made the team with only 2 seasons left in them.

I hate to think what’s going to happen when Mcgrath and Warne retire.

japaddy wrote:
November 28th, 2006 at 9.03 am

If England win the toss and bat in Adelaide the Australian attack will be stretched thin,both teams lack bowling depth and the series may hinge on which team is most willing to select a second spinner.

Harry wrote:
November 28th, 2006 at 1.33 pm

you speak as if you haven’t seen much of Lee! This is the bowler who will be spear heading the australian bowling attack in a couple of years and i think he is more than capable of doing it! He might not have picked up the wickets but he didn’t bowl badly! He did all that could have been asked of him as it wasnt a wicket that particularly suited him. I don’t think he’s put a foot wrong of late and this is coming from someone who didn’t want him playing in the last ashes series because i didnt think he had proven himself enough in test cricket. He’s proved himself now though and i agree with the commentators, you can’t argue with that many wickets! and no one would have dared argue with dizzy gilespie in his prime either!

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