Cricket: Paceman Lee vows to make fiery debut

THE AUSTRALIAN pace bowler Brett Lee has promised to produce the fastest delivery ever seen if he is selected to play in the second Test against India.

The 23-year-old Lee, who was named yesterday in a 12-man squad for the Test which starts in Melbourne on Boxing Day, is rated as being quicker than Pakistan's paceman Shoaib Ahktar and many, including Dennis Lillee, believe him to be the fastest bowler in the world.

"If I get the chance, I'll be sending them down as fast as I can," Lee said. "I've been chosen to bowl fast - I'm certainly not going out there to work on my outswinger or bowl offcutters."

The uncapped Lee replaces Colin Miller in the only change from the side who defeated India by 285 runs in the first Test in Adelaide.

Mark Waugh, who was chosen for his 99th Test, retained his place despite concerns about his form with the bat. He has scored just 18 runs in his past five Test innings after making a hundred in the first Test against Pakistan. India have delayed naming their team until later in the week.

New Zealand have offered the 24-year-old batsman Mathew Sinclair his Test debut against West Indies in the second Test in Wellington which also begins on Sunday. Sinclair was called up to replace the injured Matt Horne, whose finger was broken during New Zealand's nine-wicket win in the first Test in Hamilton on Monday. New Zealand lead the two- Test series 1-0.

Sinclair, an Australian-born right-handed batsman, has the highest first- class average of any current player in New Zealand (45.96).

AUSTRALIA SQUAD (second Test v India, Melbourne, Sunday): S R Waugh (capt), M J Slater, G S Blewett, J L Langer, M E Waugh, R T Ponting, A C Gilchrist (wkt), S K Warne, D W Fleming, G D McGrath, M S Kasprowicz, B Lee.

NEW ZEALAND SQUAD (second Test v West Indies, Wellington, Sunday): S P Fleming (capt), N J Astle, C L Cairns, C D McMillan, D J Nash, S B O'Connor, A C Parore (wkt), M S Sinclair, C M Spearman, G R Stead, D L Vettori, P J Wiseman.