BRETT LEE will stand still at the top of his run-up in this week's practice game in Bombay, ready to bowl in one of the most important games of his international career.
The tearaway speedster and quasi-Bollywood star has been working on a new run-up that is 'shorter' - sort of. He still takes his mark at 23.8metres but instead of a long arc behind it, he now stands static with his toes on the line.
He has been guided by Dennis Lillee and Damien Fleming on the new approach and this week at training has had coach John Buchanan standing on the crease to call if he steps over the crease in the delivery stride.
It is all part of a recovery process from an ankle injury that kept him out of the game for five frustrating months and was the source of his no-ball problems before he broke down.
For seven years, he had so much pain he would work off a short run in the nets and ignore the crease.
"Bowling off the long run and hitting the crease was painful," Lee said. "So I used to save the amount of hurt balls for the match. Now the ankle's feeling 100 per cent. No pain. It doesn't feel right, it feels too right - if you know what I mean."
Lee began his return in the ICC Champions Trophy in England last month and said while he was happy with "the process" of his bowling, he was a little disappointed with his figures. Still, he hit 153km/h in the first game and seems to be approaching top speed - something that usually takes a lot longer after a lay-off.
Speed is important to the NSW bowler.
"The reason I'm in the Australian team is to bowl fast. That's definitely no secret, and if I'm bowling 130km/h, then I'm brought back down to the pack, sort of thing. I may as well be playing first-grade cricket," he said.
With Michael Kasprowicz in top form, there is a good chance Lee might not get a chance to fill the third fast bowling spot in the Australian team.
"I'm very much hoping to play, I'm preparing as if I am playing and if I get that opportunity, I'm going to take it with two hands," he said.
"On the flip side, if I don't play, I'll be disappointed. I'll respect the decision that I'm not chosen in the XI and I'll just make sure I work harder than what I am now - which is pretty hard, I'm working my arse off at the moment - to get into the second Test.
"If I don't happen to play a Test match over here, well, then I'd have to look at the Australian summer. We've got a huge season ahead and as I said, if I get that chance I'll try and do the very best I can. You can't live your life worrying about what people write or what selectors think. The only thing I can do is work my butt off during training and give myself every opportunity."
The ankle operation has not only given him the ability to play pain-free.
"Having that five months off has really given me a chance to reflect on what has happened over the past five years," Lee said. "I've gone through some good and bad times. To have that time and to reflect on what the guys are doing and to be away from the game, it just makes you want it so much more and it's definitely what it's all about with me.
"I mean, I love playing cricket. It's what I want to do. It's a bug - the bug's got me. I just want to do the best I can and if I don't play a Test match, yeah, I'll be shattered. I'll be gutted but I'll make sure I keep going and look at the big picture."
- PETER LALOR