Brett Lee's life on the fast lane can be summed up in three words: speed, stutter, stretcher!
For a man, who made news for letting the ball rip as well as constantly hobbling out with injuries, Lee surprisingly has retained his poise and his public relations overdrive was also evident in his ‘ thoda-thoda-Hindi ' line at a press conference at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday.
Having bowed out of Tests in 2008, Lee found second wind in ODIs during the recent series against England where his 11 wickets were critical to Australia's 6-1 verdict.
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Lee has continued that form in the World Cup with wickets in all the matches so far and he hopes to extend that good run against Kenya here on Sunday.
The speedster attributed his success to a better awareness about his own game. “When you first come onto the scene you are 18 and you don't know what to expect but over time you realise how things work.
“I know more about my bowling now than ever before but that doesn't mean that I will take five wickets every single game. You got to bowl smarter balls like slower deliveries and yorkers,” Lee said but before visions of an elder statesman pops up, he corrects it by adding: “I am still there to bowl fast and see the stumps fly.”
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Lee, part of an extreme combine that also features Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait, said the trio had worked well in tandem. “We have complemented each other. We are three guys who can bowl around 150 kmph.
“But our roles are different, Johnson has a different role and I try and lead from the front. There is a great balance in our attack with Shane Watson and then there is Jason Krejza. It would have been great to have (injured) Doug Bollinger too and now we have got ‘Mr. Cricket' and it is great to see Mike Hussey,” said Lee.
Ever the patriot, he rated the Aussie attack as one of the best while also praising India's bowling skills in the death overs.
Good spin attack
The Aussie spearhead said his team had enough resources in the spin department too. “Our spin attack is very strong with Krejza around. And on slow turning wickets we have David Hussey, who has been very successful on Australian slow wickets.
“Then we have got Michael Clarke, who has been effective in Tests and has got a five-for in ODIs. Our batsmen too are playing spin well,” Lee said.