Lee could return in June, says his physio

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, April 29 (IANS) Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee is ‘shattered’ by his latest injury but he could return to the side by June, team physio Alex Kountouris says.

The 33-year-old paceman broke down with a strain of the pronator teres muscle in his right forearm during Tuesday’s World Twenty20 warm-up game against Zimbabwe in St Lucia.

‘He was very disappointed, gutted,’ Kountouris was quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Lee will be replaced by Ryan Harris who is preparing to board a flight from Brisbane to the Caribbean.

Lee heads to Sydney for more scans to assess his recovery time, which Kountouris says could be five weeks.

‘If he wants to come back from this he can,’ Kountouris says.

‘The common factor (in Lee’s injuries) is he has got to come back and he has got to do something that is very difficult to do at the best of times and he’s trying to do it with a body that is being rehabilitated.’

‘It’s whether he wants to keep doing it and so far he has It’s (injury) serious enough to send him home, but I think as a long-term injury it shouldn’t be that serious,’ he said.

Lee hasn’t represented Australia since a one-day game against India in October 2009.

His past two Australian summers have been ruined by ankle and elbow surgery. He also failed to play a Test on the 2009 Ashes tour after suffering a side strain and has since retired from the five-day game.

He was unable to complete his Indian Premier League this year because of a fractured thumb.

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Harris will be happy to step aside for fully-fit Lee

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia, Apr 30(ANI): Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has said that he will happily stand aside for a fully-fit Brett Lee.

Harris, who has been called up as a replacement for injured Lee, said prior to the team selection for the Twenty20 World Cup, he was clear that Lee deserved his spot in the Australian team.

“I knew if Brett was going to be fit, I knew he would go in front of me (in the World Cup squad). Brett Lee is a champion bowler, and has been for some time so I am happy to step aside and for him to take my spot – he deserves his spot,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Harris, as saying.

Harris admitted he did not expect to be flying out to the Caribbean instead of fellow fast bowler Doug Bollinger.

“I didn’t, actually. Well, I wasn’t sure. I spent a bit of time with Dougy over at the Indian Premier League (IPL) and watched him play – he is bowling really well. In those sorts of situations you hope that you do get the nod and luckily I have,” Harris said.

The 30-year-old is further expressed confidence in Lee forcing his way back into the national one-day side for the July tour against Pakistan in England.

“I think they will, absolutely. Any talk of him retiring from all forms is very premature. I don’t think you could rule him out,” Harris said.

“He has had a bad trot. Hopefully he will get over that and come out on the England tour and our summer. He will bounce back. He’s a champion athlete,” he added. (ANI)

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Harris will be happy to step aside for fully-fit Lee

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia, Apr 30(ANI): Australian fast bowler Ryan Harris has said that he will happily stand aside for a fully-fit Brett Lee.

Harris, who has been called up as a replacement for injured Lee, said prior to the team selection for the Twenty20 World Cup, he was clear that Lee deserved his spot in the Australian team.

“I knew if Brett was going to be fit, I knew he would go in front of me (in the World Cup squad). Brett Lee is a champion bowler, and has been for some time so I am happy to step aside and for him to take my spot – he deserves his spot,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Harris, as saying.

Harris admitted he did not expect to be flying out to the Caribbean instead of fellow fast bowler Doug Bollinger.

“I didn’t, actually. Well, I wasn’t sure. I spent a bit of time with Dougy over at the Indian Premier League (IPL) and watched him play – he is bowling really well. In those sorts of situations you hope that you do get the nod and luckily I have,” Harris said.

The 30-year-old is further expressed confidence in Lee forcing his way back into the national one-day side for the July tour against Pakistan in England.

“I think they will, absolutely. Any talk of him retiring from all forms is very premature. I don’t think you could rule him out,” Harris said.

“He has had a bad trot. Hopefully he will get over that and come out on the England tour and our summer. He will bounce back. He’s a champion athlete,” he added. (ANI)

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‘Shattered’ Lee vows to play on despite latest injury setback

April 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia, Apr 30(ANI): Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has been shattered by his latest injury setback, but he is determined to play on and force his way back into the national one-day side for the July tour against Pakistan in England.

Lee sustained a muscle strain in his right forearm during the warm up game against Zimbabwe, which has ruled him out of the Twenty20 World Cup and also raised doubts over his international career

However, Lee’s manager, Neil Maxwell, said the 33-year-old fast bowler was not considering international retirement following his fifth notable injury in the past 16 months.

“I don’t think that he is at that mindset at the moment,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Maxwell, as saying.

“There is no doubt this is the home straight [of his career], but he knows that last October-November he was playing the best cricket of his career,” he added.

Teammate Nathan Hauritz is also confident that Lee would be able to make recover fully and make a strong comeback.

“Knowing Brett the way I do, he’ll work hard because he still wants to play a lot of cricket. He’ll have to do a lot of work,” he added.

Earlier, Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris had said that the injury was unrelated to Lee’s career-threatening surgery on the same elbow late last year, and said the fast bowler could be back in action within five weeks.

“I think as a long-term injury it shouldn”t be that serious. It’s basically a strain on his forearm muscle just on the inside of his elbow. We don”t see a lot of them. His long-term future is not the problem,” Kountouris said.

“The issue now is whether Lee can summon the mental strength for yet another comeback for a body that keeps asking: when is enough enough?” he added.

The 33-year-old Lee, who has also battled foot, ankle and rib problems, had retired from Test cricket in February to prolong his career in the shorter forms of the game. (ANI)

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Lee ‘gutted’ by injury blow: Oz team physio

April 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia, Apr 29(ANI): Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris has said that fast bowler Brett Lee is “gutted” by his latest injury, which has ruled him out of the Twenty20 World Cup and also raises doubts over his international career.

Lee sustained a muscle strain in his right forearm during the warm up game against Zimbabwe.

“He was very disappointed – gutted. It would be very, very hard I would imagine. In the last 12 months he has hardly played and he has had four different injuries,” The Herald Sun quoted Kountouris, as saying.

“He had ankle surgery early last year, he had that side strain in England, and then he got that elbow injury after that. One is sort of a consequence of another,” he added.

Kountouris maintained the injury is unrelated to Lee’s career-threatening surgery on the same elbow late last year, and said the fast bowler could be back in action within five weeks.

“I think as a long-term injury it shouldn’t be that serious. It’s basically a strain on his forearm muscle just on the inside of his elbow. We don’t see a lot of them. His long-term future is not the problem,” Kountouris said.

“The issue now is whether Lee can summon the mental strength for yet another comeback for a body that keeps asking: when is enough enough?” he added.

The 33-year-old Lee, who has also battled foot, ankle and rib problems, had retired from Test cricket in February to prolong his career in the shorter forms of the game. (ANI)

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Injured Lee likely to be ruled out of T20 World Cup

April 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

St. Lucia, Apr 28(ANI): Australian fast bowler Brett Lee is likely to be ruled out of the Twenty20 World Cup after sustaining a muscle strain in his right forearm during the warm up game against Zimbabwe.

Lee complained of a muscle strain in the same spot of the right elbow that required surgery in December last year and hastened his retirement from Test cricket in February.

He took 1 for 13 in four overs in the match at Beausejour Cricket Ground, and later underwent MRI scans to determine the seriousness of the strain.

Australian physio Alex Kontouris, however was adamant that the injury was unrelated to Lee’s elbow surgery, Fox Sports reports.

The Australian team management has already put in a request to the International Cricket Council to see if they can replace the injured fast bowler.

While no names have been mentioned, fellow fast bowlers Doug Bollinger and Ryan Harris are being considered as the logical choice. (ANI)

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Lee dreams of forming ‘fearsome foursome’ pace attack for T20 World Cup

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Apr 27(ANI): Australian fast bowler Brett Lee believes he can form part of a fearsome four-man pace attack for the first game against defending Twenty20 World Cup champion Pakistan on Sunday.

“I’m not here to carry the drinks, I’m here to play cricket. We’ve got four guys who can bowl over 150 [km/h], which is a bit like the 1980s West Indies set-up,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Lee, as saying.

“We’re hoping to use that to our advantage. Even being stopped in the street now, hearing the locals saying that you’ve got four blokes who can bowl over 150 clicks. The word’s travelling about ‘look at this cartel of fast bowlers’,” he added.

Lee will be hoping to make his international comeback after being sidelined for six months due to an elbow injury.

He was earlier part of the Indian premier League (IPL), but he went wicketless in the tournament and conceded 149 runs in 14.3 overs.

“I was happy with the way the pace was coming through [in the IPL],” he said.

However, his dreams may be shattered as the turning St Lucian pitch is expected to offer minimal assistance to fast bowlers, while spinners Nathan Hauritz and Steven Smith will be strongly considered for the opener. (ANI)

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Lee says word is out about Australia’s menacing pace arsenal

April 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Apr 26 (ANI): Fast bowler Brett Lee is hoping to become part of the Australian attack in the World Twenty20, and said that word is already out on the streets of St Lucia that a menacing pace arsenal could be about to take the field.

Captain Michael Clarke said the line-ups for his side’s two Group A matches against Pakistan on May 2 in St Lucia and Bangladesh on May 5 in Barbados will be based on the conditions.

“It is possible they (four quicks) could all play. It’s about adapting to conditions,” The Age quoted him, as saying.

Lee said he’d jump at the chance to partner Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson.

“I hope so. I’m not here to carry the drinks. We’ve got four guys who can bowl over 150 clicks, which is a bit like the 1980s West Indies set-up,” Lee said.

“We’re happy about that and we’re hoping to use that to our advantage. Even being stopped in the street now, hearing the locals saying that you’ve got four blokes who can bowl over 150 clicks,” he said.

“The word’s travelling about look at this cartel of fast bowlers,” Lee said.

Australia plays warm-up games on Tuesday against Zimbabwe and two days later against Windward XI. (ANI)

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Brett Lee declares himself fit for T20 World Cup

April 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Apr 21 (ANI): Australian pacer Brett Lee, who broke his thumb during the Indian Premier League, has declared himself fit and ready to return to international action in the upcoming World Twenty20 tournament in the West Indies.

Training with the Australian squad in Brisbane, Lee on Wednesday had his first bowl since breaking his thumb in a forgettable four-match stint in the Indian Premier League.

The 33-year-old said he bowled without problem and felt only minor pain in his thumb in the indoor nets at the Gabba.

“There was limited pain which was good and didn”t stop me from bowling which is great,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Lee, as saying.

“It has been difficult coming back, but I saw the surgeon (this week) and he cleared me to play. I’ve played with pain my whole life and a broken thumb won’t stop me from bowling,” he said.

Lee’s shortened IPL stint for the Kings XI Punjab was a short-lived comeback from elbow surgery in December.

Lee is one of four specialist fast bowlers in the 15-man Australian squad along with Mitchell Johnson, Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait. (ANI)

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New South Wales speedster Copeland touted as the next McGrath

April 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Apr 17 (ANI): New South Wales bowler Trent Copeland, who played just five Sheffield Shield matches last season but managed to take more wickets than Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Doug Bollinger did in their debut seasons, is being compared with McGrath for his accurate bowling.

Copeland up to the under-19s was a wicketkeeper-batsman and only started bowling four years ago after he got tired of broken fingers.

He has taken 35 wickets at 17.57 to kick off his first-class career, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

“He is very similar to Glenn McGrath,” Cricket NSW chief executive David Gilbert said.

“You hate to saddle a young guy with so much expectation but Trent”s introduction to first-class has been truly extraordinary. He has got that really awkward in-between length like McGrath that the batsman doesn”t know whether to come forward to or go back,” he said.

And there is no doubt in Gilbert’s mind that Copeland will be difficult to shift from the line-up by Bollinger, Clark and Nathan Bracken for the first Shield game of next season.

“Guys like McGrath and Lee and Clark had been in the under-17s and 19s, everyone knew about them, there is an aura and hype surrounding those people,” Copeland said.

“I am not afraid to have that around me but other teams I suppose focused on other bowlers like Moises Henriques and Josh Hazlewood, they didn’t know anything about me. They knew what these other guys were bringing to the table and could set plans around that,” he said.

Copeland’s 8-92 on debut against Queensland was the second best match return by any debutant in NSW’s history. (ANI)

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Harris reminds selectors of T20 worth

April 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Australian paceman Ryan Harris has sent a reminder to selectors about his worth in the Twenty20 arena with a three-wicket man-of-the-match performance for the Deccan Chargers in the Indian Premier League.

Left out of Australia’s squad for next month’s ICC World Twenty20 for struggling veteran Brett Lee, Harris claimed a stunning 3 for 18 from his four overs as the Chargers chased down Chennai’s 8 for 138 to win by six wickets with five balls to spare.

Former Test star Andrew Symonds also played his part, finishing with the miserly bowling figures of 1 for 23 before hitting 27 not out off 22 balls, including two sixes, to guide Deccan home.

Among the other Australians, Matthew Hayden made 19 off 18 and Mike Hussey just 8 off 11 for Chennai, with Test paceman Doug Bollinger notching figures of 0 for 31 from three overs.

For Deccan, Adam Gilchrist could manage just 7 from 8 balls.

Deccan’s Tirumalasetti Suman (55) smashed a second straight half-century to lead the Chargers to a second win on the trot after five straight losses.

“Doesn’t happen often (a bowler getting man of the match), does it?” Harris said.

“We have talked about our last five-six overs, our batsmen should have been chasing 35-40 runs less in many matches.

“We have been a bit predictable so we have to mix it up, and the main thing for me is I wasn’t executing the yorker well.

“So that’s something we are still working on.”

Chargers captain Gilchrist said putting back-to-back wins together had been crucial for his seventh-placed side’s finals chances.

“We had to,” he said.

“That’s been an accusation, or suggestion, that we have relied too much on big-name players, and they haven’t done well this time.

“But they have lifted their games, and also the others around them.

“We can win three out of three, we have got to believe we can do it.”

In Saturday’s other match, Royal Challengers Bangalore made 3 for 164 to chase down Kolkata Knight Riders’ 9 for 160 and win by seven wickets with 17 balls to spare.

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Selectors take ‘leap of faith’ on Lee

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Brett Lee will need to lift himself dramatically if he wishes to be anything more than a net bowler in Australia’s World Twenty20 campaign next month.

Three matches into his return with Indian Premier League side King’s XI Punjab and Lee’s figures read an unflattering 0-111 from 10.3 overs.

National chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch admits his panel were flying blind when they chose 33-year-old Lee for the tournament without watching him bowl, and on current form he seems likely to be on the plane only as an ageing squad player and mentor to the rest of the attack.

“That’s the risk we took when we picked him, we knew at the time of that selection that there were about five weeks to go before the World Cup, which was a lot of preparation time,” Hilditch said Wednesday.

“It would’ve been better for us when we picked him in the T20 World Cup that he’d played more cricket but it is what it is.

“He’s coming back through the IPL and we’re trusting he’s going to be right for the World Cup.

“We’re obviously watching it but we’re expecting that he’s going to take some time.

“He’s not having any elbow pain and seems to have made a good recovery from the injury, so I think it’s just a matter of getting more match practice.”

Nevertheless, Lee was named as one of CA’s 25 centrally-contracted players on Wednesday, and Hilditch said he still held out hope that the 33-year-old still had a place in the limited overs set-up.

He has already retired from Test cricket following the setback of an elbow ailment that kept him out of the whole of the home summer.

Hilditch described his perseverance with Lee as a “leap of faith” but one worth taking given the fast bowler’s decorated record in limited overs cricket and with the 2011 50-over World Cup on the horizon.

“Brett at his best is certainly still in our thoughts for 50-over and T20 cricket,” he said.

“We’re hoping he will make the recovery we expect and still playing IPL and getting back to his best.

“So I suppose it is a leap of faith, but a leap of faith in a player who’s taken 300-odd Test wickets and been one of our best, so we’re giving him that opportunity.”

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Cricket Australia shakes up contract list

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Cricket Australia has made huge changes to its contract list, dropping Victorian batsman David Hussey and NSW pacemen Nathan Bracken and Stuart Clark.

That trio, along with Victoria’s Brad Hodge and South Australian wicketkeeper Graham Manou, have all been removed from the list of 25 contracted players.

The newcomers are quicks Ryan Harris and Clint McKay, wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine, allr-ounder Steven Smith and batsman Adam Voges.

Those five players all started the 2009-10 period without CA contracts, but picked them up by the end after receiving sufficient upgrade points during that time.

Veteran paceman Brett Lee retained his contract, despite his recent injury and form struggles, while fellow speedster Shaun Tait is also still on the list despite his status as a virtual Twenty20 specialist.

The list was assessed based on the players’ form over the past 12 months and the likelihood of Australian selection over the coming year.

All contracted players will receive a minimum $200,000 retainer, plus match fees, tour fees and prize money for any on-field success.

“Shaun Tait has had his contact renewed as we see him as an important member of the ICC World Twenty20 squad and a real chance to force his way back into the Australian 50 over side. At his best he is a powerful weapon in limited overs cricket,” selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said.

“It is disappointing for Stuart Clark and Nathan Bracken who have not received contracts for 2010-11.

“Both Stuart and Nathan have fantastic records for Australia and not renewing their contracts was a very hard decision.

“The reality is that other bowlers have seized the opportunity over the last six months in both Test and limited overs cricket.

“David Hussey is also very unlucky not to receive a contract after a very successful domestic season and is part of our ICC World Twenty20 squad.

“The outstanding form of our 50 over one-day side over the last 12 months meant that he narrowly missed a contract this year.”

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Lee, Hussey return to T20 fold

March 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Australia’s selectors have erred on the side of experience for next month’s ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean, naming Brett Lee and Mike Hussey after a summer of experimenting without them.

Lee has only played one match – returning an unthreatening 0 for 39 from four overs for Kings XI Punjab in the Indian Premier League – since recovering from a serious elbow injury, but the 33-year-old was nonetheless chosen ahead of Ryan Harris, who will wonder what he has done wrong.

Hussey, meanwhile, has not played a T20 match for the national side since last year’s tour of England, and selection chairman Andrew Hilditch made a point of saying he was not being rested earlier in the summer.

In his place had been Travis Birt, another curious omission from the squad after limited opportunities to press his case as a young and muscular hitter in the middle order.

The selectors’ reversion to Lee and Hussey is a conservative call, but Hilditch defended the decision as opting for two of the better international T20 performers Australia has had.

“While Brett Lee hasn’t played the amount of cricket we would’ve liked him to in preparation for this World Cup, at his best he is one of the best Twenty20 cricketers in the world,” he said.

“He also has the opportunity of continuing to play in the IPL as preparation for this tournament.

“Ryan Harris is extremely unlucky to miss selection given his strong performances in all forms of the game in recent times for Australia.

“Travis Birt is also unlucky to miss selection. He also had limited opportunity leading up to selection but we’ve gone with Mike Hussey who brings great international experience and is in fantastic form in all formats of the game right now.”

Hilditch and his panel have spent considerable time mulling over their options for a tournament the Australians are yet to win, despite its pre-eminence in the game’s other formats in recent years.

A more concerted effort to choose players on the strength of their T20 performances has seen the inclusion of the young all-rounders Daniel Christian and Steve Smith, plus Dirk Nannes, who represented the Netherlands in England last year.

“We’ve been preparing hard for this tournament since the last event and we’re pleased with the squad’s performance in recent games, under the captaincy of Michael Clarke,” said Hilditch.

“The squad has a good mix of experience and exciting young talent and is capable, at its best, of playing competitive and entertaining Twenty20 cricket.”

Australian squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Cameron White, Daniel Christian, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Dirk Nannes, Tim Paine, Steve Smith, Shaun Tait, David Warner, Shane Watson.

- AAP

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Lee named in Australian Twenty20 World Cup squad

March 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Mar 30(ANI): Australian fast bowler Brett Lee has been named in the national squad for the Twenty20 World Cup to be played in West Indies next month.

Lee underwent an elbow surgery last year, and has not played for Australia since the tour of India in October.

The 33-year-old has played only one game since making his come back– the Indian Premier League game for King’s XI Punjab last week. He has been chosen ahead of in-form fast bowler Ryan Harris.

“While Brett Lee hasn”t played the amount of cricket we would”ve liked him to in preparation for this World Cup, at his best he is one of the best Twenty20 cricketers in the world. He also has the opportunity of continuing to play in the IPL as preparation for this tournament,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Andrew Hilditch, Australia chairman of selectors, as saying.

Australian batsman Mike Hussey and all-rounder Daniel Christian have also been included.

Cameron White has been named as vice-captain of the team for the tournament.

Australian Team:

Michael Clarke (captain), Cameron White, Daniel Christian, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, David Hussey, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Dirk Nannes, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, Shaun Tait, David Warner and Shane Watson. (ANI)

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Chandigarh terror threat part reason behind Lee’s return to Sydney for recovery

March 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Melbourne, Mar 19 (ANI): Australian fast bowler Brett Lee’s management has confirmed that the security environment in India played a part in his decision to return to Sydney to have his surgically repaired elbow checked for the Indian Premier League.

Lee, however intends to return to his Punjab Kings XI franchise upon receiving medical clearance from Cricket Australia.

“From a security point of view he’d prefer to be spending the time waiting in Sydney rather than Chandigarh,” Lee’s manager, Neil Maxwell, said.

Lee has been training in India under the guidance of former NSW physiotherapist Pat Farhart and has been in contact with CA”s medical team since his retirement from Test cricket last month, The Age reports.

CA said the trip home was part of a plan to ease the fast bowler back to fitness before the final squad of 15 was named for the ICC World Twenty20, which starts next month.

Shaun Marsh, who missed the New Zealand tour with a bulging disc, is also awaiting the green light from CA to join the Kings XI. (ANI)

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Lee has great supporter base in India, says NSW coach

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Sep.16 (ANI): New South Wales cricket team coach Mathew Mott believes that fast bowler Brett Lee will have a huge impact during next month’s Champions League tournament in India because he has a huge supporter base in the country.

“He’s got a great supporter base in India. The way he carries himself, he’s a great icon for Australian sport. He will be welcomed back with open arms, but I can’t see how anyone could go in there claiming favouritism. It’s just such an unknown tournament. It’s two games, it’s sink or swim straight away.

If you have a bad couple of hours, that’s the end of the tournament,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Mott, as saying. (ANI)

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Hughes to use Champions League in India to reclaim Test spot

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Sydney, Sep.16 (ANI): Discarded Australian Test dynamo Phillip Hughes will have his first net session with the New South Wales cricket team today as he begins his mission to reclaim the berth taken from him in England.

The Blues will be training for the Champions League, which begins on October 8, and coach Matthew Mott believes the devil-may-care nature of Twenty20 will invigorate an outstanding young player whose career and life have been turned upside down since his all-conquering debut Test series against South Africa earned him just three more innings in England before his sacking, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

“It’s obviously a completely different format and it will allow himself to express himself and play his shots from ball one. It will be a great opportunity to let go of the shackles a bit, play his natural game.As he showed with his form when he played in the shortened versions last year, he’s an unorthodox and very creative player. At the top of the order with David Warner, they’ll feed off each other very well.

We’re excited to see those two reunited,” Mott was quoted, as saying.

Hughes and Warner should be dynamite in India. Even without unavailable Australian stars Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin, the Blues will field a crackerjack team in pursuit of the winners’ purse of three million dollars.

Hughes, Warner, captain Simon Katich and tearaway pacer Brett Lee make NSW one of the heavy favourites but, as Mott said yesterday, T20 is such a lottery that favouritism is meaningless.(ANI)

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Ponting’s 27th ton helps Australia beat England in fifth ODI

September 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Nottingham (UK), Sep.16 (ANI): Ricky Ponting scored a brilliant 126 of 109 balls to keep Australia in the hunt for a 7-0 whitewash of their one-day series against England, leading his side to a four-wicket victory in the fifth one-day international at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

Ponting’s 27th ton in ODIs included three sixes and 14 fours, as Australia raced to 302 for six wickets with 10 balls to spare in reply to England’s total of 299 from their 50 overs.

He was well supported by deputy Michael Clarke, who reached 52 off 64.

Irishman Eoin Morgan’s maiden half-century steered England to their best score of the series in a dead rubber after Australia clinched the series 4-0 at Lord’s on Saturday.

Mitchell Johnson brought up the winning runs with a six off Ryan Sidebottom to remain unbeaten on 18, while Cameron White was not out 24.

Poor fielding frustrated England captain Andrew Struass, who demanded improvement from his batsmen after the first four matches.

“Our batters went out and played with a much more bold approach and that paid dividends today. The fielding was poor and that’s something that there should be no excuse for, we do a lot of work on the fielding and we should be better than that,” Fox Sports quoted Strauss, as saying.

The tourists rested Brett Lee, who claimed five wickets in the previous match, replacing him with fellow pacer Peter Siddle.

England brought in Mascarenhas for Luke Wright, who was hit on the toe on Monday while batting against a bowling machine set to mimic Lee’s inswinging yorkers which proved so effective last weekend.(ANI)

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Lee still a dangerous weapon for Australian team

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sep 14(ANI): Former Australian cricketer Gavin Robertson has said that Australian paceman Brett Lee has lived up to the national selectors’ expectation following his return from a foot and ankle surgery.

Lee has been bowling at a blistering speed and control, and took 5-49 in Australia’s seven-wicket win over England at Lord’s to take an unassailable 4-0 lead in the seven-match ODI series.

“You can play and hope you’re doing well, or you can be so mentally dominant that selectors have to pick you. That is what Brett is doing,” The Daily Telegraph quoted Robertson, as saying.

“Once a guy bowls at 150km/h and is swinging the new ball and old ball, they’ll take notice,” he added.

Former Australian Test keeper Steve Rixon has also lauded Lee’s efforts at the Lord’s and said that he was still one of the most devastating new-ball bowlers in the game.

“I know it was only a one-day game, but if he can produce a five to 10-over spell like that during a Test match, he has the pace and ability to swing the ball that changes the pattern of a game. He can be a dangerous weapon,” Rixon said.

“There aren’t too many bowlers who can hit the base of the stumps that often. I know he was injured before the first Test in the Ashes, but if you take that game where we have 70-odd balls to get a final wicket, Brett would have been that person who can do that something special at the death,” he added. (ANI)

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