Fresh ankles will help Australian thunderbolt Brett Lee's assault on Jeff Thomson's world record mark of 160 km/h next summer.
Lee has made a remarkable recovery from surgery on angles that plagued him for the past two seasons...yet he still managed the nudge the 157 km/h mark in South Africa during the one-day series.
Thomson's mark has become the equivalent of cricket's four-minute mile, with Lee and Pakistan's Shoaib Akhtar racing to become the first man to break the 100 mile-per-hour mark.
Thomson's record has been just out of reach for Lee and Shoaib, who consistently bowled at quicker than 150 km/h during the Australian summer.
But Lee's team-mates are already licking their lips in anticipation of his WACA debut later this year. He bowled the fastest spells of his career in a Pura Milk Cup match for NSW against Western Australia last December.
There were no speed guns on hand, but the Waugh brothers claimed it was the quickest they had seen anyone bowl.
"The spell before Christmas is probably the quickest I have bowled," said Lee. "The 157 km/h I bowled in South Africa didn't actually feel that quick - I was just trying to bowl line and length. I was as surprised as anyone when I looked at the scoreboard."
With the Fremantle Doctor at his back, Lee reckons he can give Thomson's record a fair shot.
"If there's one day when my rhythm feels good and there's a breeze behind me, I'd love to crack it," he said.
"I've always dreamed of playing for Australia and of being the world's fastest bowler. I've picked up pace from two seasons ago to last season...if that continues I might be able to pick up another yard."
Lee has bowled in pain for the last two seasons and had to adjust his run-up to avoid hitting footmarks and putting undue pressure on his ankles.
"If I'm bowling without pain I'm sure it will enhance my pace. I certainly hope so. It's a confidence thing - I'll be able to hit the crease as hard as possible," he said.
"There were times when I got into the rhythm where I couldn't feel my ankles and bowl at top pace. Now I'll be able to do that consistently."
Lee will put his "new" ankles to the test at Melbourne's Colonial Stadium in August in the return one-day series against South Africa.
Then it will be the West Indies at home - bring your helmets boys!