Lee Looks to Secure Footing

Speaking to Brisbane’s Courier Mail, Lee indicated that whilst he wasn’t unhappy with his bowling at the ‘Gabba, insecure footholds had caused him to lose rhythm in his delivery stride.

“I just didn’t feel comfortable at the crease”, Lee said. “On that surface I found it hard to get some grip. That was purely the fact that it was such a hard wicket, it was a crumbly surface”.

Lee, the spearhead of Australia’s attack for much of the past 12 months, took the wickets of England captain Andrew Flintoff in the first innings and danger man Kevin Pietersen in the second. By contrast, third seamer Stuart Clark and the seemingly ageless Glenn McGrath snared seven each for the match.

“I was happy with the way the ball came out but it is frustrating at times the way you lose 10 to 15 kph in pace because I can’t get over my front foot. I was happy with the two key wickets that I got and I got a couple of balls around 155.8 kph. I just didn’t feel as if I had 100% confidence at the crease”, Lee added, before going on to say that he was happy with the way he bowled. “Unfortunately, sometimes catches don’t come to hand. I think I had 40 to 50 runs go through slips or over point. Sometimes you don’t get he rewards for the hard work you put in. I’m hoping for a big bag at Adelaide”.

Given the outstanding form of Clark and McGrath, some pundits had suggested that Lee should be the fast bowler to make way if selectors decided to play Stuart McGill in tandem with Shane Warne in the second Test. Nevertheless, the selectors have stuck with the squad which won in Brisbane by 277 runs. It seems likely that only an injury will allow either Mitchell Johnson or local hero Shaun Tait to play.