Cricket: Lee's beamer provokes fresh fusillade

It wouldn't be an international cricket match if John Bracewell wasn't coming up with a conspiracy theory afterwards, and things were no different when New Zealand and Australia arrived in Wellington yesterday.

Still bridling over the Brett Lee beamer that cannoned into the forearm of Brendon McCullum on Saturday night, Bracewell suggested the incident was not accidental and warned that it could one day end up in court if someone was injured.

Lee delivered the chest high full-toss at more than 150km/h, prompting an angry response from McCullum at the time, and an even more outspoken one from Bracewell after practice yesterday.

"It's the fourth time this season that he's beamed one of our guys and he's been apologetic every time he's done it," he said.

"He was apologetic when he came around the wicket and did it to Chris Harris and Paul Wiseman, and he's apologised twice to Brendon.

"I'm not sure if he's apologised to [Pakistan all-rounder Abdur] Razzaq, but that's a lot of apologies."

Questioned about whether he thought the beamer was deliberate, Bracewell wouldn't be drawn directly, but gave a good indication of his thoughts when he answered: "I think he's in the best form of his life."

The comments are sure to hit a nerve with the Australians, who have already been accused by Bracewell of all manner of dirty tricks and have pleaded innocent on every occasion.

Bracewell hit the headlines with his first conspiracy theory during the winter tour to England, when he accused organisers of gerrymandering the NatWest Trophy draw so that his team was disadvantaged by the pitches.

He then got offside with the Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell during the first test in November, accusing the Brisbanite of watering the pitch during the game to assist the home team's bowlers.

Mitchell copped it again when New Zealand returned for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy match at the Gabba, this time after Bracewell alleged that he'd swapped the match pitch at the last minute so that it would better suit the hosts.

On the same day he also panned the Channel Nine broadcasting production, claiming the Hawke Eye device and the Speed Radar readings were being manipulated to look advantageous to Australia.

And there has been no let-up since the Australians arrived in New Zealand.

Bracewell came charging out of his corner after the first ODI at Wellington, accusing touring skipper Ricky Ponting of using the crowd behaviour as an excuse to interrupt the game and New Zealand's batting momentum.

His attack on Lee yesterday even included the suggestion that he could open himself up to a Jarrod McCracken-type injury lawsuit if one of his beamers caused more serious damage.

Kiwi league star McCracken successfully sued the Melbourne Storm club and opposition players Steve Kearney and Marcus Bai after being hammered in an illegal spear-tackle and suffering a career-ending injury.

"I think it's going to be more serious if it happens in Australia," said Bracewell, citing New Zealand's protection from injury-type lawsuits.

However, Lee said yesterday that the dewy surface underfoot had caused him to slip on delivery stride, and that the beamer was unintentional.

"He [McCullum] lost it there for 15 to 20 seconds and I went up and apologised, saying, 'I would never mean to do that'."

Ponting backed up his fast-bowler saying it wasn't the way his team played cricket.

"It was an accident on Brett's behalf," he said.

"I went in to Brendon to apologise, and to say it certainly wasn't deliberate."

Bracewell's theories

* Accused organisers of last year's tour to England of gerrymandering one-day series so that his team was disadvantaged by the pitches.

* Accused Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell during the first test in November of watering pitch during the game to assist the home team's bowlers.

* Accused broadcastersof manipulating speed radar for Australia's benefit.