Brett Lee's final Test wicket tally

[itduzz]

Lee is proving me right that he is lucky to play that many tests...Due to Mcgrath/Warne..Aus never paid attention that they were carrying a passenger liek Lee in their side....Lee shud only play on bouncy pitches in Aus....even then he cant take a 10 fer

 

[Richard]

There wasn't any excessive bounce in any of the pitches in 2007/08 on which Lee excelled.

Nor was there any great bounce in 2 out of the 3 games in West Indies in 2008 either.

Lee was a vastly better bowler in 2007/08 than he was for the time he was being carried as a passenger by McGrath, Gillespie, Warne and occasionally others.

 

[andruid]

There wasn't any excessive bounce in any of the pitches in 2007/08 on which Lee excelled.

Nor was there any great bounce in 2 out of the 3 games in West Indies in 2008 either.

Lee was a vastly better bowler in 2007/08 than he was for the time he was being carried as a passenger by McGrath, Gillespie, Warne and occasionally others.

You fed the troll

 

[Richard]

Just trying to ensure it didn't mislead anyone.

 

[Burgey]

Fair to say he will be 2nd tier.

No matter what he does he will not be a Lillee, Lindwall or McGrath.

He will be in there with the best that are not the greatest. McDermott, Hughes, McKenzie etc

Word

 

[BoyBrumby]

Interesting. He is shouldering far more of a workload since McGrath gave it away and is all-but 32 now, but he does still look like an absolute athlete & seems to bowl within himself more nowadays, so I'd think he's got 3 years in him. Could see him carrying on until the 2010/11 Ashes, form and injury permitting. 35-40 wickets per year seems reasonable judging by his recent form (HowStat), so that'll put him over 400 for mine.

Possibly might be revising this down a tad in light of recent performances/injuries.

 

[Richard]

He's on, what, 294 against Test-class teams now. Reckon he could conceivably be no more come the end of 2009, if the batting's good, so maybe 320 would be a good guess right now?

OTOH, you never want to write anyone off and it's far from impossible that he'll come good again.

 

[Sanz]

Brett Lee set to quit Tests to prolong career | Australia Cricket News | Cricinfo.com

Test Wickets :- 310

 

[Matt79]

As if he's going to be selected again in any format. Sorry Brett, you've been a great servant, but times have moved on and your body has failed you.

 

[Furball]

As if he's going to be selected again in any format. Sorry Brett, you've been a great servant, but times have moved on and your body has failed you.

If he regains fitness he's still a gun ODI bowler.

 

[Richard]

As if he's going to be selected again in any format. Sorry Brett, you've been a great servant, but times have moved on and your body has failed you.

A great servant for 7 Tests in 1999/2000-2000/01 & 8 in 2007/08. I wish Lee could come back in place of Hilfenhaus, but sadly Hiflenhaws now has the chance to prove himself 5 times the bolwer Lee ever wuz.

 

[Richard]

GOOD OLD COLLINGWOOD - IN 2010 AND FOREVER z

Paul David Collingwood = class.

 

[Burgey]

A great servant for 7 Tests in 1999/2000-2000/01 & 8 in 2007/08. I wish Lee could come back in place of Hilfenhaus, but sadly Hiflenhaws now has the chance to prove himself 5 times the bolwer Lee ever wuz.

Yep, spot on there Rich. Couldn't agree more with your sentiments, being so gracious about a fellow who's had to retire through injury, and who took 300 plus Test wickets despite some fairly obvious limitations with his bowling.

Well done you on being so gracious about it. Fantastic sentiments, and really, couldn't have expressed my gratitude to Binga for his efforts better myself.

Someone close the thread please, it's now all been said.

 

[Richard]

Cameron B, please forgive me, the does it to us all, I'm sure you'll agreeeeeeeeeeeee.

 

[Burgey]

Haha, good man. Hook in and post.

Not that I've ever done that...

 

[andyc]

(Semi) picked it here

Seriously though, always one of my favourite Test bowlers. Obviously hardly a great but geez he could send down some good ones. Also had one of my all time favourite actions. Here's hoping he makes a comeback in the limited over forms.

 

[DaRick]

He made the right decision here.

He was never going to play Test cricket again. Age was getting the better of him and he was struggling to make it through ODI tournaments without picking up injuries. I don't think he would've lasted more than a Test at a time. Plus, we have Johnson, Bollinger, Hilfenhaus, Siddle and probably McKay all ahead of him.

Still, his Test record was good, but he has been a disappointing bowler at that level for most of his career (1999/00, 2000/01 and 2007/08 excepted). When he first came on, he looked as if he would average 25 at the most. Instead, he picked up an injury in early 2001 and seemingly forgot how he picked up so many wickets beforehand, instead bowling bouncers and yorkers to ridiculous excess. He didn't improve until 2005/06 and finally showed what he could've done in 2007/08. Unfortunately, it was more of a final hurrah than a stepping stone to greater things.

 

[DaRick]

Yep, spot on there Rich. Couldn't agree more with your sentiments, being so gracious about a fellow who's had to retire through injury, and who took 300 plus Test wickets despite some fairly obvious limitations with his bowling.

His limitations lay more with his intellect ("hey, one more bouncer couldn't hurt!") than with his skill with the ball. He had almost everything - express pace, decent seam movement, reverse swing, just enough outswing, inswing, cutters, a slower ball and a deadly yorker and bouncer when he used them properly.

 

[Burgey]

His limitations lay more with his intellect ("hey, one more bouncer couldn't hurt!") than with his skill with the ball. He had almost everything - express pace, decent seam movement, reverse swing, just enough outswing, inswing, cutters, a slower ball and a deadly yorker and bouncer when he used them properly.

Don't fall in...

 

[Top_Cat]

His limitations lay more with his intellect ("hey, one more bouncer couldn't hurt!") than with his skill with the ball. He had almost everything - express pace, decent seam movement, reverse swing, just enough outswing, inswing, cutters, a slower ball and a deadly yorker and bouncer when he used them properly.

Pretty much 90% of bowling at a decent level, tbh. There are plenty of guys out there (minus his pace) who can do all of that too but very, very few who put the mental package together enough to be awesome Test bowlers.