Australia must draw early scars in Tests against Proteas: Lee

Brett LeePerth, Dec. 15 : Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee has called on his side to take the fight to South Africa and draw "early scars" in the first Test beginning here on Wednesday.

Lee said on Monday that winning the first match of the three-Test series against the world No. 2-ranked team would be crucial and there''s nothing like getting early wickets to put the pressure back on the touring side.

Australia''s attack has been unsettled by the withdrawal of new-ball bowler Stuart Clark, who was to have elbow surgery on Monday, leaving one-Test Victorian quick Peter Siddle to move into the 12-man squad.

Siddle, 24, is likely to win a recall to the eleven with all-rounder Shane Watson and spinner Jason Krejza vying for the fourth bowling spot.

"Peter Siddle ... got four wickets in his Test debut in India (in October). I thought he bowled very very well and has shown great promise and definitely deserves a go here on Wednesday," Lee told reporters at the WACA.

"We know they are going to come hard at us. They have got some world-class batters and bowlers. But we''ve got an amazing bowling lineup and we''ve got an amazing batting lineup so we are confident going into this Test series. Drawing those early scars I think and making sure that we can definitely get the ticks in the box more so than what they are doing and that definitely comes down to the first session of the first day," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying.

"If we happen to bowl first, then we really have to set the tone. The team that can walk away with the win here can definitely set the tone for the rest of the summer," Lee, 32, said.

He also said that he obviously enjoyed being the spearhead of the attack. (ANI)

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