STRUGGLING paceman Brett Lee will take the new ball against India today in what looms as his last roll of the dice to avoid being dropped from the one-day squad.
The out-of-sorts speedster conceded 83 runs off his 10 overs in the loss to India in Brisbane on Sunday.
But he worked diligently in the nets during Australia's marathon three-hour training session on Wednesday.
He is expected to be sent back to domestic cricket if he fails today as the selectors search for a way for the blond quick to bust out of his slump.
Captain Ricky Ponting has spoken to Lee about what is required of him and is confident the paceman will heed his advice on his home SCG turf.
Lee did not take the new ball against India on Sunday, but the Australians hope this adjustment will reinvigorate his campaign.
"He'll take the new ball (today) and he'll bowl well," Ponting said.
"He wasn't hitting the in-between length (in Brisbane) that he has done so well in he last couple of years in both one-day and Test cricket -- I let him know that and he worked hard on that.
"He had a good solid bowl to me in the nets and bowled well to me, so I'm sure we'll see him do that (today)."
After a disappointing Test series, Lee looked to have rebounded well against Zimbabwe in Hobart last week with a return of 1-29 from 10 overs.
But the Indians do not fear his pace and his skidding deliveries -- which come on to the bat well -- have been fodder for craftsmen Rahul Dravid and V. V. S. Laxman.
Blues coach and former Test gloveman Steve Rixon says his charge may be trying too hard to prove he has not lost his once-scorching pace.
"In bowling, often the harder you try, the worse you go," Rixon said.
"In his case, being an express bowler, maybe that could be an issue -- the reactive approach as against just being more relaxed and just doing what he has done and done so well in the past -- bowl fast.
"Maybe he is possibly trying to bowl too fast, therefore that obviously affects the rhythm.
"If you affect your rhythm, you affect your pace."
Ponting issued a blunt ultimatum to Lee two years ago when the fast bowler was conceding too many runs.
Lee responded in fine style then by adjusting his line, and Ponting hopes for a similar answer from his chief enforcer today.
The selection panel is concerned with Lee's output this summer, and Allan Border hinted this week that the quick was on his last chance.
While Damien Martyn's spot is not under threat, he is under some pressure to produce a major innings after scoring 69 runs at 23 in four innings this campaign.
The West Australian, who was criticised for failing to score heavily when under pressure in the Test series, has yet to shrug that tag.
Ponting says his good friend will rebound soon.
"Even the other night when he played that shot in Brisbane, he probably would have thought it was four off the bat, but it goes straight to a fieldsman," Ponting said of Martyn, who guided a catch straight to the gully fieldsman.
"That's what probably happens when you are not scoring as many runs as you would like.
"He's a class player and someone I want around the team for a long time to come, so I am sure he will make some runs in the next couple of weeks."
- JON PIERIK