Brett Lee

Seems like he's starting to lose his pace. Can't remember him clocking above 150 kph once at Bangalore, and in some spells he was averaging about 135. Pace isn't everything, but it certainly helps to have a bowler capable of 150 kph yorkers when you're trying to knock over the tail as Australia were when Bhajji and Zak were having fun on day 3.

Agree with the loss of pace but interesting to note that the ABC commentators also thought he was quite distracted at times. I wonder if his marital problems are impacting upon his cricket.

He seems to improve his pace and accuracy with a tours progression.

Thats what i said before the 1st test
No pace= No wickets for Lee

He bowled like this in the warmup game as well.

How ever i must also say that its NOT all about pace for B Lee...even his line(especially to the tailenders) was quite poor in the 1st test.

He looked fairly innocous to me in the Bangalore test. Not yet there but could be on his way to becoming cannon fodder soon despite Nicholas' ecstatic squeals of delight.

According to Punter his column today, Australia was handicapped by the dull light on the last day and Lee fell victim to this.

The challenge is who we bowl together and how we use our main strike weapon Brett Lee.

We dominated the first Test for long periods and had most of the momentum, but the impact of the quicks wasn't there.

The strike power didn't eventuate in this game.

The wickets their fast bowlers took were generally claimed with an old ball and we were robbed of that on the last day with the light being too dull to use our fast bowlers late in the game.

Brett was really fresh and raring to go with an old ball that was reverse swinging a little bit.

But our quicks never had much of an opportunity during the course of the day, so I wouldn't read too much into it. We know how good our quicks are and Mitchell Johnson had another terrific game, claiming five wickets altogether.

Stuart Clark had a sore elbow midway through the match so I wasn't able to bowl him, which hurt his impact a little bit.

That's right Ricky, blame the light and injuries.......

Lee's getting to the age when most quicks lose the odd mph here and there - the trick is to compensate for the loss of pace. That's the mark of a good test match bowler.

Even the great Allan Donald (A bowler similar in style to Lee) struggled when he started to lose pace. Lee just doesn't have the height that an Ambrose, Walsh, or Mcgrath had and allowed them to carry on being top class well into their 30's. Other than pace he hasn't got great natural attributes, although Mark Nicholas would beg to differ.....

Mark Nichnolas would just beg.

the question of why mark nicholas has been inflicted on cricket and its fans is one of life's great mysteries

Henry wrote:Even the great Allan Donald (A bowler similar in style to Lee) struggled when he started to lose pace. Lee just doesn't have the height that an Ambrose, Walsh, or Mcgrath had and allowed them to carry on being top class well into their 30's. Other than pace he hasn't got great natural attributes, although Mark Nicholas would beg to differ.....

You're being homophobic again Henry. I do agree with you though, the tall bowlers can use the bounce that they extract from their height for longer in their career. Lillee 'reinvented' himself by developing his cutters and was highly successful with them.

More comments from Lee here. Interestingly also more from Kumble.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/cricket/new-ball-the-key-says-lee/2008/10/15/1223750132673.html

He attacked India's press in his column. "With various uncharitable comments on my fitness and retirement and performance as a player and captain, it does seem like I am back in Australia," Kumble wrote.

So its finally confirmed that Kumble has lost his senses.

Kumble played well here over the summer

Kumble bowled well at Melbourne, but was largely innefective for the rest of the series.

Kumble played well here over the summer

Not really, apart from MCG test.

SG wrote:He attacked India's press in his column. "With various uncharitable comments on my fitness and retirement and performance as a player and captain, it does seem like I am back in Australia," Kumble wrote.

So its finally confirmed that Kumble has lost his senses.

Didn't you read his column which I posted in the match thread, Goel? BTW, I'm quite happy that at least one player rebuked the media which is losing its credibility really fast. I don't think it'll have any effect on those story planters, but at least it came out!

I think Kumble is not helping his (or for that matter India's) case by hitting out at media like this. Not only his ramblings are disgrace for himself but also very dangerous for Indian team's morale.

A team like Australia will exploit that to the hilt.

Australia is already exploiting the media assault on the seniors! Didn't you see they hardly had anything to say before the series? In the earlier tours, all the newspapers used to be splashed by columns from the touring Australian players, or their interviews or articles, or features or whatever. This time Indian media is doing the job for them.

Lee will go well at Mohali as he believes the pitch will be quick. Surely it's a given that he likes quick pitches to do his best. His experience at Mohali with the Punjab Kings won't harm his confidence either.
Lee is due to stand up and Mohali is his chance.