Ahmedabad, India – Australia fast bowler Brett Lee believes his team's pace battery will not be neutralised by slow, spin-friendly pitches at the World Cup.
Lee, who missed the 2007 tournament with an ankle injury, will shoulder the fast bowling burden with Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Doug Bollinger, leaving Jason Krejza as the champions' only frontline spin option.
“I don't see any problem with the pace which we have and playing on the slow wickets – at the end of the day the ball is still coming at 150 kmh (93 miles an hour) through the air,” said Lee.
“The pitch is a massive part of the equation. But if you have a bowler like Shaun Tait bowling around 160 kmh at the batsmen's toes, it doesn't matter where you are playing. It is still going to hit the batsmen on the full.”
Lee also believes that history could be on his side with Australia having won the 1987 World Cup and 2006 Champions Trophy on Indian pitches.
“For pace bowling you've got to get the ball in the right spot. The way we bowled in the Champions Trophy, with lots of pace bowlers, we won that event. Playing slow wickets like in Delhi, it tends to suit our pace attack.”
Lee also believes that Australia, who arrive at the World Cup buoyed by a 6-1 one-day international thrashing of England, can call on a variety of options when it comes to bowling.
Off-spinner Krejza has played just one ODI although he can boast an eight-wicket Test debut at Nagpur in 2008. David Hussey and vice-captain Michael Clarke also bowl spin.
“With Shaun Tait, Mitchell Johnson, Doug Bollinger and me we have a very strong pace attack,” added Lee, who has 335 wickets in one-dayers.
“I am sure with the depth of the players we have got and their talent we are playing the right kind of cricket.”
Lee was recalled to the Australian team for the series with England after a 15-month absence caused by an elbow injury and is desperate to make up for missing the last World Cup in 2007.
“It has been a long road back. It's been 15 months away from the game. A lot of players expected me to get back and play cricket,” said Lee.
“I am proud that I could survive the adversity to a certain extent, and get back to cricket.” – Sapa-AFP