Lee looks to add variety to his repertoire

Melbourne, Jan 19 (PTI) Brett Lee is all set to travelwith a bag full of tricks to the sub-continent as Australialook ahead to clinch the fourth successive World Cup titlestarting next month.

The speedster who was included in the 15-member World Cupsquad yesterday said, "The batsmen are trying different thingsand to counter those shots it''s important the bowler works onthe things in the nets and tries things as well, and that''shappened for me.

"With the slower wickets it''s still important you bowlfast over there but you need the extra bit of things in yourrepertoire. It''s slower bouncers, wide lines and these typesof different balls," the 34-year-old explained.

Though still capable of posing a serious challenge to thebest in the business with discomforting pace, sometimes evensearing above 150 kmph, Lee has looked to add variety to hisexisting armoury.

The fast bowler has off late developed a slow-ballbouncer that New South Wales coach Matthew Mott described as"one of the best in world cricket."

Ecstatic at his inclusion in the squad Lee, who missedthe last World Cup in the Caribbean four years ago, toldSydney Morning Herald, "All the pieces are fitting in thejigsaw puzzle, it''s all going according to plan."

"I was hoping to be available and to be chosen and that''shappened. As I said, this is a massive moment in my career andone that I''m very proud of," said Lee, second only to GlennMcGrath on Australia''s all-time ODI wicket-takers list.

Lee''s intent to be a part of Australia''s World Cupdefence can be gauged from the fact that he has visited Indiathree times in recent months to get acclimatised to slowerdecks in the region besides catering to his growing off-fieldinterests.

"There''s no reason why someone from Australia can''t besuccessful in bowling on those wickets," the paceman said.

"It''s a matter of learning as much as you can on thosewickets. It doesn''t really matter what sort of wicket you''replaying on if you''re bowling 150km through the air and hittingthe right areas then it''s going to be quite difficult or scaryfor the batsmen," Lee added.

Lee will spearhead the Kangaroo pace battery of MitchellJohnson, Shaun Tait and Doug Bollinger as Australia look togo all guns blazing in a region that has traditionallyfavoured spin. Nathan Hauritz is the only spinner in theAussie ranks.