Lee excited over Shoaib's delivery

Shoaib Akhtar and Brett Lee, the world's two fastest bowlers, will go head-to-head in a three-match one-day international series in Australia in June.

Their confrontation has been spiced up by Shoaib bowling a delivery recorded unofficially at 100.04 mph (161kph), initially announced as the first ball to break the 100 barrier.

"It's great that a person has finally clocked that 160 and I'm just really excited for him and really proud of him," Lee told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.

"It's a bit like that four-minute mile thing and for a person to actually finally achieve it is fantastic."

Shoaib, 26, produced the delivery during the third one-day international against New Zealand at Lahore on Saturday.

The International Cricket Council, however, said it would remain unofficial since it did not have a policy on the speed record. The delivery was recorded on a sponsor's speed gun after the gun operated by the host broadcasting company broke down.

Debate will continue over the title of the world's fastest bowler.

THOMSON STANDARD

The standard was set by Australia's Jeff Thomson back in 1976 when he was timed at 99.8 mph during a special net session.

Lee, however, also has a claim on the record.

His manager Neil Maxwell has been sent a copy of a video of the first Test of the 2000-01 series between Australia and West Indies in Brisbane which, according to an Australian Associated Press report, shows Lee dismissing Courtney Walsh with a delivery timed at 161.8 kph.

Lee declined to comment on his delivery because the Australian did not want to detract from his friend Shoaib's achievement, AAP reported.

But he did say on Tuesday that he would like to see a standard speed camera used at international matches.

"It will be ideal if they could use the one speed gun, of course, and that's why I'm looking to the Super Challenge this season," Lee said.

"I mean Shoaib is coming out, it's going to be that same speed gun and those same sort of conditions."

The first two day-night matches between Australia and Pakistan will be played indoors at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on June 12 and 15. The third match will be played outdoors in Brisbane on June 19.

Groundsman Tony Ware said he wanted to prepare pacy batting pitches for the matches in Melbourne.

"I mean, both guys are bowling 100 miles an hour plus so there's going to be some pace around, for sure," Ware told reporters.

Mail Cricket Editor