Brett Lee has had rough tidings over 2008. And they do not appear to be ending any time soon.
Brett Lee, the blue eyed boy of Australian cricket and the golden hair hero in the Indian sub continent, has faced a series of what one might call a series of unfortunate events that began with his break up from his then wife Liz Kemp, which took a toll on both parties as allegations of infidelity on Kemp made matters more ugly.
Subsequently Lee missed the home series against Bangladesh but featured in the series to India. Australia suffered humiliation at the hands of the young guns as India won the Border Gavaskar Trophy handsomely by a 2-0 margin. For Lee, it highlighted perhaps his first real brush with the selectors doubting his motivation and form.
Lee has not been able to set the stage on fire as he leads the bowling attack now, in the absence of the likes Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz, he has not been able to live up to the burden of expectations. His desultory performance against India carried into the current series against South Africa at home. But even as selectors were beginning to show concern, if not question his place in the side, more misfortune seems to spell Lee sitting out again.
Lee could not bowl much in South Africa’s first innings at the MCG raising concerns about injury. It now appears, as confirmed by the team physio, Alex Kontouris, that Lee has a stress fracture in the fourth metatarsal in his left foot. What this basically means is that any further strain on the foot would result in a serious injury that would put him out for almost a couple of months.
It is a risk Australia are not willing to take when their days as the world champions looking numbered. But Lee may still have to do his job as Australia try to restrict South Africa by beating them in their own den, and that has not happened since 1992-’93 when the West Indies won a Test series in Australia.
But if the indications are anything, Lee will perhaps have to sit out of the Sydney Test over the New Year weekend and miss the one day series to follow against South Africa and New Zealand in order to get himself back into shape for the away series in South Africa in February. Mitchell Johnson will have it all to do and with Stuart Clark out as well, Peter Siddle will be thrust into a more serious role much earlier than he would have expected.
It has certainly been a tumultuous journey for Lee, in the latter half of 2008 that also saw him have difference with his skipper Ricky Ponting in the ongoing India tour. It may give Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger ( who toured India) or even Shane Watson a chance to come back for the next Test. But Lee has bigger concerns on trying to chalk out a future with cricket for a few more good years.
Catch more of the Brett Lee Saga on Crickblog:
Brett Lee Pulls out of Bangladesh Series; Split with wife Liz cited
Brett Lee: All in the Attempt to Preserve ‘the Brand’
Aussie Cricketers - Top Australian Top Earners
Lee Set to Resume Duty after Split with Wife Liz
Australia Fighting Personal Battles
The Many Shades of the Australian Skipper: Ponting in Pictures!
I hope he gets over the injury, poor guy!
