Top 5 test pace bowlers at the moment? - Page 2

**breeno** · 19 Dec 2008, 21:13

I wouldn't have Brett Lee in the top 5.

Eternal Grin · 20 Dec 2008, 00:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by breeno

I wouldn't have Brett Lee in the top 5.

Why not? he's been consistent, had a good year performed well last test definitely should be on the list instead of Khan

**breeno** · 20 Dec 2008, 00:27

Khan has had a much better year than Lee in my opinion, Lee is my favourite bowler ever, he's bowling well this innings in this test, but he doesn't have the venom he used to.

He hasn't been taking the wickets he should and his last really good tour was close to a year ago.

Eternal Grin · 20 Dec 2008, 00:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by breeno

Khan has had a much better year than Lee in my opinion, Lee is my favourite bowler ever, he's bowling well this innings in this test, but he doesn't have the venom he used to.

He hasn't been taking the wickets he should and his last really good tour was close to a year ago.

Yeah I did notice his speed dropped off a bit, barley seen him go over 145 against NZ

**breeno** · 20 Dec 2008, 00:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eternal Grin

Yeah I did notice his speed dropped off a bit, barley seen him go over 145 against NZ

Yeah his speed has dropped off at least 5 km/h, he bowled fast in his first spell in his latest innings, but the innings before he hardly touched 140km/h.

He could afford to bowl that pace if he was swinging it like last summer, but no movement in the air or off the seam has seen him drop in standard a lot.

phil2oo8 · 20 Dec 2008, 03:20

Mine would be at the moment

1) Zaheer Khan
2) Flintoff (specially todays spell at yuvraj)
3) Steyn
4) Sharma
5) Ntini (due to the aus test)

**breeno** · 20 Dec 2008, 04:05

India looking pretty formidable with their opening pair.

**D.K** · 20 Dec 2008, 06:29

Might be harsh but I reckon that Lee is past it. ONly 12 months ago he was up there as the number 1 paceman, now struggles to get it up over 145. That is how he got his wickets, with the pace. hardly moves it.

Steyn, Khan, Sharma, Johnson, Flintoff

I would nearly throw in Kallis in the bracket. He consistantly bowls 140 and has been very solid with the ball this test. Troubling all the batsman. Maybe he is jsut having a good series but he has taken well over 200 wickets these days.

**breeno** · 20 Dec 2008, 06:38

Id have Ntini up there before Kallis, although Kallis is looking like he's the only one that can swing it in the SAf. team apart from Steyn. I liked the way Lee bowled today, but its a one in every 3 match thing with him lately, I agree, he may be past it.

Siddle isn't up to test standard.

**mas cambios** · 20 Dec 2008, 06:39

To move off topic for a post and talk about Lee.

It seems that age (and possibly previous injuries) is catching up with him, hence the reduction in top speed (and being able to sustain it for any length of time). As others have said pace is his main weapon; without it he is nothing more than a decent bowler.

You'd have thought that he'd be working on moving the ball both in the air and off the seam as this would be really effective at his current pace and more than likely prolong his career a good few years. The difference between Lee and the true great fast men is that the greats adapted their bowling as they got older, Lee hasn't done that for me at the moment.