Clarke warns England about Lee by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	MJ Clarke, B Lee
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 4th September 2009

 

Australian stand-in-skipper Michael Clarke warned England to be aware of the fact that Brett Lee is determined to put his summer of disappointment behind him.

 

The right-arm tearway pacer was instrumental in causing England's downfall in the 2006-07 Ashes whitewash down under, but a rib injury prevented him from taking part in the tourists' unsuccessful bid to hold on to the famous urn this summer.

 

Lee returned to action by taking two wickets in Australia's first game since their Ashes loss, a 189-run win over Scotland a week ago.

 

He then removed England opener Joe Denly in the first abandoned Twenty20 at Old Trafford on Sunday.

 

"He looked sharp in the Twenty20s and he has been pretty sharp in the nets as well," Clarke said of Lee.

 

"He's as good as I've seen him. He's training as hard as I have seen him train and he certainly has the hunger so I'm certain he will have a really good one-day series."

 

Clarke though admitted that the visitors are still feeling bad about the Test defeat to England, but believes the ODI series gives Australia a chance to build momentum ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, which begins in South Africa later this month.

 

"This is a huge series for us. We really want to do well," the 28-year-old said.

 

"We didn't win the Test series. We have seven ODIs here so we have to try and win this series to take some positives from this English tour and build that momentum and success leading up to a big ODI tournament in the ICC Champions Trophy.

 

"What I have been trying to express to the team is that every game is very important.

 

"We want to perform and win every game we play. That's how you build momentum.

 

"How you experience team bonding and team success is by getting wins under your belt and we have a great opportunity to do that here."