01/09/2009 2:23 PM
Prepare for another barrage of lethal fast bowling. That's the warning from the Australian camp to England ahead of the second Twenty20 international at Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
Not swayed by the great success enjoyed by Pakistan and Sri Lanka's spinners during this year's ICC World Twenty20, Australia will again unleash express quicks Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson on England's brittle batsmen.
And Dirk Nannes is likely to be retained as selectors continue their experimenting ahead of next year's ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean.
In just seven balls on Sunday, Lee and Johnson blasted out Joe Denly and the embattled Ravi Bopara before rain washed out the game with England reeling on 2-4.
"Mitch and Binga bowled real quick from the first few deliveries they bowled," said Australia Twenty20 specialist David Warner.
"Short of a length, we're going to be targeting them in those areas as we saw yesterday. Binga and Mitch are bowling quick and England can expect more of it."
In temperatures better suited to tearing muscles than bowling fast, Lee reached 147kmh in his first over despite limited match practice in recent months due to injury.
Added Cameron White: "We were standing at slips, almost on the ring already, and we felt like it was too close if that's any indication to go by."
"It was pretty quick."
"It's pretty hard to hit when it's 150 (kmh) at your head most of the time."
"As I said it really went through with the new ball. The boys got a little bit excited, it was good to see and put them in a really good position."
England is striving to send Australia back home empty-handed by completing a horror tour with victory on Tuesday and in the upcoming seven-game one-day series.
"It would be an ideal situation if we could beat Australia in all forms of the game, send them home not winning anything," said paceman Ryan Sidebottom.
"There's a great (determination) in the team that we want to do that."