SYDNEY (Reuters)
Australian pace bowler Brett Lee, who continues to battle against injury, has said he would accept former Test quick Jeff Thomson's advice and continue to bowl as fast as he could.

Lee, 24, who has taken 51 wickets in his 12 Test appearances, claimed only nine victims at an average of 55.11 in the 4-1 Ashes series victory in England earlier this year. He went into the series lacking match fitness after elbow surgery and was troubled later in the tour by a side strain, which is currently interrupting his start to the Australian domestic summer.

Lee returned at club level in Sydney last week, taking three wickets, and needs a solid performance for New South Wales in their interstate four-day match against South Australia starting in Sydney on Friday. His main rival for a place in the Australian new-ball attack appears to be Victoria swing bowler Damien Fleming, who was overlooked in favour of Lee during the Ashes series.

"I see my role in the team as it has always been -- being an express bowler," Lee said on Tuesday. "I'm not there to bowl line and length and bowl slow. I'm there to get a few quick breakthroughs.

"I'm certainly not going to bring my pace down and try a few different things. I'll wait until I'm about 30 before I start bowling off-cutters and leg-cutters when the body does collapse a little bit more."

Thomson, 51, who took 200 Test wickets, was a television commentator during the Ashes series and said last week that Lee had bowled poorly in England. "He's there to bowl fast, that's his job and that's what he should be doing," Thomson said.

Lee will turn 25 on November 8, which is the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane. Australian fast bowling great Dennis Lillee has been helping Lee modify his action and run-up to ease the stress on his body.

But Lee said it would not detract from his pace, which can reach up to 156 kph. "Fast bowlers do tend to get injured and that's just the way it is because it's such an unnatural action," Lee said. "It's just a matter of doing the right things out there and looking after your body as much as you can."

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