Cricket: Sheer terror at 22 yards

ANGUS FRASER can sympathise with the England batsmen under assault from Brett Lee.

Watching Australian fast bowler Brett Lee sprint in from the Members' End at the Melbourne Cricket Ground during the fourth Ashes test was an awesome sight.

Justin Langer might have scored a chanceless 250, Matthew Hayden a punishing hundred and Michael Vaughan a classy 145, but it was Lee, hurling that red leather missile down the pitch at 152km/h, who had been the true highlight of another one-sided contest.

The presence of the 26-year-old speedster at the end of his mark not only emptied the numerous watering holes at this massive ground but concentrated the minds of batsmen and spectators alike.

Each ball was an exhilarating event on its own and that is the attraction of Lee, or indeed fast bowling in general. There are many great sights in sport, but few can beat that of a Michael Holding, Dennis Lillee or Waqar Younis steaming in from the sightscreen.

Like Formula One racing, the risk of an accident grabs the attention of the fans, because nobody knows what is around the next bend.

And although Australian victories in this series are as inevitable as those of Michael Schumacher, watching Lee as he works over a batsman is a far more exciting proposition than seeing the German's red Ferrari winning at a canter.

Facing fast bowling is not an enjoyable experience, even for the most capable of batsmen.

It takes a brave man to stand defiantly in the way of an object that will do you serious harm should it strike you in the wrong place.

Just ask Alex Tudor, who is still recovering from the blow he took to his head a month ago in Perth.

The real fun when challenged with facing this type of bowling begins in the dressing room.

Those yet to bat are either too concerned to watch or feel compelled to study every ball, wondering how on earth they will cope when they get to the middle.

The fight for protective equipment is fierce, especially when another rip-snorter whistles past the nose of one of your colleagues. If a mattress could be fitted down a shirt, someone would wear it.

On one occasion in 1995 I went out to bat against the West Indies at Edgbaston and asked Richard Illingworth innocently: "What's it like out here?"

He nervously replied: "I have just faced the fastest over of my career."

I thought, "Thanks a bloody lot, mate."

Illingworth was then hit and broke a finger before getting caught in the slips off Ian Bishop.

Such was my relief that we were all out that I nearly celebrated with the West Indians when the catch was taken.

England's batsmen have not lacked courage in the face of such pace, but it could be seen from the look in their eyes that this was like no other experience they had faced.

In England's first innings, Lee released one scorching delivery that was timed at 157km/h, just short of the elusive 160km/h mark, a speed dubiously achieved by the Pakistani Shoaib Akhtar earlier in the year.

Lee's average speed during the eight overs he bowled on the second day was a phenomenal 150.7km/h.

Considering Lee's displays at Perth and the MCG, Nasser Hussain's side must be relieved he was overlooked for the first two tests. The New South Welshman was sent back to his state to sharpen up after a poor run of form following an operation on his right elbow.

The honest toiler Andy Bichel did the donkey-work for Australia's all-star attack. How England must wish he had done enough to keep his place.

But after Lee took 21 wickets in two Pura Cup games, it did not take the Australian selectors long to realise his sheer pace would add an extra dimension to their attack.

In the same way that a captain would not want four raw, wild and expensive fast bowlers in his side, he would also want more options than four Glenn McGraths. Variety is the key, because different bowlers ask different questions of batsmen, and the ability to bowl fast is a gift given to few.

Akhtar is Lee's only rival for the title of fastest bowler on the planet, and both athletes' actions have been surrounded by controversy.

Each has been reported by match referees on suspicion of throwing, and spent time working with bowling coaches in an effort to keep their elbows straight during delivery.

While the odd ride on either of their arms would not be the smoothest of journeys, one does have some sympathy for the pair. Television pictures are now so good they can show every movement of the arm during delivery.

Such scrutiny will naturally prove some actions not to be as pure as the letter of the law demands, but if the presence of these players adds to the game, which it does, and it takes such sharp analysis to prove the delivery is illegitimate, then they should be left alone.

Obviously, if the bending of the elbow is blatant, as it was with Sri Lanka's Ruchira Perera last year, action needs to be taken.

But with Lee and Akhtar, who have already been cleared by the International Cricket Council, the matter should be closed.

This is where comparisons between the two fast bowlers end. In Lee, Australia have an athletic young man who is fully committed to the game and making the most of what he has.

Akhtar seems more concerned with cashing in and enjoying the kudos of his position. He appears happy to swan around playing games of no importance rather than winning tests for his country.

It is hard to describe how physically demanding it is to bowl fast.

To do it for any period of time you have to be fully committed.

Lee is, and we can expect to see him providing crowds around the world with the same sort of excitement witnessed in Melbourne.

The same cannot be said for Akhtar.