Paceman Brett Lee said Monday he intends to play through the pain barrier as he approaches Glenn McGrath’s record as Australia’s top one-day wicket-taker. Lee’s season was written off a fortnight ago when he was ruled out for almost two months with a broken toe. But the 35-year-old express bowler does not want to ease up after ignoring foot pain as he combined with Ben Hilfenhaus to rip through India’s top order in Sunday’s big tri-series 110-run win at Brisbane’s Gabba ground. Lee reached speeds approaching 150kph (93 mph) and gained good swing and bounce to finish with three for 49 from 10 overs as he took his career ODI tally to 361 wickets. That places him just 20 wickets behind his former new-ball partner McGrath. Stand-in skipper Ricky Ponting described Australia’s bowling effort as among the best he has seen since McGrath retired after the 2007 World Cup. Although Clint McKay (ill) and Ryan Harris (rested) are due to return the Australian pace attack, Lee insisted he was not interested in a tri-series break to nurse his snapped little toe. “I’m not keen to rest, period,” Lee told Australian Associated Press on Monday. “I’ve had enough rest in my life (due to injuries) and I’ll rest when I finally hang the boots up. “I think that with my toe, it’s very painful but you find a way to play through it and I think I’m past the worst of it. It’s going to get better as each game goes on.”
