[Ian J]

Brett Lee has announced his retirement from Test cricket in an effort to prolong his career and it looks like he will be following the "gun for hire" route taken by Andrew Flintoff in order to maximize his income in the twighlight of his career.

It seems to be the curse of modern day cricket that the amount of international games being played is now causing havoc with the fragile bodies of most express pace bowlers with Shane Bond having already followed Flintoff into international retirement and Sean Tait's international career maybe over before it's even begun.

Ex cricketers like Atherton and Hussain and many others of the last decade's international batsmen will look at the current Australian bowling attack and wish that they had such an easy time of it when they were playing as Siddle, Hilfenhaus and Johnson may be good bowlers but it must have taken great mental strength to come out of the dressing room to face Brett Lee firing leather at you at 95mph and knowing that if you survived unscathed you had to face the nagging accuracy of Glen McGrath at the other end or the wily legspin of Shane Warne

[961]

Agree with that

What I would add is that we have all been extremely lucky to have been around to watch that test series and I'm sure the players enjoyed it even more than we did

All the best to Brett. Hope he manages to make a bob or two

[Aaron D84]

Sad day, awesome cricketer, would be good to see him as an overseas player over here for a short while now he won't be playing test cricket.

As much a spectacle as it is seeing bolwers move the ball and have it swinging and reversing all over the place there isn't many better periods in a test than a quickie bowling a spell that is quick and hostile ripping through batsmen.

Will be a big loss. I guess it will be a gain for England and we might have a good chance of retaining the Ashes down under now but a shame for cricket.

[Aaron D84]

On the topic of great players. Tendulkar is playing the greatest ODI innings ever at the moment.

India 357-3 with Tendulkar 197 not out already the highest ever ODI score and on course to be the first player to ever hit a double hundred in a one day game.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by Aaron D84

would be good to see him as an overseas player over here for a short while now he won't be playing test cricket.

He's one of the very few Aussie greats that has never played county cricket and as a Durham fan I would love to see him and Harmison bowling in tandem.

[kopchoir]

Originally Posted by Aaron D84

On the topic of great players. Tendulkar is playing the greatest ODI innings ever at the moment.

India 357-3 with Tendulkar 197 not out already the highest ever ODI score and on course to be the first player to ever hit a double hundred in a one day game.

Im watching it at the moment its just been a sheer masterclass smashed them all over the field his team mates have also chipped in with good knocks 39 4`s and 10 6`s

378 - 3 and sachin is on 199 off 146 balls :thumbsup

Edit first player to 200 top knock

[Citizen J]

I remember watching the Ashes in the past with him alongside Shane Warne, Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer and Brett Lee. Fantastic combination in terms of Batsmen, fast bowlers and the best spinner ever.

The Australian team just hasn't been the same since late 2007/2008. It's a shame that McGrath is retiring, you could almost sense the fear on the England batsman in an ashes series when he was on the run up.

[Aaron D84]

401-4 after 50.

Tendulkar 200 not out.

Unbelievable knock and what a knock by Dhoni as a sideshow.

[Leej]

So another one bites the dust . We've been lucky to watch some of the greatest players over the years and just hope that some of the new players end up as good.

With the governing bodies trying to come up with ways of making test cricket more popular perhaps they should start off by trying to keep the best players playing.

Originally Posted by Ian J

He's one of the very few Aussie greats that has never played county cricket and as a Durham fan I would love to see him and Harmison bowling in tandem.

Harmison destroys county batsmen on his own and with Lee also in the side it just wouldn't be fair.

[Ian J]

Originally Posted by leej

Harmison destroys county batsmen on his own and with Lee also in the side it just wouldn't be fair.

Durham still haven't appointed an overseas player yet and I'd love to see Dale Steyn playing for them as he is probably the only international speed demon left playing test cricket.

Australia are playing a few one day internationals here this summer so we may yet get to see Brett Lee again before he retires completely

[Kebabhead]

Originally Posted by Ian J

but it must have taken great mental strength to come out of the dressing room to face Brett Lee firing leather at you at 95mph and knowing that if you survived unscathed you had to face the nagging accuracy of Glen McGrath at the other end or the wily legspin of Shane Warne

West Indies bowling of the lates 70's early 80's now there was something to fear

[Ian J]

No helmets then either which tended to sharpen up the batsman's reactions.

Nowadays if you survive the express pace bowler you know know that when he's tired you will have a less dangerous bowler to face but in the days of the great West Indian fast bowlers you knew that's all you were going to face all day long from both ends

[Leej]

Talking of Flintoff . Caught him on a show on tv yesterday. It was called A League Of Their Own and was on sky one. Must say he is a very funny guy and you can see how he raised the spirits in the dressing room.