Based on current form Brett Lee had to be in the test team. He bowled fast and accurately and demoralised New Zealand in the one dayers. With no Brett Lee it was an appalling, probably arrogant decision to send New Zealand in to bat. It was like saying to New Zealand, "Go and have a bat first. We'll show you we don't need Brett Lee. We'll still bowl you out cheaply." Well it backfired badly. The batsmen would have felt quite comfortable out there knowing Brett Lee couldn't get at them and it showed in their body language and on the scoreboard.

Without Brett Lee playing, given the choice Australia had to bat first, get off to a flying start with the bat and have New Zealand quickly feeling down and out again after their 5-0 one day whitewash, rather than elated that they wouldn't have to face Brett Lee.