Brett Lee ready for a fight

Australia speedster Brett Lee realises he has little time to seal a place in the playing eleven for the first Ashes Test, starting in Cardiff on July 8

Brett Lee ready for a fight

Australia speedster Brett Lee realises he has little time to seal a place in the playing eleven for the first Ashes Test, starting in Cardiff on July 8

Veteran paceman Brett Lee is not preparing for life after international cricket but admits the next fortnight will determine whether he is worth a place in Australia's side for the first Ashes Test in Cardiff.

Brett Lee

Lee said his record of 310 wickets from 76 Tests and experience in England would count for nothing if he could not rediscover his best form in tour matches against Sussex, which started yesterday, and the England Lions.

There are mixed views as to whether Lee, whose powers have been on the decline since Australia's tour of India last year, still commands a place in the Test side ahead of Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus.

Geoff Lawson, an Australian who has played and coached at international level, believes Lee no longer cuts the mustard on the world stage, but former team-mate Shane Warne said the blond quick deserved the chance to prove his wares.

Warne said Lee would be a certain starter in Cardiff if he was still capable of bowling fast and swinging the ball.

Drawing support
"The Sussex game and the one next week against England Lions will show if he can offer what Ricky wants," Warne wrote in The Times.

For Lee, who is just six months away from achieving his ambition of becoming a 10-year player for Australia, the equation was simple. Deliver or else.

"I know that if I'm not doing the business out on the cricket field I don't expect to get chosen," he said.

"You've taken 300 Test wickets, well whoopy whoop.

"I'm a very honest person. If I'm not bowling well or taking the wickets and not happy with the way the ball's coming out then I don't expect to be chosen.

"On the other side of the fence if I'm taking wickets and feel like the ball's coming out the way I want it to, well then I'll be putting my hand up to take the brand new ball for Australia."

Asked if he had contemplated whether the next few weeks could be the beginning of the end, Lee said: "Definitely not.

"The thing that I'm proud about is longevity playing for Australia for 10 years.

"There's going to be ups and downs but that's part of being a sportsperson. You go through highs and lows, all those troughs.

"I'm 32 years of age but so what? I'm feeling really fit. I'm the fittest I've ever been. I'm the strongest I've ever been which is great but it doesn't mean anything if I'm not doing the business out on the cricket field."

Lee's performance in Australia's ill-fated World Twenty20 campaign did not conjure much confidence but he has put that firmly to one side. "To me the true test will be these two trial matches coming up," he said.

Stiff competition
With competition fierce for berths in the Australian attack, there will be no shortage of players ready to fill the void should Lee be overlooked.

Siddle, Hilfenhaus and Andrew McDonald all impressed Ponting in South Africa, while off-spinner Nathan Hauritz could also be vital for Australia on a Cardiff wicket expected to offer turn.

"Maths at school you know 16 isn't going to go into 11 no matter how hard you try," Lee said.

"Certainly, from a bowler's point of view and without putting pressure upon ourselves, we do know it's a bit of a shootout but that's healthy and it makes it exciting too."

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