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Oh, these pressure times |
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By: khalid a-h ansari |
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Date:
2008-10-24 |
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Place: SYDNEY |
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One of Australia's leading coaches says Brett Lee's travails and his Mohali Test on-field run-in with skipper Ricky Ponting are not surprising.
Sydney-based coach Neil D'Costa, who is of Indian origin, believes the explosive fast bowler is under tremendous pressure after his recent marriage breakup with Liz Kemp.
Ponting and Lee later papered over the widely-publicised incident with the captain saying he decided to keep the fast bowler out of the attack at the time because his team had fallen behind in the over rate.
However, the explanation has been taken with a pinch of salt here because the captain persisted with pace bowler Peter Siddle at the time as even Michael Hussey, who has not taken a Test wicket, was asked to bowl.
D'Costa runs the D'Costa Cricket Academy for juniors in Sydney.
He believes Lee has been painted as the villain of the piece after the incident in which Ponting did not bowl his pace spearhead at a crucial stage on the fourth day as Australia battled to avoid a humiliating defeat.
Difficult time
Lee was given a month off to sort out his personal problems before the present tour, but D'Costa believes he was likely to snap at some stage.
The coach says he is not sure if the "right steps were taken" to ensure Lee was in the right emotional and mental state for the tour.
The 31 year-old fast bowler and his wife separated in August after two years of marriage from which they have a son.
"I'm wondering whether the right personal support systems have been in place," D'Costa asked yesterday.
"It is unfair to say that the way he is playing or the way the team has been playing has caused Brett's reaction.
"I would assume that Brett is enduring an unbelievably difficult time and as anyone who has been in this situation will tell you, irrational and out of character behaviour may follow.
"Before we attack Brett let's ask him if he's okay," D'Costa said.
"I know it's easy to say after the event but this was always going to happen."
The coach is adamant Lee's outburst and his run-in with his captain, which were witnessed by millions on television and widely commented upon here, was out of character.
Uncharacteristic
"Answer me this: Has he ever been involved in anything like before? Obviously not.
"So there's something troubling him.
"Brett is the model professional sportsman. He has always been a great ambassador for the game, his country and young people.
"I would like to think that Ricky and Cricket Australia have or will ask Brett the sort of questions about his mental state and well-being that need to be asked. And if they haven't they need to.
"I'm no doctor but it surely takes a lot longer than four weeks to recover from such a harrowing and deeply upsetting situation like the one Brett is going through.
"The fact that he is a professional sportsman does not change his human emotion.
"Maybe it's time we helped Brett, as he may need it," D'Costa said. "It's tough out there. I work with a lot of young players, and let me tell you they are under immense pressure.
"They are thrust into the world of media and expectations after just being good at the sport they loved playing as kids.
"They are asked to perform, give up personal time to strangers, travel non-stop, be nice all the time, be polite when abused and not let personal problems affect the 'brand'.
"Yes, some of them get well paid, but all the money in the world won't help when you are under intense pressure, especially when it involves personal issues outside of sport.
"Brett is troubled and no doubt he will recover, but it will take time, as it would for anyone."
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