Brett Lee has insisted he’ll play through the pain barrier as he approaches Glenn McGrath’s record as Australia’s top one-day wicket-taker.
Lee’s season, and possibly career, was being written off a fortnight ago when he was ruled out for almost two months with a broken toe.
But now, assured he can’t do any further damage, the 35-year-old quick is in no mood to rest after putting intense pain to one side as he combined with Ben Hilfenhaus to rip through India’s top order in Sunday night’s tri-series clash at the Gabba.
Lee hit speeds approaching 150kph and gained good swing and bounce to finish with 3-49 from 10 overs as he took his career tally to 361 wickets – 19 behind former new-ball partner McGrath.
Stand-in skipper Ricky Ponting described Australia’s Gabba bowling effort as among the best he’d seen since McGrath hung up his boots after the 2007 World Cup.
Although an ill Clint McKay and a rested Ryan Harris are waiting to return to an in-form Australian pace attack, Lee insisted he’s not interested in a tri-series break to nurse his snapped little toe.
“I’m not keen to rest, period,” Lee told AAP on Monday.
“I’ve had enough rest in my life (due to injuries) and I’ll rest when I finally hang the boots up.
“I think that with my toe, it’s very painful but you find a way to play through it and I think I’m past the worst of it. It’s going to get better as each game goes on.”
The initial six-eight week prognosis after being struck on the right foot from a full-blooded straight drive in the Twenty20 international in Perth didn’t sit well with Lee who pushed for an immediate return.
“It’s amazing what you can do when you have a chance to play for your country,” he said.
“As long as I can’t do any further damage, it’s a matter of playing through that pain barrier.”
With three more matches before the tri-series finals, McGrath’s record is unlikely to fall this month in Australia but Lee could eclipse the mark on the upcoming tour of the West Indies.
Lee’s one-day stats lose nothing in comparison to the ultra-consistent and economical McGrath who took his 380 wickets in 249 matches at a wonderful average of 21.98.
A new-ball intimidator, Lee’s 361 scalps in 207 matches have come at 22.89 at a superior strike-rate of a wicket every 29 balls.
