Stepping On The Gas

His confidence sky-high after an Indian demolition,pace-king Brett Lee thumped his chest and announced that he was back to his bestat the bowling crease.

"As far as pace and rhythm go, I am back to mybest of the World Cup days," said Lee who virtually fired bullets at theIndians on a nasty WACA pitch in the tri-series game yesterday to put them onnotice for the finals beginning on Friday in Melbourne.

But pace is not Lee's sole goal and he is concentratingon taking wickets primarily.

"Pace is not a goal for me. It is to take wicketsfor my country. It was good to see the ball carry to Gilly (Gilchrist) at a goodpace and height. The ball came out of my hand pretty well. But I would try to dothe basics and keep my action very simple," he said.

Lee, who took three wickets conceding only 22 runs inhis 10 overs, was almost unplayable with his pace and movement.

"I would admit I was helped by the breeze comingacross (from the sea) and it helped my outswingers. But basically I was nottrying to bowl too fast, I only wanted to relax and bowl line and length,"he said.

Lee acknowledged the help of pace guru Dennis Lilleewith his action and rhythm and particularly how to get over the malaise ofno-balls which has dogged him all summer.

"I have done a lot of work with Dennis over the phone. He just wanted toreinforce the work I was doing during the World Cup. He told me to try out a fewthings to get my foot on the line. He suggested me different techniques and alsothat I should let my arm go a little higher than it has in recent weeks,"Lee said.

The tearaway bowler revealed that he had worked hard inthe nets in the last few weeks after being mauled by Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S.Laxman.

"Action is a weird thing. But I have trained veryhard in the nets and over the last couple of weeks things are getting back intotrack." Lee felt he was hampered by the slow nature of tracks and was gladthat the WACA happened and instilled confidence in him.

"We have played on some very slow wickets butfinally we got one which backed up fast bowling. For me, more than pace, thelength was the key. I had bowled either too short or two full in the Tests.

"We would try to take this momentum in the finals.It has been a great confidence builder. But it could be a different story. Itwas a great series to be part of and now things can happen in the finals."Lee also admitted he might have tried to rush things up in his eagerness toreturn to action.

"When I returned, I was anxious to do well. Itdoes take a bit longer. I am a sort of guy who likes to rush in a bit tooquickly. I was expecting things to happen far too quick than it probably couldhave (happened).

Our fitness expert John Campbell said it takes aboutthree months to reach top speed after injury. I think I am now much ahead of thetrack."

PTI