By Brett Lee
Australia fast bowler
November 22, 2006
I had an unusual experience in the countdown to our Ashes campaign: I spent a night behind enemy lines.
In the middle of the New South Wales-England game I went to Andrew Flintoff's benefit night at his invitation and found myself sitting as the sole Australian on a table full of Englishmen, with "Freddie" on one side and Paul Collingwood on the other.
It was a terrific night but even Freddie noted the weird scene.
When he got up to make a speech he said: "It's funny . . . Brett and I have been having a steak and a glass of wine together and talking about family and kids and tomorrow morning he'll be trying to knock my head off."
People still talk about the day at Edgbaston when Freddie consoled me after we lost the Test, but we don't dwell on it.
Much has been said about friendships in the Ashes series and whether it will nullify Australia's winning edge.
My feeling is there is room for both. I hope that when people see me playing they can't deny I am giving it 100 per cent.
I try my best until 6pm but after that I switch off. It's part of sport.
I know we are playing for Australia and the Ashes are a huge deal. But it is still sport.
Come 10am tomorrow all friendships are put aside; you just switch into game mode.
When I am bowling to Freddie or him to me people must look at it and think "they couldn't possibly like each other" and I have no problem with them thinking in that manner.
I've known Andrew Strauss, a terrific down-to-earth bloke, since we played grade cricket at Mosman together many years ago.
He said recently that sometimes when I am running into bowl at him in a Test it feels quite weird because he knows me so well and I must admit I have felt the same thing.
It happens around the cricket world.
Before the last series against South Africa, Graeme Smith set up a safari for myself and my wife Lizzie, yet he was the man we had to nail in the series against South Africa.
Patience and hostility are two key words in my game plan for tomorrow's Test.
I have learned from Glenn McGrath the virtue of being patient but I know there are times when I have to be hostile.
We have done a lot of research on their players but once you get into a game situation you have to rely on instinct. There is only so much a computer can teach you.
I have a nice feeling coming into the Gabba because it was here last year that I felt my career turn round.
Advice from Ricky Ponting to go out and bowl as quickly as I could and some other wise counsel from Mark Taylor propelled me to a great Test against the West Indies, but I am reminding myself not to be seduced by the Gabba's famous pace and bounce and bowl too short.
The big day is just one sleep away and like the rest of the boys I can't wait. Bring on the Ashes . . . we're ready.
(Courtesy of News Limited newspapers)
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