Date:23/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/23/stories/2006042308271900.htm

Sport - Cricket

Australians turn to Akram for tips

Sydney: Australians are looking for some sub-continental help in their bid to win back the Ashes.

Australian fast bowler Brett Lee, who was at the receiving end of Kevin Pietersen's broad bat last summer when England wrested back the famous urn after 18 years with a 2-1 win, has approached former Pakistani paceman and captain Wasim Akram to learn the art of reverse swing.

Lee and teammates Nathan Bracken and Mitchell Johnson took time out in Bangladesh to seek advice from Akram, who is also in the country as a television commentator.

``Brett Lee is a sight to watch in world cricket. Any bowler comes to me from any nationality, I am there to help,'' Akram, well known for his mastery of reverse swing, said.

``It was about action, about seam, a lot of talk about reverse swing,'' Akram, the only bowler in the history of the game with more than 400 wickets in both forms of the game, said.

``These guys want to improve, so they want to ask the top cricketers (for advice) and that's good,'' Akram was quoted as saying by an Australian website. — PTI