Brett Lee concerns?

Question

Ricky Ponting has expressed concerns over the possible 'burn-out' of Brett Lee, owing to the weight of his work load.With Johnson struggling more pressure has been brought to bear on Lee, who has bowled 1673 deliveries in the last 6 tests, 371 more than Clark & 178 more than Johnson. His 13 wickets at 19.53 in the Carribean has been a great effort, but Ponting says he was totally spent in the closing stages of the Antigua test. What do you think Australia could do to spare Brett & keep those wickets falling?

Answer 1

I guess the work load for BL is well discussed above.  For mine I would rest him for the 3rd test.  I think that it is time to blood one of the others and that could be Doug Bollinger.  His figures for the past season before he got injured were outstanding, so it would be could time to see if he has the potential to step up.

Answer 2

Yes i agree with The Oracle also...

They are relying on Lee way too much...

Give him a break in this last test-as Cossy said we have retained the Frank Worrell Trophy so rest Lee,leave it up to Johnson,Clarke and the spin bowlers to look after this one i say...We need Binga for the ODI's coming up...

Answer 3

Brett Lee is Australia's star bowler... they need him.

but saying that Australia's bowling attack is quite good when compared to other teams.. so maybe they should use Brett Lee when they really need him and not so often, depending on how he feels about it.

This is Brett Lee's concern he knows how he feels about this better than anybody else.

If he feels that he is heading for a burn out then something should be done about it.

He's the type of bowler you want around.

Answer 4

That is up to the others to step up to the plate. They need to stop being chumps!

I don't know about this Johnson bloke, he just doesn't look like he want's to there sometimes.

If there are no other options, Ponting is left with little choice than to use him in the same way.

Our bowling stocks are stretched a little at moment, so it is up to the other guys to start performing at higher level and earn their money. They are in the side to bowl, so bowl they should. They are professionals and need to be as potent at taking wickets as Lee is.

Answer 5

You made the right point Australia needs to replace Johnson with someone who can take wickets and keep bowling tight also they need spinner who can bowl 30 overs in a day without givving much runs otherwise lee will soon start to get injured. Its his amazing fitness (touch wood) which is saving him

Answer 6

Brett lee is the best fast bowler in the world at the moment, and now that shoiab is having various problems, he is also the fastest and most feared fast bowler. I think he should play less one day matches, against weaker sides like new zealand, bangladesh, west indies, zibabwe, ect...

Moreover brett lee is getting quite old now for a bowler of his pace, i think hes approaching 32. He has lost quite a bit of weight, and isnt looking very healthy, but he still is such a sport, never tries to show any weakness or fatigue.

i know that stuart clarke is a brilliant bowler, but he doesnt seem to bowl a lot of overs. Moreover johnson isnt doing very well, however he is a good prospect, and does bowl many overs on the trot.

Australia needs to find a quality spinner in a hurry, as they are going to tour india for 4 test matches, India at home is australias biggest opposistion, and they want to win it badly, after the cb series defeat.

Obiviously australia is going to have to pick at least 1 genuine spinner in the side, if they havent got a decent spinner, then the likes of sehwag, sachin, ganguly and laxman will murder the spinner, and that mean more workload for brett lee. Brett lee is crucial to australia, if they are two win against india in india in a test series. He is one of the few bowlers who has consistently troubled the powerful famed fab 5, he has even troubled the great sachin on numerous occasions, i cant recall many bowlers who have done that consistently

Answer 7

Boo hoo, England bowlers are always over worked and injured and have had to do without Simon Jones and Andrew Flintoff most of the time since 2005.

Answer 8

maybe rest him from the last test weve alread won the frank worrel trophy

it might put the rest of the bowling attack on notice if they dont perform without him

Answer 9

Yes, Brett Lee is bearing a heavy workload now that McGrath, Gillespie and Warne have gone. He has finally proved that he can lead the attack, but at what cost?

One thing I can't understand about Ponting's captaincy: his underuse of Stuart Clark. Clark always appears to bowl fewer overs than the other pacemen. This is either a lack of faith from Ponting, or a fitness issue.

Anyway, I digress. Australia need to protect Lee in the longer term, or he will end up crocked. They should leave him out of the ODI team (not all the time, but perhaps just playing half of the matches). This will give him a break, and also hand an opprtunity to another pace bowler - Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, to gain experience of the international arena.

Answer 10

Fast bowlers always carry the risk of injuries, even more especially when you're the main strike bowler of your team. Lee might've been exhausted with the amount of cricket he's playing- went straight to Windies tour after the IPL & takes its toll. Ponting can let him bowl short spells or give a rest for a test to save him for further schedule.

Answer 11

rest Lee!!!! since Warne and McGrath retired, he is doin all the work. they need to get some of the youngsters in the team. Keep him fresh until the India test series. Let Johnson or Clark feel how it is like to be the leader of the bowling attacks and they might improve because of this

the selectors must take risks because as far as i can see , once the most feared, the aussie bowling attack is getting weaker

Answer 12

If Ponting is right,  maybe bring back Shaun Tait this time and see how he go...  but having to say that..  australia needed a hands on batsman, Mitchell usually is good in batting although he isn't batting well during the first and second game of the windies.  Also maybe bring on Watson too and new spinner and let Michael and Symmonds concentrate on their best job batting and fielding coz they are good at that..

Answer 13

agree with u and very good question.