Hilditch still supports under-pressure Lee

MELBOURNE: Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch Ricky does not see any immediate end to under pressure Brett Lee's career even while making it clear that the senior players, including Lee, had let the team down in the recent past.
Ponting had questioned Lee's future of after Australia's humiliating six-wicket loss against South Africa in Perth where the fast bowler took just one wicket in the match.
"There is no doubt he (Lee) is under a bit of pressure. He took one wicket in the game and his pace and swing weren't there. We expect him to have some impact, particularly with the new ball, and that wasn't there.
"Maybe someone like Ben Hilfenhaus, who can use the new ball, will come into calculations. Doug Bollinger will come into calculations," Ponting said after the first Test.
But Lee, as also struggling opener Matthew Hayden, was retained in a 13-man squad for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, with young off-spinner Jason Krejza made the predictable scapegoat for the loss in Perth.
Krejza was replaced by spin contemporary Nathan Hauritz while Tasmanian swing merchant Ben Hilfenhaus was also added to the side.
"All senior players have got to step up, we'll be very reluctant to look at younger players and say they haven't performed. If we're going to rebuild successfully it is the senior players who have to step up," Hilditch was quoted as saying by 'Herald Sun'.
Hilditch denied that at 32 and with his pace slackening, Lee had to be near the end of his days as a Test match tearaway.
"We don't think Brett's at that stage (the end), he's a really fit person, he's got a perfect fast bowling build I'm told by all the specialists," he said.
"Most think with the right core strength and conditioning programs he can actually bowl faster, so that's going to be the key over the next six months before the Ashes. We think Brett can get back to his very best but like any other player he has to perform, and it is particularly important that he performs when we're trying to rebuild," Hilditch said.
On Hayden, Hilditch said the broad-shouldered opener was desperately needed by Australia until well into next year.
"He's one of those players we'd not want to lose before the Ashes. that said he's going through a really rough time, it just couldn't be going worse for him," Hilditch said.
"We've just got to back our judgment, and our judgment looking at him in the nets, looking at the way he's moving, the way he's catching, there's no indications that he's not just around the corner from a big score.
"The three top run scorers in domestic cricket at the moment are all opening batsmen, so there's some good talent there, but you can't replace Matthew Hayden easily. We're all just hoping he'll get back to his best."