Lee says his pace is back

Australian Brett Lee who took four wickets for 33 runs against West Indies on Friday said his pace had returned following a back injury.

Lee helped blast West Indies out for 123 in 35.1 overs in their limited overs international.

Australia replied with 124-0 off 22.5 overs in an easy victory with Damien Martyn (69) and Darren Lehmann (50) feasting on the West Indies' attack.

There was no such luck for the visiting batsmen who were helpless against the raw speed of Lee, which was approaching 150 kph (93 mph), and the crafty swing bowling of Damien Fleming (3-32).

"I think I'm getting better as each game goes on," Lee, 24, told reporters.

"It just comes back to practice. I suppose I've bowled two or three times in the last nine weeks so it's very hard to come back and expect to take wickets first-up but I'm starting to find some rhythm now.

"The pace is certainly back. Hopefully I can keep improving as each game goes by. The back feels fantastic now so it's back to 100 per cent, which is great."

Fleming, 30, was making his first appearance for Australia after overcoming finger and neck injuries while Lee showed a remarkable turn around in form after being thumped for 70 off eight overs without taking a wicket against Zimbabwe on January 21.

Lee, who played only the first two of the five tests against West Indies before his back injury, returned to the side for the one-dayer against West Indies on January 14, taking 1-40 off seven in a patchy performance. He sat out the January 17 match against West Indies.

In the second test in Perth in December, Lee's most recent test appearance, he took 5-61 in the second innings, grabbing the last three wickets of the match in one over to give Australia victory by an innings and 27 runs.

Mail Cricket Editor