Melbourne, July 02: Retired Test wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist has backed struggling paceman Brett Lee to turn around his woeful record in England in a predicted 2-1 Ashes victory for Australia.
Lee, 32, making a comeback after ankle surgery, has taken just 29 wickets at an average of 45.44 in 10 Tests in England.
With fast bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle considered certain starters for next week’s first Test in Cardiff, commentators believe it’s between Lee and Stuart Clark for the other pace bowling spot.
Gilchrist said he was unsure which of the two should get the go-ahead, but had no doubt Lee would do the job if selected.
“Brett’s four more years experienced now (from the last Ashes series in England),” Gilchrist said here on Thursday.
“He’s a 300-Test wicket bowler so that experience has got to count for something.
“If he does get a chance I think you’ll see him draw on those experiences and use them in a positive manner.
“He loves touring England, he understands the history and what it means to be a part of it so I’m sure he’ll be very keen to do well.
“Brett looks fit, he’s looking strong, he’s looking hungry, but so too is Stuart Clark. Both bowlers will do a good job.”
Gilchrist warned Australia against going into the first Test, starting on July 8, without a specialist spinner.
Gilchrist said all-rounder Marcus North and spinner Nathan Hauritz both deserved their place in the Test side despite struggling in warm-up matches.
“In my experiences from Test cricket, a team well balanced is one with a full-time spinner in it,” he said.
“I would like to see them play a genuine spinner. Hopefully, we can see Marcus North come through as well.”
Gilchrist said the return to form of Michael Hussey, who smashed a century against the England Lions, bodes well for Australia.
“If a player like that is gaining in confidence, others around him will grow in confidence, too,” he said.
“Although there’s a lot of coverage about the uncertainty in our bowling group, and who’s going to play, I think there’s a good feel in the team.
“They’ve carried a lot of confidence from (their Test series win in) South Africa so with that in mind I think they’ve just got their noses in front.
“It is a bit unpredictable but I’ll go with a 2-1 win to Australia.”
Gilchrist retired from international cricket in 2008 after 96 Tests and 287 one-dayers but led the Deccan Chargers to victory in this year’s Indian Premier League in South Africa.
—–Agencies