CRICKET/The Ashes: Brett Lee's anticipated return to Australia's Test side at Lord's on Thursday has fuelled expectations that the most hyped Ashes series in history will be launched with the fiercest barrage of fast bowling for a generation.
With the two most powerful sides in the game desperate to land the first blow, Lee's searing pace back in favour for Australia and England's Steve Harmison eager to grasp the initiative, Lord's may witness some of the most uncompromising Ashes fast bowling since Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson terrorised England's batsmen in Australia a little over 30 years ago.
Lee, who tuned up for Lord's by putting the Leicestershire batsman John Sadler in hospital, albeit with nothing more life-threatening than a bruised shoulder, did nothing to dispel the notion yesterday.
"I got a few bruised toes from bowling bouncers at Leicester because it was such a slow wicket," he said. "But it was good to warm up with some short-pitched bowling, because you don't get a chance to do that in the one-day games. Providing that you are bowling to a plan, and that plan is to get that batsman out, then intimidatory bowling is going by the rules."
It is the sense that England can make a concerted Ashes challenge which makes a combustible start to the series a certainty. One Australian of some longevity, Glenn McGrath, might be tipping a 5-0 whitewash for England, but Lee is not the only one reluctant to take his lead.
"It's the first time for a number of decades that both teams start level," he said. "This time we have two great sides coming up against each other. I can see fireworks on Thursday morning - a great first session to set things up for the series."
Lee recognises that he will be a target; when he smiles you can almost sense Harmison locking on to the coordinates.
England's targeting of Australia's tail with short-pitched bowling was emphasised from the outset as Harmison and Andrew Flintoff fired in short balls remorselessly in the Twenty20 match at the Rose Bowl last month; now the one-day restrictions are lifted.
"I have bowled a few short balls in my time and I have copped a few," Lee said. "I know that there is a technique to bounce our tail and try to get us out as cheaply as possible. That is clearly a plan that they have talked about. It's not great to be hit at over 90mph, but it's part of the game."
It is best to keep some perspective on this. Lee may have experienced the ultimate fast bowler's machismo - a 100mph delivery - but in his last Test, in Sydney in January 2004, India amassed 705 for seven. For all the entreaties on his behalf from his captain, Ricky Ponting, he has not played a Test since, although his one-day form should make a return inevitable.
"I will go to sleep a happy person knowing that I have done my best," he said. "Whether that is good enough I will find out on Thursday morning. It has been a very frustrating and tough 18 months. It has been a great learning curve. Playing one-day cricket has been great but the reason I am here is to play Test cricket."
Jason Gillespie's summer has been more hangdog. His bowling has lacked rhythm, he has fumbled in the field and he has become the fall guy of English crowds. He has also withstood suggestions that, although he is only 30, numerous injuries early in his career make his bowling age much older. In other words, he may be past it.
Unsurprisingly, he does not concur. "It's funny how former batsmen are the ones who mention that," he said. "Look, the guys are entitled to give their opinions. You have to be able to cop the criticism as well as the slaps on the back.
"But I hope I look 30 and, yeah, I feel fine. I feel 20. I feel quite young. It's funny, I feel better with my body and my mind now than I did when I was 22.
"I had a lot of injuries earlier in my career and maybe that did take a toll, but I have always had a belief that it would help me in the long run."
