Glenn McGrath expects Brett Lee to return to his best with a couple of wickets and has encouraged the fast bowler to remain upbeat. Lee struggled on the tour of India before finding form against New Zealand, but he has not had the same impact in the opening match against South Africa.
"He's doing quite well," McGrath said in the Sun-Herald. "All he needs is one or two wickets and off he'll go. I found it only took that one ball and things would change. It was just a matter of concentrating on bowling well and the wickets would come."
McGrath said it was important for Lee to feel good about himself. "Brett, like every fast bowler, has to just keep it in perspective and not read too much into it," he said. "He has to stay upbeat."
Stuart Clark is out following elbow surgery and in Perth Peter Siddle and Jason Krejza are playing their second Tests. With Lee not firing, it has been left to Mitchell Johnson, who took his first ten-wicket haul, to guide the attack.
"When I heard some people say it was 'the weakest', I thought that was harsh," McGrath said. "Perhaps it was more a case of inexperience. But not weak.
"I think Mitch has proved in Perth that anything can happen on their day. They can destroy a batting line-up."