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| Feb 05, 2010 | LEE HAS A FUTURE IN ODI'S, SAYS NIELSEN |
| Lee has a future in ODIs, says Nielsen Source: smh.com.au - February 6, 2010 Brett Lee still has a future as an Australian fast bowler, says national coach Tim Nielsen - but it is unlikely to be in Test cricket. Lee is recovering from elbow surgery and is unsure when he will be bowling again. He has yet to decide on his international future, and might limit himself to playing in the Indian Premier League. Nielsen said Lee was still capable of commanding a spot in Australia's one-day side, but was at long odds to regain his place in the Test line-up, given he was 33 and had not played a Test since the Boxing Day match of 2008. ''If Brett wants to play international cricket there's no doubt he's got a massive role in our one-day side,'' Nielsen said. ''Test cricket will be a challenge for him; he hasn't played it for 12 or 14 months now and just his body being that much older and not having that huge amount of cricket is going to be harder for him. ''But there's no doubt he's still got the quality. His bowling in the Champions Trophy [last year] was instrumental for us winning that major event. If he's keen and ready to go it won't be long before you see him back.'' Lee has taken 310 wickets in 76 Tests and claimed 324 scalps in 186 one-day internationals. Yet Australia's fast-bowling stocks have resembled a production line in the past six months, and taking the glass half-full approach, the future appears bright. Doug Bollinger proved himself a very good Test bowler before and after Christmas, and in the past fortnight Clint McKay and Ryan Harris have enjoyed success in the one-day side. Behind them, Australia have identified teenagers Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson and Mitch Starc as ones to watch, while two more newcomers, NSW's Trent Copeland and Queensland's Luke Feldman, claimed 19 wickets between them in this week's Sheffield Shield match in Sydney. The depth of the field is so strong that the leading wicket-takers in the Shield competition - Queensland's Ben Cutting and South Australia's Peter George - are flying under the radar. Nielsen was delighted with the way his quicks, and spinner Nathan Hauritz, bowled in three Tests against the West Indies and three against Pakistan (for five wins and a draw), and is encouraged by the succession plan that has evolved. ''It's really pleasing to see the state systems and the centre of excellence all developing them with the big picture in mind,'' Nielsen said. ''Not rushing them into teams but letting them grow and develop, and we're seeing now there's the likes of Starc, Pattinson, who's been around a couple of years, there's Hazlewood, [John] Hastings, and guys like Mark Cameron and Burt Cockley, who came to India with us.'' - AAP |
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