Brett Lee must learn to "think" batsmen out as well as blasting them out with his sizzling pace, according to legendary Test speedster Jeff Thomson.
"Brett's a good cricketer and all that but if he's going to be the strike bowler for Australia he has to step up and work out how to get blokes out quicker," Thomson said.
"My assumption of Brett is that he has to look at batsmen and work out what they like and don't like.
"Knowing a batsman inside and out is half the battle. You see McGrath do it so well and other bowlers do it very well also, but Brett seems to struggle with it."
The Chappell-Hadlee one-day series proves Thomson's point that Lee struggles to come up with a plan B when his pace doesn't do the trick.
In game one Lee terrorised the Kiwis in favourable conditions, taking 3-5 in six overs to win the man of the match award. But in game two, on a more batsman-friendly pitch, Lee finished with a woeful 1-85 from his 10 overs and gave New Zealand a sniff of victory.
Thomson believes Lee's form must improve.
"Brett has been a bit disappointing and a bit scratchy for mine," Thomson said. "It has taken him a long time to get wickets, which tells me nobody is helping him out or he can't work it out too quickly."
Thomson suggested that Lee's improved form after the Ashes tour was due to Australia's less challenging opposition.
"It's hard to judge (form) when you are playing the West Indies," Thomson said.
"I wouldn't be getting too carried away with that."
- DAVID RICCIO