View Full Version : Brett Lee or Andy Bichel
Who would you have as our 3rd strike bowler?
The overrated,overpublicised thrower who has never bowled an accurate delivery in his life, or the underrated quiet achiever who bowls with deadly accuracy and can take the wickets of decent batsmen, not just tailenders?
Originally posted by Catman
The overrated,overpublicised thrower who has never bowled an accurate delivery in his life
or
the underrated quiet achiever who bowls with deadly accuracy and can take the wickets of decent batsmen, not just tailenders?
hmmm... just trying to work out which one you favour....
The Doctor
22 Oct 2002, 21:37
Bichel easily
Lee has talent but has not been using it. He's there for the glamour and hype at the moment.
Series stats
Name Mat O M R W Best Ave Econ SR 5 10
AJ Bichel 2 33.2 4 106 8 3-43 13.25 3.18 25.0 0 0
B Lee 3 66.5 13 234 5 2-15 46.80 3.50 80.2 0 0
I know who I'd choose.
eagleskickass
22 Oct 2002, 21:49
right now, Bichel no question.
Bichel should be in the 1st test against the Poms,especially playing at the Gabba.
wagstaff
23 Oct 2002, 00:34
I would pick Bichel, his Test performances in the past couple of years have been fine overall, and I dare say it would be in Brett Lee's best interests to spend some time out of the national side.
But I wouldn't be so sure that Bichel will be picked ahead of Lee if Steve Waugh's comments after the match are anything to go by.
"But we as a team look beyond individuals. Statistics don't always reflect the true picture. For instance, Brett Lee bowled pretty well in the Third Test, but failed to get a wicket."
It will be an interesting time at the selection table in the next few weeks. If Lee is picked ahead of Bichel, the Queensland crowd won't take too kindly to it, especially if Lee struggles during that match.
Bichel rarely gets big bags at test level but is usually consistent in getting 2s and 3s, and bowling tightly and economically.
Lee is more dangerous when he's switched on, and capable of bagging 5s and 6s, and intimidating batsmen, but does it a lot more often.
Relate it to footy terms, and Bichel is your Tyson Edwards, Brad Scott type... no frills but does his job and does it well.
Brett Lee is your Byron Pickett, Scott Cummings, Jeff Farmer type... when he's hot he's on fire, but sometimes there are a lot of garbage perfromances in between good returns.
Australia has match winners in Hayden, Ponting, Gilchrist, Warne, McGrath... they can probably get away with carrying Lee through a lean trot... but how much better would the Aussie bowlers perform knowing that Bichel can hold up an end (bowls long spells too) and gradually eat away at a batsman's ability to score runs.
Batting is the same story for both players. Similar average at all levels. Lee can make quick runs but hasn't done so in a while, Bichel doesn't bash it about as much but hangs around and rotates the strike.
Better team player : Andy Bichel
Better matchwinner : Brett Lee
Overall : Andy Bichel, because in a 5 Test series you'd expect him to play well in 3-4 Tests.
Originally posted by wagstaff
But I wouldn't be so sure that Bichel will be picked ahead of Lee if Steve Waugh's comments after the match are anything to go by.
"But we as a team look beyond individuals. Statistics don't always reflect the true picture. For instance, Brett Lee bowled pretty well in the Third Test, but failed to get a wicket."
Brett Lee has always been Steve Waugh's love child.
wagstaff
23 Oct 2002, 15:50
Originally posted by DaveW
Brett Lee has always been Steve Waugh's love child.
All indicators would suggest that. From all reports it was he who pushed for Lee to be picked in the fifth Test at the Oval against England last year over Damien Fleming.
But Waugh is sensitive to such accusations. Apparently Waugh had a bit of an argument with David hookes last summer when Hookes implied that Lee had been kept in the team for that England match because of the NSW's mafia.
Navy Master
23 Oct 2002, 16:51
Brett Lee is in there because he has some talent and he is from NSW
Bichel is not in there because he is a Queenslander
Reason why Hodge is not playing Australian 2nd XI, he is from Victoria
bluechampion
23 Oct 2002, 17:05
Bichel.
He's a trier, and has scored a ton at first class level.
Not a great argument, but at least he has improved since his first test (some sesons ago now...).
Would of course prefer a Victorian left-arm paceman in the team though.
And i don't mean Ian Hewett.
mattyc2422
23 Oct 2002, 20:36
Andy Bichel by a length.
I've said it in the past, he is the better bowler to back up Dizz and McGrath.
Originally posted by wagstaff
"But we as a team look beyond individuals. Statistics don't always reflect the true picture. For instance, Brett Lee bowled pretty well in the Third Test, but failed to get a wicket."
What would count as bowling well? 1 delivery on line with the stumps an over?
dr nick
23 Oct 2002, 21:08
the result in this poll is overwhelming... if brett lee put as much effort on line and length as he did his hair, then id say him, but until then, bichel.
dr nick
23 Oct 2002, 21:13
Originally posted by DaveW
Brett Lee has always been Steve Waugh's love child.
you could say that about justin langer, it was steve who kept pushing for him to stay in the team when blewett, slater and hayden were all pushing for spots. steve told him that he was the best #3 batter in the world and look what happened from there.. you have to show a bit of faith, and keep players during rough trots, but i think its about time for lee though. but you certainly cant critisise steve waugh for giving him a chance, it has worked before, alas, not every time though
mattyc2422
23 Oct 2002, 21:47
Lee or Bichel?
I wonder who eats more Weetbix?
Kenny_01
24 Oct 2002, 00:03
I was the first one to pick Lee :D
GoEagles
24 Oct 2002, 17:30
Bichel at the moment
Poll agrees:
Bichel (24) - 96%
Lee (1) - 4%
Queensland is the best domestic team by a mile, so it's only fair they have at least 2 reps in the test team. Bichel.
dr nick
24 Oct 2002, 18:59
Originally posted by Squeak
Queensland is the best domestic team by a mile, so it's only fair they have at least 2 reps in the test team. Bichel.
i thought you got booted squeak, what happened there?
btw with comments like that its no surprise you got booted :p :p
how can NSW compete when all their stars are always unavailable??? ;) ;) :cool:
SeinDude
24 Oct 2002, 22:57
I think Brett Lee should be given a start in the first test but he is on notice as far as I'm concerned... we need him taking more wickets because Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Shane Warne can't be relied on all the time to bowl out the opposition.
Cheers!!
SeinDude
I'd like to say Brett, as much as I adore him and admire his style, but Wonder Boy [Bichel] certainly has the form for it, whereas Brett's fallen into one of those unfortunate lull patches that keep popping up all over the place.
But one thing I'm wondering about...is how do the selectors expect him to correct his wicketless spell if he isnt given a chance to get over it? He slumped in the tests in Sharjah and now they're looking to drop him...geez, give the man a chance.
But still, Wonder Boy has it.
Originally posted by Badger
I'd like to say Brett, as much as I adore him and admire his style, but Wonder Boy [Bichel] certainly has the form for it, whereas Brett's fallen into one of those unfortunate lull patches that keep popping up all over the place.
But one thing I'm wondering about...is how do the selectors expect him to correct his wicketless spell if he isnt given a chance to get over it? He slumped in the tests in Sharjah and now they're looking to drop him...geez, give the man a chance.
But still, Wonder Boy has it.
His form has been poor for some time. Not just Sharjah.
Originally posted by DaveW
His form has been poor for some time. Not just Sharjah.
You're right. My mistake. Could it be something to do with the operation he had, or has he had his fiteen minutes of fame?
NICK THE PIE MAN
3 Nov 2002, 13:08
Originally posted by wagstaff
If Lee is picked ahead of Bichel, the Queensland crowd won't take too kindly to it, especially if Lee struggles during that match.
lol!
My mate clucas91 and I are going up next friday and he has already threatened action against Lee:
clucas91: "If he is playing ahead of Bichel, im going to be yelling abuse to him all day!" :D
Originally posted by NICK THE PIE MAN
lol!
My mate clucas91 and I are going up next friday and he has already threatened action against Lee:
clucas91: "If he is playing ahead of Bichel, im going to be yelling abuse to him all day!" :D
cant wait, only 4 more sleeps
Bulldog1954
3 Nov 2002, 14:52
It has to be Bichel, Lee has been ****e for 18 months, his only saving grace may be he is from NSW
Considering it is at the Gabba I would pick Bichel.
Lee has not been the same since the back problems and has dropped a few kph. Dropping Lee may give him a goal to work towards and hopefully get him back up there as a test bowler.
Anyway, it's about time that QLD started to pull their weight in the test side and stop leaving it to NSW to supply all of the test players. The Blues might be able to win the Sheffield Shield this year. Not a bad side with Slater, Bevan, M. Waugh, Clarke, Phelps and Richards as the batting line up and Lee, MacGill and Bracken in the bowling attack!