SYDNEY, Aug 19: Australian pace spearhead Brett Lee says he is back to bowling at top speed ahead of next month’s Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa.

Lee, 30, had major surgery on torn ligaments in his left ankle four months ago after missing Australia’s World Cup triumph in the Caribbean.

His recovery has been restrained but Lee was encouraged by bowling at full stretch in a net session at the Sydney Cricket Ground last week.

“I’m fit and refreshed and felt I could have gone flat-out a month ago, but I’ve had to be patient,” Lee told The Sunday Telegraph.

“Now I’m back running flat-out and felt like I was bowling at full pace again.

“As each session has gone on, I’ve got quicker and quicker. I’m back to bowling where I finished up before the injury.

“But I don’t want to be like I was six months ago, I want to keep improving and become a better player.”

Lee said he was keen to lead Australia’s attack at the Twenty20 tournament in the wake of Glenn McGrath’s retirement from international cricket.

Australia’s bowling coach Troy Cooley said Lee would be up to the task, declaring he would be the bowler that batsmen feared in the big-hitting tournament.—AFP