For the past few years, international cricket has suffered from a dearth of quality pace bowlers. The 'blood on the wicket' barrages of the 1970s and 1980s have been long forgotten as batsmen have slowly increased their dominance, aided by improved equipment and more sympathetic laws. Even those bowlers who have made a lasting impact in the last decade have been of a slower variety; the gentle yet threatening seam of Glenn McGrath and Shaun Pollock operate at fractions of the pace of Dennis Lillee or Michael Holding.

In fact, since the retirement of the last batch of fast men (Curtley Ambrose, Courtney Walsh, Allan Donald) at the turn of the century, accuracy and patience have been the bywords. Instead of blasting through a batsman's defences and sending stumps cartwheeling, the slow squeeze outside off stump has been utilised.

But in Australia and South Africa in the past two weeks, there have been signs that the metronomic hegemony might be ending. Set aside the batting performances of the indefatigable Jacques Kallis and the entire Australian order, and two bowlers have taken all the headlines, bowlers who have utilised pace, aggression and searing swing bowling to dismantle the batting of Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

'Lack of exposure to real fast bowlers coupled with the use of helmets has perhaps led batsmen to become lazy and encouraged a tendency to over-use the pull, hook and sweep shots'

Brett Lee has long lurched from the masterful to the dreary, as his average attests: through the last Ashes series it was at an unflattering 32. Much like his contemporary Shoaib Akhtar, Lee always had all the attributes to be the best bowler in the world, and unlike Akhtar he also seems to have the mental attributes. But due to inconsistency, injuries and a two-metre tall Pigeon (McGrath), he has never reached his potential.

But with the retirement of McGrath, Lee had to take on the mantle as leader of the world's best bowling pack. Few thought he could do it, but against Sri Lanka he's done it with aplomb. His first spell at Brisbane set the tone for an excellent performance from the bowling unit, and match figures of eight for 112 was a fitting return. It was because of his lead that Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson were able to slip into the supporting roles so easily - a role that Lee will remember well.

Meanwhile, across the Indian Ocean, Dale Steyn has been continuing his rapid development by slaughtering some Kiwis - 20 in two Tests, to be precise. Steyn's figures in this series are frightening, he's claimed those 20 wickets at a cost of nine runs each and at a strike rate of one every 17 deliveries. His career bowling average in Tests at the start of the tour was 30; now it stands at 24.38.