Brett Lee was made largely ineffective by the Indian top order but the speedster says he had 'forgotten' that experience and was ready for the tourists.
MELBOURNE: The last time India toured Australia, Brett Lee was made largely ineffective by the Indian top order but the speedster says he had 'forgotten' that experience and was ready to lock horns with the tourists once again.
In the 2003-04 series which ended in a 1-1 draw, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag averaged more than 50 runs.
Lee was thrust into the role of the leader of the bowling attack in the absence of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne but his two Tests produced the unflattering return of eight wickets for 476 runs at a cost of 59.50 each.
"I actually had forgotten about that until now, so thanks for bringing it up," Lee said when asked if revenge may motivate his efforts this summer.
The fast bowler rated the Indian top order the biggest challenge to Australian bowlers, nominating the usual suspects and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni - "probably the hardest hitter of the ball I've ever seen in my life, a guy who can clear the pickets at will" - as the main threats.
"They're great batsmen to bowl against and, if you want to improve your cricket, you always put yourself against the best and that's the Indian batsmen," Lee told 'The Age'.
"We've definitely got our work cut out but we have got a great side," Lee said while acknowledging a huge hole at the heart of the Australian side this year.
"In the hard Test matches, we've always thought we can turn to Glenn McGrath or turn to Shane Warne to try to take a wicket and actually get that breakthrough," he said.
"But now we haven't got that. We are looking to guys like Stuey Clark or Mitchell Johnson, if he gets the opportunity, or Stuey MacGill, or whoever it might be," he said.
While he backed away from expressing a firm preference on who should play as a third quick alongside himself and Stuart Clark, Lee suggested Queenslander Johnson deserved to be the favourite to make his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Brisbane on November 8.
"Mitchell Johnson's been really, really impressive. He's been probably the bowler of the tour of the last South African and Indian series," Lee said.
"When he's had his opportunity to bowl with the new ball, he's always done well."
Despite being thrust into a leadership role by McGrath's retirement, Lee does not foresee his role changing.
"I'm not going to go out there and try to be a different bowler. I'm out there trying to take wickets, to help the guys and try to bowl in partnerships," he said.
Lee is pleased to be playing Test cricket for the first time since January.
"Test match cricket is about a test of character, a test of courage. It's a test of a person's mental strength as well. It's not over in 20 overs, it's not over in 50 overs: this is about going out there and playing five days of solid cricket," Lee said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}