Cricket: Lee racing to be fit

Brett Lee is planning to boost Australia's pace bowling stocks by being fit for this week's fourth Ashes test at Headingley.

Lee is aiming to be back at full pace after his sidelining from a side strain suffered before the first test at Cardiff.

"I want to be going flat out by day five here [in Birmingham] so I've got two more days," he said on Saturday.

"I had a really good bowl today, go a little bit harder tomorrow then hard on the fifth day and hopefully be back by full pace then."

Australia's fourth highest test wicket-taker said he was pain-free after the injury which followed his impressive burst of reverse swing in the tour match against the England Lions at Worcester.

"It's been challenging, to say the least, but things are starting to fall into place now," he said.

"The body's starting to feel really good, I've got no pain there in the left rib region."

Lee's last appearance in the baggy green was a disappointing showing in the Boxing Day test where he carried a foot injury into the match and battled against South Africa.

The 32-year-old thought his form in Worcester and reputation should be enough to put him in the reckoning for the Leeds clash starting on Friday.

Australia are expected to seriously consider playing another seamer in the match as the Headingley pitch has traditionally tended to favour the quicks.

"I'm not worried about my form or the pace, hopefully I've proven that," he said.

"It's just a matter now of making sure the rib feels okay.

"It feels good so far so we'll just see how it goes."

The Australians would prefer Lee to have a tour match under his belt but the side's next practice game is not until after the Leeds test.

Meanwhile, Shane Watson said Australia had to combat English swing bowler James Anderson by showing more patience against him. Anderson has proved lethal at times in overcast conditions in the last two tests.

"There is no doubt that we just need to be a bit more patient and a bit more technically solid with our defence and decision-making to make sure he does not go through us again, because he has definitely hurt us at some key moments in the last few test matches," he said.

Watson felt the Australians had shown Anderson adequate respect.

"We just need to adapt our games and be more patient and get through his spells and not really give him a chance to get his tail up, because once he gets his tail up, he bowls even better," he said.

Play was washed out on the third day at Edgbaston and England remained at 2-116 in reply to Australia's 263.

- AAP