PERTH, NOV 23: Australia's desperate search for a worthy pace backup to Glenn McGrath is set to continue in the third Test against Pakistan with the call-up of youngster Brett Lee. If Lee, 23, makes the starting side he will become the 17th fast or medium-fast bowler to win an Australian cap in the past five years. While Damien Fleming has done well in spurts, lack of established pacemen behind McGrath is the major concern for Australian cricket.McGrath, who started playing when Craig McDermott was the leading paceman, has played 50 Tests for 239 wickets at an average of 22.44 since September 1, 1994 while an assortment of others have come and gone at the other end.Lee and Queenslander Michael Kasprowicz are the new faces in the Australian squad for the Perth Test, a dead rubber after Australia claimed the three-match series 2-0 with its win at Hobart yesterday.Lee has taken only 12 first class wickets at an average of 29 this year and is yet to take five wickets in an innings in a first-class match.His speed is the reason he has been drafted in on Australia's bounciest pitch. Scott Muller beat Lee for a place in the first and second Tests but he did not impress, taking too few wickets at too big a cost to be the latest in a line of borderline quicks to stumble when given a chance.Eight quick bowlers used in the last five years have played less than three Tests before being discarded.Jo Angel made three appearances for nine wickets at 43.44, Andy Bichel played the same amount for just two wickets at 148.50, Simon Cook was seriously injured after two Tests for seven wickets at 20.29, while Adam Dale had six victims from two Tests at 31.17. Muller bowled erratically for his seven wickets this series at 36.86 and Matthew Nicholson claimed four victims in his sole Test at 28.75 before he lost his accuracy completely.
