Australia are Ageing

[bunsen burner]

Originally posted by davers11
and brett lee is as safe as houses.

???????? That is just clearly not true. Regardless whether he stays or goes, the selectors must at least be talking about him.

Whilst I believe M.Waugh is 50/50 to get dropped, I would be surprised if they picked Lee ahead of Bichel for the Brisbane test.

 

[dr nick]

id say mark waugh is about 20/80 of getting dropped, whereas lee is about 40/60

actually, seeing its at the gabba, lengthen lee's odds to about 60/40

 

[davers11]

I know who i would rather face, and its not Brett Lee!
Surely there is no comparison Brett Lee is a lot better bowler who has just been out of luck at late, Bichel is a good trier but he is still a battler.

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by davers11
I know who i would rather face, and its not Brett Lee!
Surely there is no comparison Brett Lee is a lot better bowler who has just been out of luck at late, Bichel is a good trier but he is still a battler.

assuming your not some gun cricketer who has had the experience of facing bowlers anywhere near that quick, im not surprised you'd rather face bichel.

but to the average test cricketer, the choice is really between a guy who bowls a couple of half trackers or half volleys an over and gives you plenty of width, compared to a guy whose line and length is far more consistent, coupled with a beauty of an outswinger.

 

[bunsen burner]

Originally posted by davers11
Surely there is no comparison Brett Lee is a lot better bowler who has just been out of luck at late, Bichel is a good trier but he is still a battler.

I agree completely. I've always thought that Bichel is not up to international standard and Lee is. BUT, Lee is out of touch and Bichel is bowling well. It's not like Lee's career will be over. If he gets dropped, he will play some Pura Cup, regain his form and get reselected. The fact that the first test is in Brisbane (Bichel's home ground), surely must be in Bichel's favour.

 

[wagstaff]

Originally posted by bunsen burner
I agree completely. I've always thought that Bichel is not up to international standard and Lee is. BUT, Lee is out of touch and Bichel is bowling well. It's not like Lee's career will be over. If he gets dropped, he will play some Pura Cup, regain his form and get reselected. The fact that the first test is in Brisbane (Bichel's home ground), surely must be in Bichel's favour.

Lee could also do with a demotion to domestic level so his ego doesn't grow to record proportions. One of his greatest problems is that he hardly ever acknowledges that he isn't bowling that well. Either he's just been unlucky (after Pakistan series) or he focuses on how much pace he's getting (after the away South African series).

Steve Waugh's policy of backing players in the side and showing enormous faith in them has benefitted many players of the current lineup, but I think it has been to Lee's detriment. Lee just can't acknowledge that his Test performances over the last 18 months have been sub-standard and have covered up by other members of the team.

 

[davers11]

Originally posted by nicko18


assuming your not some gun cricketer who has had the experience of facing bowlers anywhere near that quick, im not surprised you'd rather face bichel.

but to the average test cricketer, the choice is really between a guy who bowls a couple of half trackers or half volleys an over and gives you plenty of width, compared to a guy whose line and length is far more consistent, coupled with a beauty of an outswinger.

Have faced both in nets, Lee is a very danerous customer, while Bichel toils on a line and length and waits for the batsmen to make a mistake rather than get them out. Its frustrating to lesser batsmen but test batsmen are another story.
Also faced Harmison and Jones in england over the winter, Jones is deceptively sharp and will trouble the Aussies if he is fit, while Harmison could be anything if he bowled a better line.

 

[jim boy]

Here's a little stat to compare Bichel and Lee

Average prior to 1/1/2001

Lee 16.07
Bichel 46.77

Average after 1/1/2001

Lee 38.55
Bichel 16.83

Draw your own conclusions.

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by davers11


Have faced both in nets, Lee is a very danerous customer, while Bichel toils on a line and length and waits for the batsmen to make a mistake rather than get them out. Its frustrating to lesser batsmen but test batsmen are another story.
Also faced Harmison and Jones in england over the winter, Jones is deceptively sharp and will trouble the Aussies if he is fit, while Harmison could be anything if he bowled a better line.

which grade club do you play for?

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by Jim Boy
Here's a little stat to compare Bichel and Lee

Average prior to 1/1/2001

Lee 16.07
Bichel 46.77

Average after 1/1/2001

Lee 38.55
Bichel 16.83

Draw your own conclusions.

is this a test average?? if so, bichel would have only played a handful of matches, making these stats less relevant (but still alarming)

 

[davers11]

Originally posted by nicko18


which grade club do you play for?

In England i trained at Durham, filled in for a few 2nd XI games but played the season in the North East Premier League for Gateshead Fell.

 

[jim boy]

Originally posted by nicko18


is this a test average?? if so, bichel would have only played a handful of matches, making these stats less relevant (but still alarming)

Yeah, they're test averages. True enough Bichels average is not that relevant, 2 matches in UAE and 1 match against south Africa in Melbourne would never pass statistical scrutiny. For the same three matches, Lee averaged 18.875. I think the main issue though is Lee's average since the Melbourne Test in 2000 (his last test that summer) is not good. The fact that his best innings haul is still his first is a worry, inviting comparisons with Bob Massie, who actually had a test average of 34 when you discount his first test.