I've improved under Ponting, says Brett Lee

Sydney, Mar 22 (UNI) Unsure of his role under Steve Waugh, Brett Lee feels that he has come in to his own under Ricky Ponting's leadership, which has helped him understand his place in the team.

''Generally speaking, the way that Ricky has captained, my personal bowling over the last couple of years has just been brilliant. I've been really happy with it,'' Lee told the ''Australian''.

He said he was not sure of what was required of him during Waugh's reign and didn't quite know what his captain expected of him.

''Going back two or three years, I wasn't really sure what was going on as far as what they wanted me to do, run in and bowl fast or bowl seam up or try to reduce the pace a bit,'' he recalled.

The pacer said the confusion has now subsided and he is very clear of what the team wants from him now.

''The most important thing you need as a sportsman is to be clear on what you're actually doing. I can go into a match now knowing what my role is, what is expected of me,'' he asserted.

''It is a lot clearer than it was three or four years ago, which has definitely helped my cricket.'' However, statistics reveal that his bowling average, of just over 31, has remained the same under both the captains and the same goes for his strike rate.

The bowler, who made his debut under Waugh, had to sit out of the Test team for more than nine months as he battled injuries and poor form until he made a comeback in last year's Ashes series against England.

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