IN-FORM opener Justin Langer believes Australia should resist the temptation to let speedster Brett Lee loose in next week's first Test against Pakistan in Perth and instead stick with their miserly fast-bowling attack.
Lee's return to the international arena last weekend, when he was clocked bowling above 150km/h, led to a clamour of calls for him to be included in the Test XI against an inexperienced Pakistan line-up on the fast bowler-friendly WACA track.
In the past, the Australian selectors have been happy to give Lee his head in Perth where he's had licence to bowl flat out and intimidate batsmen.
The 28-year-old's record of 24 wickets at 24.50 from four matches at the WACA Ground is his best return from any Test venue, and his form in last Sunday's one-dayer against New Zealand confirmed he is fully fit and bowling very fast.
But Langer, who cut his teeth as a batsman against fast bowling on his home track in Perth, believes the recent form of incumbent pace trio Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz would make it virtually impossible to make a change.
"I think the way the current blokes are bowling it's very, very difficult for him (Lee) to break into the side," Langer said yesterday.
"They are three of the most miserly fast bowlers, in terms of going for runs, that Australian cricket's had for a very long time.
"To have all three of them going at once, plus having Warnie (Shane Warne) there, the pressure they apply means it's like batting in a fishing net.
"When you're in the field with those bowlers it's almost awe-inspiring because you feel you are on top of the opposition all the time because they haven't been able to get on top of us.
"It's hard on Brett. But it's been really hard on Simon Katich and really hard on Brad Hodge, and for Michael Bevan all those years trying to get in the Test side."
Langer's observation came a day after he risked the wrath of Cricket Australia by publicly claiming the national selectors had erred in the bowling line-up they employed for last Sunday's surprise one-day loss to New Zealand in Melbourne.
Underpinning his support for the existing pace attack is the belief that, while he can be explosive and dangerous, Lee's aggression can cost runs and might release the pressure being built by more accurate bowlers operating at the other end.
In the past two years, Lee has been Australia's most expensive Test pace bowler, conceding an average of 62 runs per 100 balls bowled, compared with McGrath (39), Gillespie (42) and Kasprowicz (46).
Regardless of Australia's selection preferences, the Pakistan batsmen have spent the past week in Perth preparing to face a steady diet of fast, short bowling when the Test begins tomorrow week.
The tourists' young top-order batsmen have been in the WACA's indoor nets being bombarded by a volley of tennis balls fired at them by bowling machines cranked to deliver their payload in excess of 160km/h.
Their shellshocked batsmen have at times appeared like tin ducks in a shooting gallery as the balls ricocheted off helmets, gloves and shoulders and then - increasingly as the sessions wore on - the face of the bat.
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said while the drills weren't new for touring teams arriving in Perth, they were necessary to prepare a team which abandoned a planned pre-tour training camp in Lahore in order to prepare under match conditions in Australia.
"The ball's coming down faster in the nets than the bowlers will be bowling it, so our boys are getting used to that sort of pace," Woolmer said yesterday.
"But you can't rely on leaving every delivery, you've got to score at some stage.
"The only way to put Australia under pressure is to do what they do to you."
Woolmer, the former England opener and South Africa coach who began his tenure with Pakistan this year, echoed Langer's thoughts on Australia's likely pace attack, claiming it would be difficult to alter the existing line-up.
And while admitting Lee would thrive on the traditionally fast Perth surface, Woolmer couldn't help but observe a quirk of Australian programming which meant South Africa - with their bevy of top-class fast bowlers - have never played a Test at the WACA.
"This pitch certainly suits his (Lee's) type of bowling. That's why Australia never played against South Africa here, isn't it?" Woolmer said.
- ANDREW RAMSEY