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.

"I spoke to Brett the other day. He's doing quite well. All he needs is one or two wickets and off he'll go. That's the funny thing - if you can call it that - about bowling. I found it only took that one ball and things would change. It was just a matter of concentrating on bowling well and the wickets would come," McGrath said.

He said it was vital that Lee maintained his self-belief and that he didn't allow the knockers to become his focus.

"It really comes back to how you feel. And you have to feel as though you're heading in the direction you want to go. As I've said, you can be bowling well and not take a wicket but it is funny how it can all fall into place once you get that wicket. Brett, like every fast bowler, has to just keep it in perspective and not read too much into it. He has to stay upbeat," McGrath added.

McGrath has previously said that he believed Lee suffered early in his career because no one seemed to know how to use him, the SMH reported.

However, McGrath had noted Lee matured when he became the cornerstone of the Australian attack in the aftermath of his and Shane Warne's retirement. (ANI)