2nd Test: India v Australia at Mohali

[Rik E Boy]

Observations

- Looking through Brett Lee's career record a couple of things that you wouldnt expect to see on the record of a bowler closing in on 300 wickets (currently 293)

- Best Bowling Innings 5/30 (Flintoff is the only other bowler to take 200 wickets without taking 6 wickets in an innings)
- Best Bowling Match 8/110 (Flintoff is the only other bowler to take more than 200 wickets without taking 9 wickets in a match)
- Average 29.98 (no fast bowler who has taken 250+ wickets has a higher average)
- RPO 3.46 (no other bowler who has taken 200+ test wickets has a RPO of more than 3.3, no other Australian bowler who has taken 65+ test wickets has a RPO of more than 3.3)

Statistics are like ladies underwear what they reveal is telling but what they conceal is essential. How many bowlers have consistently bowled to super attacking fields as consistently as Lee has over his career? That has to hurt his RPO figures and his average. Another thing against him is that for most of his career he has been expected to charge in and blast them out, often used in short spells while McGrath and Warne have had the Lions share of the overs (as you would expect of course). When you are used as a 'shock bowler' you aren't going to get large amounts of Michelle's (or greater) or have a low RPO figure.

Statistics will only ever tell the full story of Lee's abilities when he gets more bowling in terms of longer spells and a few more gaps are plugged along the way. Saying that though, that collection of figures above is not flattering (maybe Long Johns are needed to conceal a few sins!) and Lee needs to start working on fixing them right away.

regards,

REB

[Rik E Boy]

I've never rated Lee as a Test bowler. Took so many cheap wickets in the Warne/McGrath era and will never forget how badly he was exposed when both those guys were missing in the 03/04 series against India here. Always smirking and carrying on like a pork chop when he gets some tailender out. Front runner.

What a heap of pig droppings.

You can disagree with my opinion of Lee but you can't disagree with the numbers. 2/103 (10nb), 2/97, 4/201 (18nb), 0/75 (6nb). Series figures of 8 wickets @ 59.50 going for nearly five runs an over.

He's been poor this series with an injured or missing Stuart Clark too. Ponting clearly doesn't think much of his work this series. It's why there's so much speculation that he's close to being dropped, there's no one around to do the heavy lifting for him.

You're not being fair to Binga. Mitchell Johnson is the only bowler you couldn't level that charge against so far in this series. Lee is hardly Robinson Crusoe when it comes to underperforming this series.

regards,

REB

[topsywaldron]

Spelly, don't try to reason with someone who "doesn't rate" one of the leading wicket takers in Australian Test history. It's pointless.

If wickets taken, in more matches against patently inferior opposition, is the only criteria you're using then I look forward to your spirited defence of Boycott being a better batsman than Bradman.

After all, he scored more runs!

[Rik E Boy]

Spelly, don't try to reason with someone who "doesn't rate" one of the leading wicket takers in Australian Test history. It's pointless.

If wickets taken, in more matches against patently inferior opposition, is the only criteria you're using then I look forward to your spirited defence of Boycott being a better batsman than Bradman.

After all, he scored more runs!

An irrelevant analogy. Hawk didn't say Lee was the best bowler in the world, just that he rated him. Surely you rate Boycott?

regards,

REB

[Adelaide Hawk]

Spelly, don't try to reason with someone who "doesn't rate" one of the leading wicket takers in Australian Test history. It's pointless.

If wickets taken, in more matches against patently inferior opposition, is the only criteria you're using then I look forward to your spirited defence of Boycott being a better batsman than Bradman.

After all, he scored more runs!

Topsy, I rate Lee, and I rate Boycott. Both very good and highly successful Test cricketers. I don't see where this has any relevance to my comment. I just grow very tired of do-nothing mouths with keyboards who slam Brett Lee when they would probably have no idea exactly how hard that man has to work to perform at the level he does.

This hackneyed old chestnut that Lee takes mainly tail-end wickets is completely bogus. I've done the exercise, and found his percentage of top 6 batsmen is actually higher than Glenn McGrath.

My point about Lee is that he will take in excess of 300 Test wickets in his career, and this is a place only occupied by the best bowlers in the game's history. You cannot take 300 wickets unless you pass the test of time, and you can't do that unless you are good enough.

As far as wickets against "patently inferior opposition", I suggest you take a look at the names of batsmen he has dismissed ... some very impressive names amongst them. Do you dare suggest Warne and McGrath weren't that good because they bowled against "patently inferior opposition"?

I thought we were past this. Over the past couple of seasons, Lee has assumed responsibility as Australia's spearhead bowler and performed the tasks masterfully. He has been hailed by many around the world as one of the premier fast bowlers in the game today, and yet there are still people with keyboards, and personal biases, who simply refuse to accept that.

[mal]

I rate Boycott
I rate Lee
Irate Adelaide Hawk

Hawky everyones entitled to post views on who is and who is not.
Unfortunately we are are a nation of the Tall poppy syndromisticismisaters.
When Lee was demolising the opposition in 2008 he was
When Lee is getting flogged in the subcont he is

If this series was at home on pitches that bounce at least ankle height he would most likely be slaughtering the Indians
But he is over there where the batsman are wearing ankle and toe pads + where our quicks are rendered into submission

Ive had a go at Brett in the past
I do think he is marginally over-rated
But his credits far outweigh his debits in his good career

To axe him would be extremely unfair