Brett Lee feels the way that the players have played Brad Hogg (above) in the past, no one has really picked him easily so that’s a great sign for Australia © Getty Images
By Brett Lee
The Australian squad for the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 has been announced and I don’t see any surprises there. It is good to see that everyone who has been doing well has been given the opportunity to go out there and play for Australia. The players who have been selected have been dong well in the recent past and are a good choice, I reckon. The boys must be very excited as the ICC World T20 isn’t that far away now. It looks like a very well balanced side. The team has got the depth, the pace and has batsmen that are solid, especially in the middle order. If the guys find form and play the way that we know they can, I am sure we have a good chance of taking home the trophy.
A lot of people are talking about the selection of Brad Hogg in the squad, given his age, but it is certainly not the case. He is around 41 years old, but he has done really well and he is being rewarded for that. A lot of people say that T20 cricket is about age, and it is to quite an extent, but if someone is good at their trade and has the experience of playing at the highest level, I see no problem in that.
In T20 cricket, bowlers do not have to bowl 10 overs. You are bowling only one or two spells at the most. Sometimes, bowlers come on to bowl three spells though normally they would bowl only two. There are only four overs to bowl and as a spinner, it is not as taxing on your body as it is for a fast bowler. I just think that the way that the players have played Brad Hogg in the past, no one has really picked him easily so that’s a great sign for us. I hope that he manages to get us some vital wickets on the Sri Lankan pitches.
It is unfortunate that Steven Smith has missed out on playing in the ICC’s T20 extravaganza, but he is a talented young cricketer and it is one of those times when he has to just get back stronger and make it back into the Australian team.
I think it will be great for the boys to have senior batsman Michael Hussey in the team. He has amazing talent and has been around for a long time. He is the kind of player that the boys would look up to in the field, so it is great that they have got that authority in him.
Coming to my fitness, my calf injury has healed and I have started running and bowling again. I am feeling fine and have recovered well. I am happy with the progress so it’s full steam ahead! Thanks for all your lovely messages and wishes. Do keep writing in to brettlee@castrolcricket.com. It’s always great to hear your feedback and suggestions on what I should write about next.
(Brett Lee is one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history. He took 310 wickets in Tests and 380 in ODIs. The Australia legend, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders, has a deep love for India and Indians. The above article was written by Lee for Castrol, for whom he is the Brand Ambassador. For more, visit castrolcricket.com. Castrol Cricket is the official performance partner of the International Cricket Council and is a sponsor of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20)
