Disappointed at the continuing bad blood between Australian and Indian cricketers, speedster Brett Lee on Wednesday said the teams should put the controversies behind and concentrate on cricket for the tri-series finals.

“It’s a bit of a shame a few things have happened on the cricket field, people know where the line in the sand is and if you cross that line well you know you will get dealt with,” Lee said after winning the Allan Border medal for the best Australian player of 2007.

“The thing we have to acknowledge too is that once you do walk onto the cricket field and go over that line it doesn’t matter who made friendships, it’s very important we go out there and play the hardest, toughest, fairest cricket we possibly can,” he said. “It made me very hungry and it made me appreciate the chance to wear the baggy green cap once it was taken away, and to never become complacent,” he said. “To appreciate the good times you’ve got to go through the bad I think. Everyone’s been through it, people have had time on the sidelines,” he said.