Enter the Dragon — Lee to be let loose

The Australians too struggle when they play on slow pitches like in India in 1997. But the Mark Taylor-led side improved with each match and after losing the first two Tests, won the third.

It looks unlikely that the Indians can perform a similar feat here. Awaiting them at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is a hard, bouncy track and, if one believes what the Australian press is writing in praise of a young fast bowler, India better watch out.

New South Wales’ Brett Lee has played against the tourists twice and both times has produced atleast one good spell. Lee was not considered for the first Test at Adelaide but is in the squad for Melbourne.

The selectors preferred Collin Miller for being able to bowl both pace and spin. There was a debate here on the merits of this young man’s claims for a Test place ahead of Michael Kasprowicz, whose last Test against Pakistan got him a bagful of wickets. There was a debate, first in hush tones, then in public, about the legality of his bowling action too.

The Indians were said to have orchestrated this silent campaign. The Australians were puzzled how one of their players, who has attended the cricket academy at Adelaide under former wicket-keeper Rodney Marsh, have a suspect bowling action? Things simmered for a while and then splashed on the pages of a few newspapers.

It happened before the first Test and skipper Steve Waugh was asked to clarify. Waugh was at his diplomatic best and spoke in the defence of not only Lee but Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar as well. “We need men like Akhtar and Lee to keep people’s interest in the game alive.”

He went on to say that `chucking’ is not easily detectable and since the laws of the game too are ambiguous, it becomes difficult to find the truth. “Do the Indians suspect Lee of being a chucker and have they complained against him?” Indian coach Kapil Dev was asked. He replied: “We have come to play here and not complain. It is for those given the job to find out.”

“Lee is young and talented and let us leave him alone to concentrate on his bowling,” added Kapil during the first Test.

Lee was forgotten for a while as the Australians demolished India and there was much celebration at Shane Warne’s ascendancy over Sachin Tendulkar. For the past few days, Lee did not exist as the place for out-of-form Mark Waugh was being debated.

Brother Steve, who voted for his retention, said: “He is 34 and I am sure if he is dropped now, he is going to spend time with the family and think of packing his bags.”

Imagine a player of Andrew Symonds’ class waiting in the sidelines or someone like Daniel Marsh not being considered. Mark Waugh finally won the vote of the selectors and gets probably his last chance to stay in team.

The Waugh problem over, Lee is back at the centrestage. His lethal bowling in the Pura Cup championship has made him the most talked about player here, once again. His menacing spell for the New South Wales against Western Australia fetched him the most prized encomium from Steve Waugh.

“He is the fastest bowler in the world today,” declared the Australian captain, who leads the New South Wales side in which Lee plays. “He is quicker than Akhtar.”