Sydney, Dec 28 : Australian main attack bowler Brett Lee, who lacked penetration and was not able to pick wickets at the MCG, will have to perform in the second innings to convince selectors that he has the ability to lead the pace battery for Ashes 2009.

Less than a week after skipper Ricky Ponting publicly aired his concern by refusing to confirm Lee as a starter for the Boxing Day Test, Lee again found himself wicketless and indebted to Australia's younger bowlers for bailing him out.

Melbourne, Dec 26: Australia's main attack bowler Brett Lee has embraced a new fitness program in order to peak at an age when most fast bowlers consider their best days are behind them.

Lee, 32, insisted that his best could be yet to come as he plots a path towards taking more than 400 Test wickets and overtaking his idol Dennis Lillee (355 wickets) along the way, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Sydney, Dec 21: Former Australian fast-bowling great Glenn McGrath has described as "premature" the suggestion that pace spearhead Brett Lee is on the way out.

McGrath hailed the arrival of left-armer Mitchell Johnson as great news, saying he was disappointed Australia's new pace ace missed out on a nine-wicket haul in the first innings of the Test underway in Perth.

Lee has been heavily scrutinised since Australia's ill-fated tour of India and the findings haven't painted a bright picture, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Perth, Dec. 16 : Australian spearhead Brett Lee says Australia''s priority must be to maintain their vice-like grip on Graeme Smith as part of the effort to leave some early scars on South Africa in the first Test.

Lee was quick to accept the extra responsibilities that will fall to him in the absence of his injured new-ball partner Stuart Clark.

The Proteas captain comes into the three-Test series, starting at the WACA Ground tomorrow, as the leading run-scorer this year.

Perth, Dec. 16 : Australian captain Ricky Ponting has said that even Brett Lee will be expected to take his turn pushing into Perth''s famous sea breeze.

Ponting also confirmed that Peter Siddle will play the first Test against South Africa, beginning on Thursday, replacing Stuart Clark, who is out with tennis elbow.

Clark had surgery in Sydney on Monday afternoon to remove bone spurs on his right elbow and will miss the remainder of the international summer.

"It''s a big blow for Stuart and the team," Ponting said.

Perth, Dec. 15 : Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee has called on his side to take the fight to South Africa and draw "early scars" in the first Test beginning here on Wednesday.

Lee said on Monday that winning the first match of the three-Test series against the world No. 2-ranked team would be crucial and there''s nothing like getting early wickets to put the pressure back on the touring side.