14/09/2009 8:03 PM
Rather than hold him back for fear of injury, Australia will give rejuvenated speedster Brett Lee every chance to break the 100mph barrier in the coming months.
Lee, 33 in November, will be given free rein by bowling coach Troy Cooley to unleash serious heat on international batsmen as he gradually retains full fitness after overcoming ankle surgery and a nasty side strain in the past 12 months.
The veteran warned on Sunday after his match-winning five-wicket haul at Lord's his quickest was yet to come, a view supported by Cooley, who on Tuesday will relieve the resting Tim Nielsen as coach for the final three matches against England.
The most 'ferocious' inswinging yorker in the game is about to become just that bit more menacing.
The common view held by bowling and conditioning experts is it takes a paceman two months of solid cricket to reach his optimum speed.
That means Lee, on the proviso his body stays sound, will be best equipped to hit the magical 160kmh mark in October in India, either for Australia or New South Wales in the Champions League Twenty20.
"He keeps saying it, so we're happy to keep pushing him up there," Cooley said.
"He is doing all the right things to make sure he is at full tilt whenever he can be, he is a champion."
"We still think he's got a little bit to go, he thinks he has a little bit more to go, so we're happy to facilitate the development of that."
That's bad news for a host of international batsmen set to face Lee in the coming months, particularly in India where the outfield is more abrasive and conducive to reverse swing.
As Cooley is aware, reverse swing becomes more pronounced and dangerous when delivered above 150kmh.
Lee's recent success with the ball will take some off the pressure off Cooley, whose status as a bowling guru took a hit earlier in the tour through the Mitchell Johnson crisis.
Johnson hit his lowest point during the Lord's Test and later revealed he was so confused by technical instructions he forgot he was at his best when he concentrated merely on bowling fast.
"Once you start working with players over a long period of time you know their skill just doesn't disappear," Cooley.
"So basically (we were) just trying to get in and making sure he was concentrating on what he needed to do, and keeping him focussed."
"As you see his skill didn't leave him, and the impact he had towards the end of the series."
Cooley is more concerned Australia arrives in South Africa for the Champions Trophy in peak form than what the critics may say should the team blot its perfect record in the remaining matches against England.
He said Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus, both overlooked for the first four games after playing the entire Ashes series, are likely to get a run in the next week.