The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Lee can bowl faster: Lillee

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 04, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Lee can bowl faster: Lillee

SYDNEY, AUG 3. Australia's Brett Lee is planning to do less running and more bowling at faster pace when he returns to international cricket.

Lee, who has the second-fastest delivery recorded in cricket (160.7 kph/99.85 mph), is returning from ankle surgery and working under the guidance of Dennis Lillee, Australia's leading paceman of the 1970s.

Lillee recovered from career-threatening back problems with a shorter run up and took 355 wickets in 70 Tests. Lillee bowled with almost as much pace off the short run and he's advising Lee to try the same, with one small difference.

He thinks Lee can bowler faster off a shorter run and his 27-year-old protege agrees.

``I think when you get the run up perfect, it can increase your pace,'' Lee told reporters on Tuesday.

``It can make you bowl quicker for a longer time because you're not taking as many steps.''

Lee is ranked behind Shoaib Akhtar in terms of pace, the Pakistani being the only bowler to crack the 100 mph barrier on official records.

Lee has 139 wickets in 37 Tests and 151 wickets in 84 limited-overs internationals. He hasn't played since January but says he's prime for a return and not feeling any pain in his ankle for the first time in five years.

He has been included in the Australian squad for the Holland tri-series as well as the ICC Champions Trophy, but faces tough competition from Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath and Michael Kasprowicz for a place in the starting XI.

Lee to tour India

The move to have Lee in the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence (CBCE) Academy team is aimed at giving the seamer a chance to get some valuable match practice ahead of the four-match Test series between India and Australia in October-November.

In India, Lee will also be training with Javagal Srinath to gain experience of bowling on the sub-continent pitches.

``Last year, Lee didn't have the build-up, when he went straight into Shield cricket and then to Tests (in December and January) after his surgery in October,'' head bowling coach at the CBCE in Brisbane, Damien Fleming was quoted as saying by local daily Sydney Morning Herald here today — PTI

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