| Player: | TJ Cooley, B Lee |
| Event: | England in Australia 2006/07 |
Australian fast bowling coach Troy Cooley has backed Brett Lee to hit back as a major force in the second Ashes Test against England, starting in Adelaide on Friday. The express bowler struggled with match figures of 2-149 at the Gabba, one of his favourite grounds, and was forced into the background while Stuart Clark (7-93) and Glenn McGrath (7-103) earned the bowling plaudits. There has been speculation that Lee might find his Test place in jeopardy before the summer is out. But Cooley believes Lee, who became a father in the week before the Test, is not far off his peak and with two days of fine-tuning in the Adelaide nets, he'll be ready to go. "His figures were not as flattering as he'd have liked, but I thought he did a fantastic job," Cooley said Tuesday. Lee's two wickets were key ones. Kevin Pietersen was dropped off his bowling by Clark on day three before Lee struck a psychological blow when his first ball to England captain Andrew Flintoff dismissed the England skipper. Flintoff had just arrived at the wicket with his side teetering at 78 for four and he edged a Lee leg-cutter to Adam Gilchrist and was out for a duck. Lee also killed off any England rearguard action on the fifth day when he got Pietersen, England's last recognised batsman, with the fourth ball of the morning. "I thought he bowled some key spells in Brisbane," said Cooley, who is a great admirer of Lee's pure bowling action. After his first session with Lee during the off-season he described him as "a machine". "I don't think he's very far off the mark now. He's had a few things going on in his life, and I wouldn't be surprised if he comes out and has a great Test match in Adelaide."