November 16 Saturday 2002
Brett Lee presses Test claims with career-best haul

SYDNEY: Brett Lee pushed his claims for a return to the Australian test team with a career best seven-wicket haul in a first-class interstate match on Friday.

Dropped from the first team that thrashed England in the Ashes series opener, Lee reminded the national selectors of his talents by taking 7-114 for New South Wales against South Australia.

However, Lee's efforts did little to help his team's prospects of winning on the second day of their match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. South Australia amassed 397 in their first innings after resuming at 319-5, then reduced NSW to 84-3 when rain stopped play early.

Lee was named on Thursday in the Australian squad for the second test starting in Adelaide next week and is locked in a battle with Andy Bichel for the third fast bowler's position. Bichel, chosen ahead of Lee for the first test, did his chances of being re-selected no harm when he followed up his first innings haul of four wickets against Tasmania by collecting another three on the second day at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Resuming at 69-1, Queensland took the first innings lead when they passed Tasmania's total of 187 and finished with 229 thanks to 79 from Lee Carseldine. Bichel then claimed three quick wickets, including first Test century maker Ricky Ponting for a duck, to reduce Tasmania to 9-4 before they rallied to 42-4 when rain also cut short their day.

Test players Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn both scored half centuries for Western Australian in their match at the WACA in Perth. Gilchrist made 79 and Martyn 66 as the Warriors made 416 in their first innings in reply to Victoria's 110. Batting a second time, Victoria were 143-3 in their second innings at the close and facing defeat within three days.