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Brett Lee vs. Mitchell Johnson

Who was the better Test bowler?


  • Total voters
    44

Flem274*

123/5
Johnson had more impact but never led the attack like Lee. Ryan Harris was always there to be the glue and when Johnson has led attacks have been the times when Australia often disappointed.

Early Lee was terrifying to watch when I came into cricket during the 2000 nz v aus where we drew. Every bit as mean as Johnson.

Johnson is a force of nature when he's hot and was a classy angle troller early on but voting for him would be kind of like voting for Broad over Anderson.
 

grecian

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Johnson had more impact but never led the attack like Lee. Ryan Harris was always there to be the glue and when Johnson has led attacks have been the times when Australia often disappointed.

Early Lee was terrifying to watch when I came into cricket during the 2000 nz v aus where we drew. Every bit as mean as Johnson.

Johnson is a force of nature when he's hot and was a classy angle troller early on but voting for him would be kind of like voting for Broad over Anderson.
Yeah because Lee had such poor attacks to back him up.

Johnson by a long way, Lee is Australians Patrick Patterson, he played around truly great bowlers, so his rapid shock tactics worked as a contrast tp steadier better bowlers. Yet they both played their parts in the great teams.

Johnson is just unplayable on his day, bowls so quickly and swings it.
 

Cabinet96

Global Moderator
Johnson had more impact but never led the attack like Lee. Ryan Harris was always there to be the glue and when Johnson has led attacks have been the times when Australia often disappointed.
Lee got what one season leading the attack? It was a good one though
They both had one good season leading the attack AFAIC. Johnson was awesome in 08/09.
 

Tangles

International Vice-Captain
Lee for his consistency. MJ has had arguably a better peak but that doesn't offset the lows for me. When MJ is bad it can be really bad.
 

Loose Cannon

U19 Debutant
Johnson.

Lee was managed poorly by Ponting. He could have been very good if he'd been used in short spells and told to go all out, like later career Johnson.

Clarke did a good job of getting the most he could out of Johnson's great physique and tiny, tiny brain.
 

Sachin114

Cricket Spectator
Johnson was a better test bowler by a fair distance. Maybe this is because his 8 match peak is still fresh in my mind.
 

Contra

Cricketer Of The Year
Definitely Johnson, people seem to be forgetting that Johnson was high quality even before his 2013 Ashes series. Brett Lee could have taken a lot more wickets had Ponting simply not bowled him to the ground during 08.
 

nevermind

U19 Debutant
Johnson by a mile. Sadly never really recovered his pace after the finger injury and went down hill as a result. During Ashes & SA series of '13/14 he was constantly bowling 150km/h in the last session of the day, and with his bowling action that was just so lethal. Oh well. That 8 match peak was glorious.
 

ankitj

Hall of Fame Member
Remember Lee going for plenty many times, so voted for Johnson without looking at any stats.
 

Howe_zat

Audio File
Definitely Johnson, people seem to be forgetting that Johnson was high quality even before his 2013 Ashes series. Brett Lee could have taken a lot more wickets had Ponting simply not bowled him to the ground during 08.
Johnson wasn't picked for the 2013 Ashes because he wasn't considered even close to good enough. Had been sent home from India and nobody cared. People seem far more likely to overlook the 3 solid years of crap these days

Edit - that timespan includes the 2010/11 series where he took wickets but bowled complete filth 90% of the time and was the worst offender when England piled up 500+ in 3 test matches. Remove that series and his average for the period goes over 40
 
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