Sydney: Brett Lee mounted a strong case for a return to Test cricket with a career- best bowling performance for New South Wales on Friday.
On a rain-interrupted second day of the Sheffield Shield match, Lee added two more wickets to his five from Thursday to clean up South Australia for 397 in its first innings. At stumps, NSW was in trouble at 84 for three in reply with Test skipper Steve Waugh unbeaten on 18 and Simon Katich on three. Lee pushed his claims for a berth for Test on the pace-friendly WACA pitch, making himself impossible to ignore as he completed a career-best haul of seven for 114 in front of national selector David Boon. It was Lee's third bag of five or more wickets in as many innings following his omission from last week's first Ashes Test. But whether the 26-year-old tearaway wins a spot at the expense of Andy Bichel for next week's second Test in Adelaide remains to be seen after the Australian side, minus Lee, thrashed England in Brisbane. Bichel didn't lose any admirers pulling off the catch of the season at the Gabba on Friday and ripping the heart out of Tasmania's top order to put Queensland in sight of its first Shield outright win of the summer. Bichel and stand-in captain Michael Kasprowicz, who featured in a vital 50-run eighth-wicket partnership, had the visitors reeling at nine for four early in its second innings before rain stopped play with Tasmania in deep trouble at 42 for four. Queensland made 229 to take first innings points and Tasmania returned to the field 42 runs behind and with showers threatening. Bichel zapped the top order claiming opener Michael DiVenuto (0), Test batsman Ricky Ponting (0) and Daniel Marsh (1) to a woeful shot. Bichel finished the day with three for 19.
Tags: cricket, sydney, brett lee mounted, strong case, test, career-best bowling performance, rain-interrupted second day, sheffield shield match, stumps, test skipper steve waugh, simon katich, pace-friendly pitch, national selector david boon, ashes, andy bichel, michael kasprowicz, opener.
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