BRETT Lee delivered the fastest spell of his career yesterday, boosting his selection chances for Thursday's first Test team against New Zealand in Christchurch.
Lee even had the Kiwi crowd cheering when he hurled down a 160.8km/h lightning bolt in the final one-day match in Napier - after clocking 160.4km/h the ball before.
It equalled the fastest delivery of his career - bowled in Port Elizabeth at the 2003 World Cup - but it was still short of Shoaib Akhtar's best of 161km/h.
The Napier crowd loved the speed pursuit, roaring when the scoreboard showed Lee hitting a rounded-up figure of 161kmh. Lee warmed up with 143km/h and 151km/h opening deliveries.
Rookie batsman Craig Cumming played and missed at the 160.8km/h ball, while Adam Gilchrist's body jolted back when he took a legside wide.
Lee, free of his ankle problems, has regained the control to complement his speed and he has made an irresistible case to play his first Test in 14 months this week.
That would again leave Michael Kasprowicz as Australian cricket's unluckiest player because selectors would not drop Glenn McGrath or Jason Gillespie.
Lee's selection hopes have been boosted by his record against a New Zealand side which struggles against ultra-quick bowling.
Fleming admitted as much and he was jumping yesterday when Lee was tearing in without the assistance of a strong breeze.
He has terrorised the Black Caps in this one-day series, entering yesterday's match with combined figures of 9-135 and an economy rate of just 4.09.
Kasprowicz has been outstanding in the past 12 months and he pushed his cause again yesterday by removing Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming and James Marshall with consecutive deliveries.
- MICHAEL CRUTCHER