**Official** New Zealand v Australia

[Top_Cat]

Lee is bowling accurately at speeds up to 160 ks. There is no-one else in the world capable of doing that consistently (Akhtar only bowled a handful of balls in the 150s on the entire Australian tour) and, on form alone, he should be picked.

Kasper's form: 10M, 35W BB 7/39 Avg 23.25 2 five-fers

And on form alone, Kasper should be picked. Both are bowling well, both are getting quality players out Lee just bowls a heck of a lot quicker. The difference is, Kasper is there and Lee ain't. That and Kasper fits in with the team better because he's not going to upset the team balance by forcing Jason Gillespie back to 1st change. There's two counts for why he should stay in the team. Plus, Kasper's wickets have come against varied opponents in just about the most varied conditions any bowler can face. That counts for him way more in my book than form in ODI's (totally different approach to bowling) and consideration if the pitch looks like it'll do a bit. No matter the conditions, you know Kasper is going to bowl well as he's demonstrated over the last two years.

As I said, there are more questions about Lee than there are about Kasper and Kasper has bowled not just well but REALLY well. He's not just backed McGrath and the rest up, he's been a wicket-taker in his own right. With kasper, regardless of form, you're going to get good value. Can the same be said about Lee? Who knows? It's a huge question mark over his temperament. I would imagine Kasper himself would find it a bit rich to hear of Lee complaining about not being picked when he was not even mentioned whilst at his peak. I doubt he'd have any sympathy for Lee's plight.

Again, there are plenty of reasons to pick Lee and none to drop Kasper. Lee will have to just accept that someone got there first and is doing the business. All this moaning about how he'll not recover from not being picked is pathetic. You take the good with the bad. It's not as if Lee hasn't had chances to cement his place before and he will get chances in future. Someone *is* bowling better and he'll have to swallow it.

And who care about Lee's ability to bowl pace? It's arguable that Pakistan may well have been better off if Shoaib didn't even turn up, regardless of the fact that he took wickets. He disturbed team morale and balance

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

On form alone, Australia should drop Hayden and pick Bevvo but you don't see that happening, do you?

 

[Somerset]

So you disregard them if NZ should've won but didn't?

I didn't say that, Marc. I mentioned that with Bond, New Zealand have a 50/50 record - and in 2 of the 3 other matches, New Zealand should've won. I could easily have left at 50/50 but his record is better than that. Of course they didn't win those matches, but why should they be ignored completely?

 

[Somerset]

The only reason Lee shouldnt be picked is because of the question mark over his match-fitness for a five-day test.

Unfortunately, given the way tours are structured these days, that line of thinking could be used to remove Lee from the consideration for tests in both New Zealand and England as, barring injuries, the next time he will play in a match other than an ODI is next summer.

Lee is bowling accurately at speeds up to 160 ks. There is no-one else in the world capable of doing that consistently (Akhtar only bowled a handful of balls in the 150s on the entire Australian tour) and, on form alone, he should be picked.

On form over the last year, Kasprowicz deserves to be selected, end of story. But Lee's ability to create extra pace has worried the New Zealand line-up, always has, always will. I wouldn't be surprised if he still missed out and if that occurs, then from a New Zealand point of view I certainly won't be unhappy.

 

[age_master]

Lee is bowling accurately at speeds up to 160 ks. There is no-one else in the world capable of doing that consistently (Akhtar only bowled a handful of balls in the 150s on the entire Australian tour) and, on form alone, he should be picked.

akthar only bowled a handfull of balls in Australia full stop

 

[age_master]

good to hear haydens gonna play, will be good to see him in the runs again

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

good to hear haydens gonna play, will be good to see him in the runs again

I'd tend to disagree.

 

[SJS]

I'd tend to disagree.

That it is good, or that he is gonna play or that he will be in the runs again ?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

That it is good, or that he is gonna play or that he will be in the runs again ?

Oh I'd love for him to play, but my hope is rather more for failure.

 

[Scallywag]

Oh I'd love for him to play, but my hope is rather more for failure.

Why would you hope a player fails, I can understand being indifferent to what a player does but to hope someone fails sort of reflects badly on you.

 

[bryce]

Why would you hope a player fails, I can understand being indifferent to what a player does but to hope someone fails sort of reflects badly on you.

sterotypically speaking, non-aussie cricket fans generally like to see aussie players fail

 

[social]

Kasper's form: 10M, 35W BB 7/39 Avg 23.25 2 five-fers

And on form alone, Kasper should be picked. Both are bowling well, both are getting quality players out Lee just bowls a heck of a lot quicker. The difference is, Kasper is there and Lee ain't. That and Kasper fits in with the team better because he's not going to upset the team balance by forcing Jason Gillespie back to 1st change. There's two counts for why he should stay in the team. Plus, Kasper's wickets have come against varied opponents in just about the most varied conditions any bowler can face. That counts for him way more in my book than form in ODI's (totally different approach to bowling) and consideration if the pitch looks like it'll do a bit. No matter the conditions, you know Kasper is going to bowl well as he's demonstrated over the last two years.

As I said, there are more questions about Lee than there are about Kasper and Kasper has bowled not just well but REALLY well. He's not just backed McGrath and the rest up, he's been a wicket-taker in his own right. With kasper, regardless of form, you're going to get good value. Can the same be said about Lee? Who knows? It's a huge question mark over his temperament. I would imagine Kasper himself would find it a bit rich to hear of Lee complaining about not being picked when he was not even mentioned whilst at his peak. I doubt he'd have any sympathy for Lee's plight.

Again, there are plenty of reasons to pick Lee and none to drop Kasper. Lee will have to just accept that someone got there first and is doing the business. All this moaning about how he'll not recover from not being picked is pathetic. You take the good with the bad. It's not as if Lee hasn't had chances to cement his place before and he will get chances in future. Someone *is* bowling better and he'll have to swallow it.

And who care about Lee's ability to bowl pace? It's arguable that Pakistan may well have been better off if Shoaib didn't even turn up, regardless of the fact that he took wickets. He disturbed team morale and balance

Form is temporary, class is permanent.

On form alone, Australia should drop Hayden and pick Bevvo but you don't see that happening, do you?

People seem to forget that Kaspa was dropped, albeit undeservedly, from the last test against Pakistan.

And, if you dont pick Lee now, when do you pick him?

Questions about his match fitness and attitude (never heard that before - Ponting has actually praised his commitment) will persist until he plays regular 1st class cricket again. That being the case, they might as well send him home to play for NSW or to England for a stint in county cricket to prove his worth as no no. of ODIs or 12th man stints (ask Bichel about their negative impact) are going to improve his cause.

 

[marc71178]

The only reason Lee shouldnt be picked is because of the question mark over his match-fitness for a five-day test.

What about the fact that the other 3 seamers are all bowling superbly at the moment?

 

[marc71178]

People seem to forget that Kaspa was dropped, albeit undeservedly, from the last test against Pakistan.

That was nothing to do with performance though.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

What about the fact that the other 3 seamers are all bowling superbly at the moment?

Obviously, the selectors feel that Australia could bowl BETTER if they had Lee. I certainly think he's fairly likely to destroy New Zealand. Not sure about how he would go against England, but it's certainly with future series in mind that the selectors are considering this, to see if Lee can sustain his great form. There's no doubt that Australia are extremely likely to dominate the series regardless of which seamers they pick.

 

[Mister Wright]

Obviously, the selectors feel that Australia could bowl BETTER if they had Lee. I certainly think he's fairly likely to destroy New Zealand. Not sure about how he would go against England, but it's certainly with future series in mind that the selectors are considering this, to see if Lee can sustain his great form. There's no doubt that Australia are extremely likely to dominate the series regardless of which seamers they pick.

Where was this talk when Lee was averaging over 50 on the last Ashes tour, with Miller, Fleming & Bichel on the sidelines and in great form.

 

[Ming]

Haha.

Isn't it funny to hear Warne saying Bracewell makes too many excuses, when it was Warne himself who blamed his mum for him taking drugs...

 

[_Ed_]

Hehe yeah. But Bracewell does say a lot of quite stupid things, wish he would spend the time he takes to come up with those excuses planning for the next game instead.

 

[Retox]

Who do you guys think when Cummings fails they will bring in to open

Papps?
How?

 

[Ming]

They will play Cumming for two Tests definite.

If Cumming only makes 20, but he puts on a 50 with Fleming each time, I will be happy....

 

[_Ed_]

Cumming might do alright, he is definitely better suited to tests than ODIs. Papps would be next in line though I would think.