WHEN George Bailey becomes only the second Australian player in 135 years to captain his country on debut tonight, he can be grateful Brett Lee will be there to alleviate one potential headache.
At an age when most fast bowlers have either retired or have their bodies in disrepair, Lee has reinvented his once one-dimensional game to the point where he is now widely considered to be one of the best Twenty20 bowlers in the world.
Stuart Clark, who assembled the Sydney Sixers' Big Bash champion list from scratch, says Lee is the ''complete Twenty20 bowler'', while tonight's captains, Bailey and M.S. Dhoni, both rate the veteran speedster highly.
With 62 wickets at 31 and an economy rate of 7.24 runs an over, such praise appears over the top. But those numbers do not take into consideration at what stage Lee bowls.
Invariably, Lee takes the new ball when fielding restrictions apply and returns in the final overs when batsmen are swinging hard to clear the pickets. His nerveless bowling at the death delivered the Sixers two final-over victories, over Melbourne Stars and Perth Scorchers, which were vital in the Sydney franchise qualifying for the finals on their road to the title.
''It makes you invaluable if you can do it and do it well. I think he does it as well as anyone in the country,'' Clark said.
''When Brett first came into international cricket he was an out and out fast bowler, a lightning fast bowler, but as he's gotten older he's added more strings to his bow, he bowls better yorkers, he's added slower balls, slower ball bumper, he's the complete Twenty20 bowler.
''He might be a bit older and not as quick as he used to be but he was very important for our team.''
Clark rates Lee alongside Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga as the two best Twenty20 bowlers in the world.
Remarkably, Lee is rated a lowly 32nd in the ICC's official Twenty20 rankings for bowlers.
Cricket NSW boss David Gilbert watched Lee play a pivotal part in the Blues' Champions League triumph in 2009 when the blond paceman was named player of the final and the tournament.
''It's hard to think of another fast bowler in T20 who has as much of an impact,'' Gilbert said.
All that is music to Bailey's ears as he joins Dave Gregory as the only Australians to captain the country in their first match. That Gregory captained Australia in the first Test ever played underscores the rarity of Bailey's achievement.
Bailey rates Lee as among the best bowlers in the Twenty20 game.
''His experience is going to be really important and something that we'll tap into,'' he said.
''His numbers in the Big Bash were outstanding for someone who bowls in the key periods at the top, in that powerplay, and also at the death.
''I think Lee embraces that role as the frontline leading fast bowler in our team and his experience is outstanding. The thing I love about him is just how competitive he is. He loves the contest and loves to lead from the front.''
Dhoni is no stranger to Lee's skills, having kept close tabs on the Australian's efforts with the ball in the Indian Premier League.
''He's a very good bowler with plenty of experience,'' Dhoni said.
''Don't forget he's someone who always keeps experimenting with his bowling, always tries to come up with deliveries that could help him contain the batsmen, especially in the extra short format that is Twenty20.
''It really helps to have bowlers that can bowl quick but at the same time have variations when needed.''
Bailey said quickly understanding the nuances of his bowlers' game and needs would be vital to his captaincy tonight.
''My personal feeling with T20 is just to prepare really meticulously and though it's a really short game you've got to have plans A, B and C up your sleeve and not be suddenly standing in the middle scratching your head wondering what am I going to do now,'' he said.
''A really key part of that is to get to know the bowlers. I'm lucky to have played with three or four of them and know their games really well. There's a couple I'm still learning but that's the real exciting part of it.''
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