Australian captain Ricky Ponting has defended Brett Lee after he bowled a high full toss at the body of a New Zealand batsman during last night's two-run win in Wellington.
Lee has been criticised several times during the past year for bowling similar deliveries which are potentially dangerous when delivered at his express pace.
Lee will miss Saturday's final match against New Zealand. He has a nasal problem and is returning to Australia for treatment.
Ponting stood by his key fast bowler, saying the delivery was an accident.
"Brett certainly doesn't mean to do it, and he's said that quite a few times as well already," Ponting said.
"I just hope that everybody understands that because anyone that knows Brett would know that there's no way that he would ever attempt to do anything like that.
"I just hope that that is written that way and the cricket lovers and the cricket followers around this country [New Zealand] understand that as well."
The unfortunate batsman on the end of the Lee delivery yesterday was Kiwi wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum, who coincidentally copped a similar ball from the fast bowler during the Chappell-Hadlee series earlier this year.
Yesterday McCullum was able to fend the ball away for four, and received a no-ball, and therefore an extra run and an extra delivery, because the ball reached him above waist height on the full.
The crowd repeatedly booed Lee after the incident.
In Lee's defence, the Australians said he was having difficulty gripping the ball which had become greasy because of dew on the outfield.
Umpire Billy Bowden used the inside of his coat to dry the ball immediately before Lee bowled the offending delivery.
In some ways the Kiwis had the last laugh where Lee was concerned, taking 18 runs from his last over, including five from the no-ball to McCullum.