Bluey
29-06-2009, 06:50 PM
Jason Gillespie says Brett Lee is in danger of falling into the same twilight zone that swallowed the South Australian during the 2005 Ashes tour.
Despite a month in England for the Twenty20 World Cup, Lee failed to make an impact in the four-day match against an understrength Sussex in what almost became an embarrassing opener for the Ashes tour.
Australia sent down an extraordinary 38 no-balls for the match with Lee (3-53 and 1-51) the worst offender with 14, including taking a wicket off a no ball.
Lee's did not strike in his opening new-ball spell in either innings as Australia yesterday failed to finish off Sussex (7-373) and the match ended in a draw, with the county side 45 runs short of its target.
The pressure on Lee only increased after the match when coach Tim Nielsen endorsed standout quick Peter Siddle for the first Test, but stopped well short of delivering the same endorsement for Lee.
"I think Peter Siddle is a lock. He is bowling beautifully," Nielsen said.
"All things being equal, his body being in good shape, he is ready to go. He is one of our two outstanding bowlers in my opinion."
Former Test paceman Gillespie, dropped at the age of 30 after three wickets at an average of 100 in the first three Ashes Tests of 2005, said Lee had yet to prove himself in English conditions.
He pointed to the fact Lee has struggled on his two previous Ashes tours, claiming 29 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of more than 45 while conceding more than four runs an over.
"There's no fitness issues with Brett," Gillespie said.
"Brett's got to learn to master English conditions. That's going to be his biggest challenge, not so much his fitness.
"It's going to be the slower wickets, so his pace doesn't have the same impact. He's not bowling as fast any more. We know that."
Lee was the only paceman playing against Sussex who had the benefit of the Twenty20 World Cup as a lead in.
Lee is one of just three Australian pacemen to taken 300 Test wickets, with his 310 behind Glenn McGrath (563) and Dennis Lillee (355).
But he is 32, an age when few Australian fast bowlers have continued to make an impact.
Siddle, 24, took 2-33 and 1-35 and was unlucky not to take more wickets.
He bowled with a threatening and uncompromising style that Nielsen and skipper Ricky Ponting greatly admire.
"(Siddle) is doing a fine job. Every time he bowls he gets better," Nielsen said.
"He presents himself so well. He's a young, hard fit body that wants to bowl fast for Australia and I'm really impressed with him."
Australia travelled last night to Worcester for the final lead-up match before the first Test, a clash against an England Lions side that starts on Wednesday night.
Spearhead Mitchell Johnson will play after being rested from the Sussex game, while Australia is sweating on the fitness of allrounder Shane Watson (thigh).
Watson has resumed light training but would need an outstanding performance in the tour match, if he plays, to make a case for Test selection.
Despite a month in England for the Twenty20 World Cup, Lee failed to make an impact in the four-day match against an understrength Sussex in what almost became an embarrassing opener for the Ashes tour.
Australia sent down an extraordinary 38 no-balls for the match with Lee (3-53 and 1-51) the worst offender with 14, including taking a wicket off a no ball.
Lee's did not strike in his opening new-ball spell in either innings as Australia yesterday failed to finish off Sussex (7-373) and the match ended in a draw, with the county side 45 runs short of its target.
The pressure on Lee only increased after the match when coach Tim Nielsen endorsed standout quick Peter Siddle for the first Test, but stopped well short of delivering the same endorsement for Lee.
"I think Peter Siddle is a lock. He is bowling beautifully," Nielsen said.
"All things being equal, his body being in good shape, he is ready to go. He is one of our two outstanding bowlers in my opinion."
Former Test paceman Gillespie, dropped at the age of 30 after three wickets at an average of 100 in the first three Ashes Tests of 2005, said Lee had yet to prove himself in English conditions.
He pointed to the fact Lee has struggled on his two previous Ashes tours, claiming 29 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of more than 45 while conceding more than four runs an over.
"There's no fitness issues with Brett," Gillespie said.
"Brett's got to learn to master English conditions. That's going to be his biggest challenge, not so much his fitness.
"It's going to be the slower wickets, so his pace doesn't have the same impact. He's not bowling as fast any more. We know that."
Lee was the only paceman playing against Sussex who had the benefit of the Twenty20 World Cup as a lead in.
Lee is one of just three Australian pacemen to taken 300 Test wickets, with his 310 behind Glenn McGrath (563) and Dennis Lillee (355).
But he is 32, an age when few Australian fast bowlers have continued to make an impact.
Siddle, 24, took 2-33 and 1-35 and was unlucky not to take more wickets.
He bowled with a threatening and uncompromising style that Nielsen and skipper Ricky Ponting greatly admire.
"(Siddle) is doing a fine job. Every time he bowls he gets better," Nielsen said.
"He presents himself so well. He's a young, hard fit body that wants to bowl fast for Australia and I'm really impressed with him."
Australia travelled last night to Worcester for the final lead-up match before the first Test, a clash against an England Lions side that starts on Wednesday night.
Spearhead Mitchell Johnson will play after being rested from the Sussex game, while Australia is sweating on the fitness of allrounder Shane Watson (thigh).
Watson has resumed light training but would need an outstanding performance in the tour match, if he plays, to make a case for Test selection.