Five-day cricket is the testing ground because therein men's characters and techniques are subjected to relentless and unsympathetic examination. One-day cricket offers escapes. Test cricket sends out the umpires and leaves the rest to the players. If England prevail (which does not appear likely), Vaughan's side will deserve recognition as the finest exponent of a game first mentioned by Joseph of Exeter in 1180. It is a considerable prize. England have not been the best side in the world since the days of Typhoon Tyson and Len Hutton.Yes - I am looking forward to it, yet there is a part of me that remembers 1985 and 1986/87. I can well imagine England's batsmen dominating a weakened Australian attack.
- Peter Roebuck, Sydney Morning Herald, July 16, 2005.
And Brett Lee? His one-day form has been good - but that is of no real consequence. Last time he put on the Baggy Green was against India in Sydney, January 2-6 2004. His first innings figures were 39.3-5-201-4. His second innings figures were 12.2-2-75-0. If the selectors had done the right thing and dropped in from the 12, he would've spent last season playing for NSW. One-day form is not what gets you into the Test side - it is consistent first-class form over a longer period of time. By keeping him the perennial 12th man last Australian season, he was never able to justify his inclusion in the Test side on form alone.
From the This Salient Sporting Life Department
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