Better bowling attack will win Australia the Ashes, says Lillee

Published>Thu, Oct 21 10 07:47 PM

London, Oct 21 (IANS) Former fast bowler Dennis Lillee believes a stronger bowling attack will win Australia the forthcoming Ashes series against arch-rivals England.

Lillee, who took 355 wickets in 70 Tests representing Australia, said a team needs to have a potent bowling line-up for winning a Test series and the Kangaroos have that, despite the retirements of legends like Glen Mcgrath and Shane Warne in the recent past.

'In the end it is got to be about your attack. You have got to bowl sides out twice,' Lillee told Sky Sports Radio.

'If I look at both attacks I think Australia - even without Warne and McGrath - have a better attack than England.

'England's spinning attack - they may use spin twins (Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar) - may be better than ours because Nathan (Hauritz) is still evolving, but overall our attack is better and that is where the games are won.'

On the final outcome of the five-match Test series, Lillee said: 'It is going to be much closer than the other ones but we should probably win it 2-1 or 3-2.'

Another fast bowler Brett Lee, who retired from Test cricket earlier this year to prolong his limited overs cricket career said the arrival of the Ashes in his home country will not make him think twice about changing his retirement plans.

'There is still a lot of cricket left in me and the reason I stood down from Test cricket was to prolong my career in the shorter forms of the game,' Lee told Sportal.

'If I chose to continue with Test cricket the odds were, with the strain on the body, the cards were not going to fall my way.'

'That is why I drew a line in the sand. I loved every single moment of my Test career but I have not missed it one little bit.'

'I am more than content with what I have achieved,' Lee summed up.

The first Ashes Test starts Nov 25 in Brisbane.

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