Brett Lee hit some dizzying heights but endured some character-testing lows on a day of undulations yesterday.
In the first Test of the summer in which Lee sought to confirm more development as a Test weapon, the New South Welshman contributed a mixed performance with the ball, overshadowed somewhat by his contribution to the Australian first innings. To his credit, at least, his bowling went from bad to good.
What has not been in doubt about Lee of late is his value as a tail-end batsman. It was largely through his spirited 43 not out that Australia got within three runs of victory in this year's second Test at Edgbaston, a win that would almost certainly have kept them the Ashes. He outshone more illustrious batsmen again at Trent Bridge with scores of 47 and 26 not out, though again Australia lost.
It was a similar story in Australia's first innings against the West Indies at the Gabba. Resuming on 19, Lee progressed to again make 47, matching his side's equal second-top score with another blond bowler in Shane Warne, with whom he shared a fine 75-run partnership.
Lee's 84-ball innings mixed flourishes of the bat with some of his undoubted courage. Early yesterday he was struck an eye-watering blow in the box by paceman Corey Collymore. He recovered without great delay and continued on his way, slashing half a dozen fours.
To these he added a six that will be long discussed. Paceman Daren Powell gave him an offering outside off stump, Lee swung mightily and connected with the sweet spot of his bat, and the ball went skyward over mid-wicket. After some seconds it came down again, ostensibly into the top deck of the grandstand, though after some delay it was discovered to have pierced the gap between grandstand and scoreboard. It landed on a walkway outside, as it happens just missing injury-prone former Test paceman Carl Rackemann.
The ball finally came to rest on the netted roof above the practice wickets and had to be replaced by another. With the first delivery with this one, Lee's innings came to an end through a less successful pull caught by Collymore.
Still, it is Lee's bowling that really matters. His Test average has blown out to 39 of late, and he had vowed to work on line and length to try to transfer his effectiveness in one-day cricket into the Test arena.
Alas, his early attempts were forlorn. Lee tore in with his usual fire but was errant in both length and line and was carted for 39 runs off just six overs. The sixth one cost 15 runs, ending when Lee hit Devon Smith on the head with a bouncer and the bowler was rested from the attack.
But Lee recovered admirably. Brought back after tea, he pitched up more to a tight off-side field, and while Brian Lara and Smith looked settled, he allowed them just 11 runs in six overs, three of them maidens.
He also claimed the cherished wicket of Lara, coming around the wicket to be awarded an lbw decision, although he had considerable help from South African Ian Howell, umpiring in his third Test. The ball clearly would have missed leg. Furthermore, that was because it deviated off an inside edge.
- TREVOR MARSHALLSEA