Sport - Cricket

Lee prefers to wait and watch

NEW DELHI: Brett Lee will wait and watch the situation before taking the call on playing the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

In the Capital on a promotional campaign for a watch company, the Australian speedster said, “I would rather trust the people on the ground and what they have to say. I don’t have an opinion right now. I’d like more time before I take the call.

“I am a cricketer and not an expert on security issues. So I would rather wait for the experts to assess the situation,” he said.

Looking ahead to Australia’s forthcoming tour to India, Lee categorically stated that he had no problem in travelling anywhere in the country. “We travel under heavy security and these men know their job,” he said when asked if he had any apprehensions in playing in India following the recent serial bomb blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

On bearing the workload of spearheading the Australian pace team, Lee said, “I want to play every single game for Australia. I agree, the workload has to be monitored. We have a heavy schedule ahead and I am sure I can sneak in a break sometime. I have not forgotten how, in 2004, I was the 12th man and did not get a single game for almost 18 months. Now I am on the other side and don’t want to miss anything.”

He backed young left-arm spinner Beau Casson to be part of the Australian attack during the tour to India. “I have seen his all-round abilities when he turned out for New South Wales. I think he will shape up well in the coming days,” said Lee about the 25-year-old who played his only Test against the West Indies last month.

When quizzed about the referral system introduced in the on-going India-Sri Lanka series, Lee said, “I like the human element (in decision making). Otherwise, why not just shift a robot out there? Referral is good in decisions regarding stumping or run-outs. But for leg-before, I like the umpire to take the call. And most of the time, the umpires get it right.”

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