We can handle the pressure, says Lee

Lee’s sudden surge as Australia’s premier fast bowler in the last 12 months is the logical culmination of his gradual rise up the ranks. But an elbow injury in 2001 didn’t allow him to travel to India, and in 2004 he watched the action as the Australian team’s 12th man. Now, in 2008, Lee will play his first Test match in India and also lead an attack in which none of the bowlers have ever used the SG ball in international cricket.

“Being the 12th man or not playing through injury always hurts. That was a difficult time in my life. It was a stage where I had to work hard to prove I deserved a place in the Australian team. I was trying my best to get a game in 2004, but they obviously thought I wasn’t part of the best XI — that’s fair enough but I think I’ve proved myself by now. I enjoy each ball now and it gives me enough pleasure in leading the attack,” he said on Tuesday.

“I know there will be a lot of pressure but I’ve always enjoyed the pressure. I know there is lot of talk about our inexperienced attack but these guys have played a lot of Cricket back home in Australia. To play India in India is pretty exciting — with the crowds, the pitches which are not conducive to fast bowling. Mitchell (Johnson), I and other fast bowlers definitely have our work cut out.”

“Yes, we’ve lost the likes of Glenn, Justin Langer, Warne and Adam Gilchrist, but this is a new era for Australian cricket. Younger guys have to step up and there is no better stage than India. You can look at us like we’re the underdogs but the way we played last summer, you...