Australia’s highly rated pace attack is unable to make an indent in the England Lions batting lineup before next week’s Ashes opener in Cardiff.
In reply to 358, the Lions are 1-108 midway through day two of the the four-day match at New Road with the uncapped duo of Stephen Moore (54no) and Joe Denly (46no) at the crease.
Besides the resting Peter Siddle, Australia’s fast bowling brigade was at full strength before the first Test in Cardiff starting Wednesday.
Moore and Denly had enjoyed their fair share of luck, Lee (0-21 off nine overs) should have had Moore out lbw with his first ball of the innings.
And Denly had a life on 32 with wicketkeeper Brad Haddin’s dropping a diving chance to his right off Stuart Clark’s (0-21 off ten overs) bowling.
The New South Wales seamers went into the match in pursuit of the last guaranteed fast bowling spot for Sophia Gardens.
But they could be hard to split based on their performances on Thursday and more consideration handed to leaving out the squad’s sole specialist spinner Nathan Hauritz in Cardiff.
Fighting for his future in the baggy green, Lee regularly clocked in the high 140 km/h range and struck Moore plumb in front with replays showing the ball crashed into his pad before deflecting on to his bat.
He mounted a concerted appeal only to be turned down by umpire Jeffrey Evans at the picturesque New Road.
He tried to take his frustrations out on the batsmen and the last ball of his second over cannoned into Denly’s shoulder.
But despite his combination of speed and accuracy, Lee was unable to make any inroads in either of his first two short spells.
Mitchell Johnson (0-51 off nine overs), who missed last week’s opening practice match in Hove, was off the mark and looked like he was working his way into the match.
Nathan Hauritz’s (0-15) introduction before lunch sped up the run rate, the off-spinner being hit for two boundaries in his opening over.
Australia’s first innings was wrapped up earlier on with Mike Hussey out for 150 and Steve Harmison finishing with figures of 4-80.
Brett McKay
Guest
Jameswm, I saw some quick highlights on SportsTonight and noticed the Fox Sports logos... And gotta love mid-game reports!! This one, and one on the SMH site this morning both bemoan the lack of wickets, etc, and then the updates come through telling that Lee's taken 5/53 and that the Poms lost 5/37. North the other wicket-taker. Think you're right though, 10 spots look sewn up now, just a matter of deciding between Clark and Hauritz for the last spot. Hard to see anyone outside the current game forcing their way in for Cardiff.
Jameswm
Guest
I can't believe it was on Foxtel and I watched some of it. Johnson certainly needed the run and needs more work. Clark was his usual solid self. Lee bowled pretty weel and was regularly at 150-153kmh, but he got little if any outswing. He got a bit of inswing and later reverse swing. 1-7 in the Aussie team is set, so it's now looking like 8-11 will be Johnson Lee Siddle Clark No room for Hauritz and Hilfy has dropped down the pecking order. MacDonald hasn't even got a game, so why did they bother taking him?