BREAKING NEWS BRETT LEE

[magpie in the 80's]

AS REPORTED IN THE AGE

AUSTRALIA'S World Cup campaign has suffered another crushing blow following the withdrawal of Brett Lee from the 15-man squad today.

Lee suffered an ankle injury duing training in New Zealand 10 days ago and was ruled out by his specialist this morning, The Daily Telegraph Online has learned.

The champion fast bowler phoned Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland with the news after he left the specialist's office.

The Australian selectors are meeting this morning to discuss a replacement and appear certain to call NSW's Stuart Clark in to the team as the replacement.

The news on Lee is a devastating blow for Austrlaia's hopes of winning their third straight World Cup.

Australia's bowlers have performed poorly in the last five losses to England and New Zealand.

Skipper Ricky Ponting was deperately keen for Lee to make the tour.

More to come

[mighty_tiger_79]

its not that bad really.

[blink]

Correct, it isn't as devasting as Symonds not playing.

Who will come into the 15 man squad now for Lee? Will it be Clark or Hilfenhaus?

Too bad the selectors didn't put J. Gillespie into their 30-man initial squad. He could have filled Lee's void brilliantly.

[mal]

its not that bad really.

Nah not really that bad is it considering hes the best o/d bowler in the world
and we cant bowl sides out for less than 300 of late

[blink]

Nah not really that bad is it considering hes the best o/d bowler in the world
and we cant bowl sides out for less than 300 of late

The best ODI bowler in the world of late has been Pollock. But you are right Mal, Brett Lee will be missed, but not as much as Symonds will be.

[mighty_tiger_79]

its not that bad really.

Nah not really that bad is it considering hes the best o/d bowler in the world
and we cant bowl sides out for less than 300 of late

its been ALL QUIET ON THE WATSON FRONT since he got out after making that sensational 60 odd!!!!!!!!!

anyway if LEE is the best o/d bowler in the world then it doesnt say a lot about the rest of the bowlers around the world!!!!!!!

Lee would have been a liability bowling on those small grounds!!!!!

Lee isnt even a class bowler, all he wants to do is bowl fast. The other worrying thing was TAIT before he went to NZ said all he wanted to do was bowl fast. thats all well and good bowling fast, but you have to make the batsmen play at it and at the moment both of these guys dont make the batsmen play at enough deliveries, especially SPRINKLER LEE

[BenchedEagle]

Lee can be covered bowling wise but i really rate his lower order batting. Has played some great one day innings. His number 8 spot will be hard to cover.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Lee can be covered bowling wise.

As proven in the Chappell-Hadlee series

[Dutchy]

Lee can be covered bowling wise.

As proven in the Chappell-Hadlee series

Lee is out Number 1 bowler these days after Warne;s retirement, this is a huge loss...other teams will be giggling...NZ wouldnt have made those runs in the last 2 games in Lee was playing

[RoosterMarty]

Lee can not be covered. How do you replace the best ODI bowler in the world? Not to mention his fielding and batting is a nice bonus. This is a huge huge loss.

[mal]

LEE is irreplaceable
Even if a good bowler like TAIT can have similar bowling figures how
can we expect Shaun to make the runs and field like LEE does.

[rod_rooster]

LEE is irreplaceable
Even if a good bowler like TAIT can have similar bowling figures how
can we expect Shaun to make the runs and field like LEE does.

That is a very good post mal. Lee brings far more than just his bowling. His experience, leadership not too mention his exceptional fielding will all be sorely missed. He is also an exceptional lower order batsman. He is perfect for the number 8 spot as he is able to come to the crease and hit boundaries from ball 1. Excellent striker of the ball that we just don't have in any of the other bowlers.

[Aerie]

Lee will be a loss, but nothing the Australians can't replace. Yes, Lee was our number 1 ODI bowler, but he isn't that far ahead of our 6th best bowler. I'd give Clark just as much chance of having a good world cup as Brett Lee would have. Brett Lee was involved in the South African 400 game. I'd suggest he wouldn't have made a difference to our last two losses to NZ either.

[magpie in the 80's]

just named stuart clark from new reb wales to replace lee

[ORDoubleBlues]

While I agree that this is not good news, I believe that Tait is an absolute lay down misere to make the final 11 now and it could be the making of the young man.

Agree with Mal and others that Lee's leadership will be missed and his batting (is capable of scoring 20 runs off an over) and his fielding.

[Rik E Boy]

A bad break for Australia, and NSW!

regards,

REB

[Adelaide Hawk]

While I agree that this is not good news, I believe that Tait is an absolute lay down misere to make the final 11 now and it could be the making of the young man.

Agree with Mal and others that Lee's leadership will be missed and his batting (is capable of scoring 20 runs off an over) and his fielding.

This is the point. Nobody is a more ardent supporter of Lee than myself. However, he's not there and we have to get on with it. This gives an opportunity for somebody else to step up and show some leadership. I'm hoping that will be Tait.

I just think it's amusing that some people at work were giving me crap 3-4 months ago about Lee and Symonds, and now they're telling me we can't win the World Cup without them

Let's not concentrate too much on who we don't have, let's focus on who we DO have. We should do very well.

[rod_rooster]

While I agree that this is not good news, I believe that Tait is an absolute lay down misere to make the final 11 now and it could be the making of the young man.

Agree with Mal and others that Lee's leadership will be missed and his batting (is capable of scoring 20 runs off an over) and his fielding.

This is the point. Nobody is a more ardent supporter of Lee than myself. However, he's not there and we have to get on with it. This gives an opportunity for somebody else to step up and show some leadership. I'm hoping that will be Tait.

I just think it's amusing that some people at work were giving me crap 3-4 months ago about Lee and Symonds, and now they're telling me we can't win the World Cup without them

Let's not concentrate too much on who we don't have, let's focus on who we DO have. We should do very well.

No doubt we still have the talent there. As talented squad if not more so than any other that will be in the WI's. Cricket is all about beleif though. You can have all the talent in the world but if you don't have the belief and confidence in your ability then you will struggle. I've played with and against so many players over my time and it isn't always the most talented guys but the guys who just back themselves and their ability and simplify the game that do the best. See the ball, hit the ball.

[Dutchy]

I'd suggest he wouldn't have made a difference to our last two losses to NZ either.

[Dogwatcher]

I'm not going to enter the debate about whether we'll miss Lee or not (honestly, I'm not a big fan though), but i am glad the selectors made the decision so that we can get on preparing for the World Cup. Now clark knows he's in the squad and can prepare sufficiently - rather than finding out a week before they head to the Rum Isles.

Another thing is that Clark isn't as good a batsman as Lee, but can still make an impact with the willow if he uses his head.