The marketing men are happy, the public are happy: Brett Lee is back in the Australian side to face Pakistan in the second one-dayer at Melbourne's Colonial Stadium on Saturday (June 15). The three-match series was sold by the marketeers as the showdown between the world's two fastest bowlers. But neither of them played in the first game - Akhtar was injured, Lee just left out - and the crowd at Melbourne's Colonial Stadium was a disappointing 11,000, less than half those expected.

Akhtar is expected to be fit in time for the match, and his return will boost Pakistan after their comprehensive defeat. On the other hand, there seemed to be little reason for Australia to include Lee. The man who replaced him, Andy Bichel, performed admirably, taking 3 for 30. But Australian Cricket Board chief executive James Sutherland appeared to hint that cricket sense might not be the final decider. "It would be rare in a series like this for all the fast bowlers to play in every game," Sutherland said. "Perhaps Lee will play in the last two, I don't know."

On Thursday, Ricky Ponting said that Bichel had been picked as he was fit after his spell with Worcestershire, but admitted that Lee was very much in the frame. "We just picked our best side and unfortunately Brett wasn't in that," said Ponting. "But he's every chance to be in the next side."

Less than 24 hours later and, surprise (surprise?), Lee has (had?) been restored at the expense of Jason Gillespie. The other change, Jimmy Maher coming in for the indisposed Matthew Hayden, was more predictable.

Now all that's needed for the marketing men to be happy is for Akhtar to be passed fit. Then they can sit back and watch their plans come to fruition.

Australia 1 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 2 Jimmy Maher, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Darren Lehmann, 6 Michael Bevan, 7 Shane Watson, 8 Shane Warne. 9 Andy Bichel, 10 Brett Lee, 11 Glenn McGrath.

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