BRETT LEE has introduced a new element - the fear factor - into the World Cup final as Australian coach John Buchanan compared him with the intimidating force of former great Jeff Thomson.
The Sydney speedster is not only bowling consistently fast, and is on the verge of breaking 100mph, but has returned to his lethal best as a sandshoe-crushing wicket-taker.
Buchanan compared Lee's current form with that of Thomson at his peak when the human slingshot shattered stumps and bones and drove a wedge of fear into opposition batsmen. Lee menaces the health and threatens the wickets of batsmen like few bowlers since Thomson's time.
"Brett's lethal at the moment," Buchanan said. "He's quick, and I think it's a very, very good player who's going to get on the front foot to him.
"One of the other things is that they're not prepared to play a pull shot or a hook shot off him.
"They're playing him on the crease. He's actually forced all quality batsmen back, and because of that he's just an absolute wicket-taker.
"By having batsmen back, that means his yorkers, his length balls have become so much more effective."
Buchanan believes Lee is forcing batsmen to change their techniques and game plans in a bid to survive.
That means Lee could be the key to Australia's potential victory at the fast and bouncy Wanderers ground on Sunday.
Lee himself is not sure if he genuinely frightens world-class batsmen, though Adam Gilchrist pondered that it was fear of failure and fear of being ill-equipped to thrive against extreme pace, rather than fear of being hurt that was at the core of batsmen's concerns.
"I'm not sure about fear," Lee said. "When you're playing first grade back home there might be a few batsmen who get scared.
"But you're playing against the world's best batsmen, and I don't think they fear the fast bowlers.
"Of course, they might be a little apprehensive at times."
Lee has struck openers Sanath Jayasuriya and Kennedy Otieno in recent games and spreadeagled Marvan Atapattu's stumps when the star Sri Lankan batsman was caught between going back and forward.
It is a trait that marked Lee's entry into world cricket when he regularly followed one wicket with another as he zeroed on the unprepared newcomer with 155kmh yorkers.
His return to his best form is supported by his World Cup figures which show him to be one of the most deadly bowlers in one-day history.
Only New Zealand paceman Shane Bond, with 1.88 wickets a match, betters Lee's record of 1.87 a game for those bowlers with more than 35 wickets.
And Lee is now comfortably ahead of his career return in several vital areas.
He has taken 20 wickets in the tournament - three short of new record-holder Chaminda Vaas - to have 120 in his 62 one-dayers.
His World Cup average of 18.15 compares well with his career mark of 21.76 and his outstanding strike rate of a wicket every 22.85 balls is better than his stellar career rate of 27.68.
His economy rate of 4.77 runs an over is the same as he has achieved since he started.
"I think we're being a lot more attacking these days," Lee said.
The prospect of bowling in Johannesburg again has Lee eager for the contest on Sunday.
The city is at altitude and allows the ball to slice through the thinner air at greater speed while the bouncy Wanderers pitch is a new ball haven.
"I always enjoy bowling here in Joburg," he said. "There's a lot more here for fast bowlers, especially with the thinner air.
"It's good to get the carry, too. It's the next best thing to bowling at the WACA."