Brett Lee

[mattyg]

Is he possibly the best batsman ever to never score a first class or international century? His highest score is 97 in first class, and has quite a number of 50's in both tests and ODI's. I remember watching him in the 2005 ashes series holding the team together like glue with the bat, and often outscoring most of the "batters" in our team. It seems he either gets out pretty early to an edge or he will stay there and score some valuable runs.

Even though we lost the game today, he was our 3rd highest run scorer, and had our highest strike rate. I just wish he woulda gotten a proper go at number 8 in test cricket before shitchell had a slogfest and somehow managed to come up with some runs. Lee is 100x better at batting than him and deserves to get a first class/international 100 before retirement. He always seems to be there and hangs around when we need him to. 2005 ashes prime example, Aus v India ODI @ SCG where he belted that 6 over cover and i'm sure there are countless other occasions.

The argument here will say "what about Shane Warne" but as much as I admire Warnie and what he has done for Australian Cricket, with the bat Warne was very hit or miss and didn't have the patience to survive some of the situations that Lee has been through. I think he could have been a genuine all rounder if we needed him to be. Too bad the team was well and truly too strong in both main forms of the game to need this.

 

[hineyrulz]

Warnie and Binga are two of the better guys who wouldn't have cracked a ton in first class cricket in Aus. Paul Reiffel was pretty bloody handy with the bat as well and i don't think he hit a first class ton.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Lee's technique is about a thousand times better than Warnes and a hundred times better than Bitch Johnson. He played straight and his cover drive is excellent and he knows what ball to smash out of the ground. Warne was handy but a slogger really while bitch is mentally rooted.

I have no doubt that Lee could have scored a lot more runs if he focused more on his batting but if it was detrimental to his bowling then his bowling had to take precedence.

 

[TheParraboy]

I reckon if Glen McGrath played for another 10 or 15 years, hed crack a ton somewhere

 

[Red Bear]

Lee's technique is about a thousand times better than Warnes and a hundred times better than Bitch Johnson. He played straight and his cover drive is excellent and he knows what ball to smash out of the ground. Warne was handy but a slogger really while bitch is mentally rooted.

I have no doubt that Lee could have scored a lot more runs if he focused more on his batting but if it was detrimental to his bowling then his bowling had to take precedence.

Warne had a very very good eye though, his average batting record was largely an application thing I thought. When he concentrated he was damn good (see Ashes 05 for example) and should've averaged in the 20's in test cricket - but considering his bowling i'll forgive him!

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

The best player to never score a century.
The worst player to take 300 test wickets.

 

[Deleted member 10972]

There were several batsmen who were much better than Lee. Lee is a bowler who can bat a bit, same as Shane Warne, Malcolm Marshall, John Emburey, Ashley Giles and more.

1970's Indian opener Chetan Chauhan

2084 runs @ 31.57, 16 50's, highest score 97

1970's West Indian wicketkeeper Derrick Murray

1993 runs @ 22.90, 11 50's, highest score 91

1950's Australian allrounder Ken Mackay

1507 runs @ 33.48, 13 50's, highest score 89

1980's Australian opener Bruce Laird

1341 runs @ 35.28, 11 50's, highest score 92

Others include Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More, Sri Lankan opener Hathurusingha, South African wicketkeeper Jock Cameron, Zimbabwe opener Dion Ebrahim, and England allrounder Geoff Miller.

So to conclude, no, Brett Lee is not the best batsman to never have scored a Test match hundred. There were plenty of genuine batsmen, selected on the merits of their batting ability itself, who never scored a Test century.

In ODI's, there is an even bigger list - http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/284205.html

 

[Timbo]

Alan Davidson is another who never got a test ton but was a fine bay. But I believe the OP referred to FC cricket.

 

[Patorick]

Retiring from all forms.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...from-all-cricket/story-e6frey50-1226425185231

 

[Timbo]

Sad way to go out. I guess in the modern era, you have to go a bit earlier to preserve the body for a few years of IPL to set up your retirement fund.

Such an enigma. I remember when he came in being touted as the natural successor to McGrath. And some of his brilliant efforts, usually with the white ball. I also remember his 1/200 odd at the SCG vs. India and some of his other up and down performances.

However, was a great ambassador for the game and was still, till now, the genuine leader of the Australian limited overs attack.

You'll be missed Bing.

 

[Horrie Is God]

Well played Binga..

 

[hineyrulz]

Well done to Binga He was a good to average test bowler but he was one of the greatest one day bowlers ever. He always seemed a better bloke than player but i don't think he was the same after his injury in 2000 against the Kiwi's.

I remember being at a NSW vs QLD one day game at the Gabba a few years ago the Blues were winning a one day game easily and he was out there for at least an hour signing autographs and chatting with the kids. A person working at the ground told me he has always been the same the first there sign autographs with the kids and have a chat and the last to leave. I'm sure he'll get a gig in the media somewhere.

 

[yappy]

For a few series after McGrath retired Binga was a genuine Test spearhead. Was almost always a great ODI bowler, athletic fielder and handy lower order bat. Shame he did have those barren years at Test level that people remember more. Bit of a dick with the send offs to bunnies, but mostly a good guy. Can hold his head high.

 

[Horrie Is God]

I guess we can expect to see more of Binga doing this..:lol:

[youtube]3EcWmkObJfQ[/youtube]

 

[IanG]

I reckon if Glen McGrath played for another 10 or 15 years, hed crack a ton somewhere

Didn't he make a First Class century over in England?

 

[Twizzle]

nice work Binga, well played

 

[vvvrulz]

Acted like a tosser sometimes but I always respected his all round ability and he seems like a decent bloke off the field. Its a shame he couldn't bow out on his own terms, hats off to a good career.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Didn't he make a First Class century over in England?

I think his highest score overall is 61 against the Kiwis.

I think he scored one other 50 after that.

Just on Lee, well done on a great career.

I can go back to his debut for NSW in 1997, and got confused with his brother and really bowled in the late 140s, brilliant bowling.

Really fired up when it came to his bowling and when he was onsong he was hard to play. Had a good fast bowling combination with McGrath

Just a shame his last few years have been injury prone.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Brett Lee wasn't a great fast bowler but he put in every ball he bowled, fielded and faced. As a one day bowler he was very very good and deserves all the praise he's getting.

Sad to see him go but not glad to see the end of the chainsaw celebration.

 

[Danish]

The last wicket stand by him and Kasper in the 2005 ashes is what I'll always remember him for. About as close as I've ever come to crying during a cricket match seeing Lee absolute broken on the pitch after the last wicket fell.

Wasn't a favourite of everyone but you can't deny the bloke's ability to step up and be counted when the pressure was on