Lee’s superb spell of swing bowling resulted in him taking 5 for 53, while Panesar overshadowed Adil Rashid’s wicket-less display at Edgebaston as he took 3 for 10 in a 7.4 over spell.
Panesar’s display could well have secured his place his the side for next weeks test match at Cardiff as Rashid toiled for the Lions on a pitch doing nothing for the bowlers.
Lee however showed that even during his time on the sidelines he’s learnt the art of swing bowling-the main attribute of the Australian’s downfall in 2005.
The tourists had little to smile about elsewhere however, as their bowling attack was hit every which way during the Lions potent batting display, headed by local boy Stephen Moore, whose hundred alongside Joe Denly’s 66 showed huge potential for the future of England’s top order.
Denly in-particular showed why is one of the most potent opening batsman in the County Championship, and why he ousted team-mate Rob Key from the original squad.
The Lions finished the day just 56 runs behind the Australians on 302 for 6, but the only blotch on the copybook was the first ball duck of Ian Bell, whose prospects of being selected for the upcoming test series took a serious blow.
The Warwickshire man was a victim of Lee’s superb swing bowling display, a showing that might have confirmed his presence in Cardiff next week, seven days after I had all but written off his chances of success during this tour; think he took it personally?
For the full test team James Anderson was the star of the day taking his own five-wicket haul in a blitz of the home teams middle order.
Kevin Pietersen however will fret over his form in this match, with just seven runs flowing from the bat of the talented batsman in the two innings against Warwickshire.
Australia’s batsmen have a similar mountain to climb to find any form before the first test match, with Marcus North consistently struggling in the middle order.
Maybe the youngsters decision to play a one-day series with Australia instead of playing the longer form of the game with Hampshire this summer might come back to hurt the chances of a call up for the Victorian.
North did play a role in the Aussies spin attack however, which looks like the main concern going into next weeks Ashes curtain raiser as Nathan Hauritz continues to struggle.
North and Michael Clark bowled nine overs between them without success today, while Hauritz finished with 0 for 80 from his 18 overs.
It will surely give captain Ricky Ponting plenty to ponder for the next week on whether Haurtiz is worth the gamble in Cardiff, as England look certain to field a second spinner alongside Graeme Swann.
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