Friday, February 18, 2011

Lee defends pace-dominated attack for World Cup

AHMEDABAD: Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee has no doubt that their fast bowlers would be effective even on spin-friendly sub-continent pitches during the World Cup, starting Saturday.

Australian attack is packed with fast bowlers and features just one frontline spinner in Jason Krejza.

Lee does not see a problem in adjusting to the sub-continent conditions.

"For pace bowling you got to get the ball in the right spot. I think that the way we bowled in the Champions Trophy, with lot of pace bowlers, we actually won that competition. Specially playing slow wickets like in Delhi, it tends to suit our pace attack," Lee told media persons.

"I don't see any problem with the pace side which we have got and playing at the slow wickets. As at the end of the day the ball is still coming at 150 kmph through the air.

"Pitch is massive part of the equation. But if you got bowler like Shaun Tait bowling around 160 kmph at the toes of the batsmen, it does not matter where you are playing. The ball is still going to hit the batsmen on the full," he said.

Lee said they are trying to create an environment, where each bowler backs each other in the team.

Lee said they had a great spinner in Krejza and there was David Hussey and vice-captain Michael Clarke who could bowl spin.

"With Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger and me we have a very strong pace attack," he added.

"I am sure with the depth of the players that we have got and their talent we are playing the right kind of cricket. We have to learn how to play spin and learn how to bowl under these conditions," he said.

Lee said he got to learn a lot from the two warm-up games against India and South Africa.

"While playing against India and South Africa we learnt a lot. We have seen what they have got in attack, both pace and spin. Also in batting. Though Sachin did not bat well we have some plans for him too," he said, adding that he was happy with his performance during the practice matches.

Talking about his injury, which kept him in and out of the national side, Lee said that it was a difficult time for him to get back.

"It has been a long road back. It's been 15 months away from the game. Lot of players expect me to get back and play cricket. I am proud that I could survive the adversity to a certain extent, and get back to cricket," he said.

TOI

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