Lee lynchpin of Oz World Cup attack: Chappell, Waugh
By ANISunday, February 6, 2011
SYDNEY - Former Australian Test skippers Greg Chappell and Steve Waugh have both rated fast bowler Brett Lee as the spiritual leader and lynchpin of Australia’s World Cup attack after his rousing return to form from a 15-month injury lay-off.
“He has modified his bowling, added variety, and I think he is a more complete bowler that any stage in his career,” news.com.au quoted Chappell, as saying of the 34-year-old.
He added: “He is still able to bowl at a speed that is up there with the very fastest but with a control and variation that hasn’t been part of his armoury before.”
Waugh described Lee as Australia’s World Cup talisman.
“Lee will be my impact player. He has amazing resilience, he is bowling back at 150km/h and he loves touring India,” Waugh said.
Lee succumbed to elbow surgery in November 2009, having broken down during Australia’s one-day tour of India. A broken thumb ended hopes of an Indian Premier League comeback last year, then a forearm strain sidelined him from Australia’s World Twenty20 campaign in the Caribbean.
Lesser men wouldn’t have rebounded bigger, stronger and wiser, noted Chappell, who labelled Lee’s riposte “the feel-good story” of the summer…. Lee is the leading wicket-taker, with 11 at an average 24, in a comeback tournament which Australia won 6-1 against England. (ANI)
